Broken temp sensors

Hi!
First: My temp sensor has not (yet ;-) been broken. I was just wondering:
The FAQ says:
"Due to it never being supported in software or being a promised feature, it's not covered under warranty repair".
But isn't it a promsied feature? My manual as well as the techincal specs on the soniblue/rio-site say:
"...Other features:
-On board temperature sensor
-..."

It doesn't say

"-On board functional temp-sensor"

And since there is no official software to use it, you'd have to break open your
player (And void your warranty) to see if it was broken or not.

I thought I could assume that promised features do work...
Furthermore, there is a software, which can definitely tell wether a temp sensor is working or not namely Hijack.
It does this without opening the player ;-))

That's why I said "official" software.

Argh - I give up!!!

We're actually discussing the exact fault in another thread.

The sensor actually isn't faulty. It just reprograms itself into thermostat mode randomly. And when that happens, there's no way to program it out of thermostat mode without redesigning the empeg motherboard completely around it.

So you could send your player into empeg and have them replace the chip, only to have the new temp sensor flip into thermostat mode a week later.

Yeah. The datasheet describes conditions under which this might happen, as well (which may or may not be those we see here). So I've added "guard code" into Hijack v231 to prevent those conditions from ever arising.

Cheers

EDIT: that's version v231, out soon.

-ml

Too late for me.

Time for 231 Ill save it while its still functional.

Well, like, ditto here.

The datasheet also describes how to "reset" the chip.

-ml

Well, no guarantees on that. Hugo seems to indicate that there's something just plain flakey going on as well.

But we do what we can, and hope for the best.

-ml

You would make many people happy (like usual ;-)) if you could reset the chip...
And you would make many other people happy if you prevent the chip from going into thermostat mode (inclunding me...)

Chip can't be reset without a soldering iron and extra circuitry.

Maybe I should have taken a look at the datasheet.
I thought the "extra cicuitry" is the empeg mainboard

Actually, now that I think about it..

The bug I fixed in the player kernel several months back probably fixed the "flakeyness" issue -- the code in readtherm/inittherm was getting interrupted midstream.

so that, together with the v231 update, are probably enough to completely prevent the problem in the future.

Mmm.. I just might solder a new chip into my unit someday.

-ml

I couldn't find any suppliers of the SOIC package so I bought a couple in the PR35 package ( I didn't feel right about asking for a sample from the manufacturers). I haven't fitted one yet because I just haven't had time. When I do I'm thinking about mounting it on the HDD cradle as the HDDs are probably the most temperature sensitive part of the player. This issue about the chip being re-programmed is interesting. I thought it had just blown up.

Try looking here... I think this should be the right part.

Thanks for the link but I think the cost of carriage to the UK would probably be more than the cost of the parts. I've no doubt I could have sourced them somewhere here but it was just so convenient to order the other style from my usual supplier. In fact, I think I prefer the style I've got because it makes it easier to mount onto the HDD cradle.

I take it you are going to install long lead wires to it, to make the installation possible, right?

cheers

Err... yup. I'll put some kind of connector in there somewhere so that I can unplug it when it's dismantled too.

Alright, I'm pretty steamed. I read this thread while I was away on vacation, and thought to mysel, "Great, when I get home, I can install Hijack v231 and most likely prevent my temperature sensor from failing so that it will be available for my use sometime in the future if I ever decide I really need it!"

I get home and pick up my car from the airport, and the first thing I do is check the vital signs to make sure the temperature sensor is working. Everything's okay. I drive 45 miles home. When I get home, I check the vital signs again. I find... wait for it... the temperature's stuck at 0! I was mere minutes away from insuring that this would never happen to me, but I got bit anyway!


And so, I say again: Dammit, Dammit, DAMMIT!

Interestingly, my temp sometimes reads 0, but earlier today it read a correct temperature.

Well, I just checked again, and it's still broken, but I'll keep my fingers crossed in case it somehow resurrects itself.

I've just finished repairing mine a few minutes ago. Thought I'd let ppl know. If anyone's interested I've got some pics of what I did.

Yes, please.

Ditto... lets see 'em!!

OK. Here's the first one showing the accused. Looks kinda innocent doesn't he. Don't let that blank expression fool ya. He's as guilty as sin.

The offender has been removed and kept somewhere where he can't offend again (well an anti-static bag actually ). Some flying leads have been soldered onto the correct pads. The other ends of these will be soldered onto the replacement chip which I've mounted onto the HDD cradle.

Here's the replacement held securely to the HDD cradle with a special Aluminium clamp I made. I had to drill & tap the cradle M2 for the clamp screw.

Here's the replacement I used. It's the same chip, just in a different package.

Finally, here's the Hijack Vitals screen showing the temperature again .