|
Forum: Pentax Q
06-06-2021, 08:24 PM
|
| |
I recently bought a Q10 , advertised as "won't power on", along with an 02 zoom and 3 batteries, charger, etc.
Why- curiosity about why some Qs (maybe many or perhaps only a few) seem to suffer from clock setting failure syndrome and eventually complete "won't start up" failure.
So with a "no cost" body due to the value of the still functioning lens and ancillary stuff received, I decided to disassemble the Q10. It did not take long to realize that this tiny
engineering and construction marvel was not intended to be "repaired". Perhaps the original Q with its metal frame and slightly different construction may be- but that is yet to be determined but a similar original Q body is next in line!;)
As mentioned in one of the older threads on a similar repair, the Q10(and likely the Q7 and QS1) are constructed of discrete but compound circuit boards connected by ribbon connectors but also by wired and soldered connections. What this means is that the several boards are not designed for routine repair; given enough time they might or could be repaired- but at a prohibitive cost in time and parts.
The inner assembly fits quite tightly into the plastic body and is held in place by several dozen small screws.
See the layers of component boards and connectors in the accompanying pictures. The ribbon connectors are not substantial and likely cannot be reattached reliably, any wired/soldered joints are also tricky to address- so these were sacrificed to reach even partial disassembly.
The likely source of both clock and start up problems is indeed a battery, looks like a secondary Li button cell, approximately 5mm diameter and 1.2mm thick. It is welded to a bracket and attached to a 4 layer circuit board, buried deep in the body of the camera.
The battery in this camera had failed, evidenced by leakage and subsequent corrosion.
Picture 3 shows the "middle board" in situ from the top; it is the left board in picture 5. Picture 5 also shows the lower side(right in the picture) of the top circuit board from Pictures 2.
The middle board contains the card reader and the the battery on its "under" side, the same board is shown turned over in picture 6.
The physical location of the battery is on the lower left of the circuit board when in the camera; and is then at the center, bottom, middle of the body, just near the tripod screw hole;
it is not accessible until the boards are free and the connections to both separated.
The last two pictures, 7 and 8, are crops showing the mounted battery and corrosion.
It is "possible" that someone could change this battery- IF they could get to it without disrupting the many layers and connections that must be moved/disconnected to physically reach it.
My observation is that the designers never intended for these cameras to be serviced, and what we are seeing is a "normal" failure % of the back up battery in cameras some 8-12 years old.
What to do?
1- Do not let the internal battery go dead, it has a finite number of lifetime cycles, so keep the main batter charged and in place to reduce the cycling of the small battery
2- Use the camera regularly- can't hurt and may help. JMHO :)
More to follow on disassembly and comparison with this Q10 of the original Q with the same "problem". My son has a white Q bought in the same "non functioning" condition.
Given the knowledge gained in deconstructing this Q10, perhaps the Q will surrender without fatal damage! :eek:
|
|
Forum: Pentax Q
09-18-2017, 11:02 PM
|
| |
A very small c-mount lens with high resolution. I am impressed by its performance on such a small sensor of Q7. What do you think?
|
