HP-618 camera schematic wanted

[Dan K]

In particular I'm interested in the power supply and sense circuit that tell
the processor the battery state. The camera appears to be factory set for
alkaline batteries where 4 x AA's are about 6 vdc. If you use NiMh (as
everybody does) the most you can get out of 4 x AA's is around 5.2 vdc. The
result is that when the camera thinks the batteries are out of juice and
shutsdown, you can take those batteries, put them in a flashlight, and they
are really bright...there is a lot of power left. I would like to tweek
that circuit (hopefully its just a resistor change) to be better suited for
NiMh batteries.

Thanks

Dan

 

[dBc]

Greetings Dan..

Good luck getting anything regarding schematics out of HP for their
_consumer_ electronics. They have a very simple premise in this
regard, IF you're not an "authorized" HP Service Center, you're not
entitled to such information. Thus, you *have* to send it to HP for
service. Twenty-twenty hindsight, dictates that folks that do this out
of warranty figure out sooner than later how expensive owning HP can
really be! Although there may be rare exceptions, most consumer
electronics companies won't do this. When I state doing this, I mean
fully detailed schematics with parts lists and board layouts with part
designations. That's simply why I tend to spend a bit more for the
electronics I buy (especially regarding two-way radio communications)
so I've got access to the service manuals.

In addition, since a LOT of this electronics we're seeing these days
are coming out of China, even for the U.S. based companies so they can
compete, quite honestly, often the manufacturer has limited access to
fully detailed schematics! Part of that Chinese to English translation
SNAFU. Unfortunately, it's not like buying good high quality Japanese
equipment OR _older_ U.S. products where they often put a good deal of
effort into technical documentation. Truly a throw-away attitude -
unfortunately - but true. Perhaps, this is what HAS, thus far,
distinguished the U.S., U.K., Japanese markets from the now Chinese
markets where documentation is really an afterthought - if that! Their
motto, they'd rather build you another one while our companies that
import their goods would much rather sell you another one at approx.
5X markup prices.

Cheers,
Mr. Mentor



| In particular I'm interested in the power supply and sense circuit
that tell
| the processor the battery state. The camera appears to be factory
set for
| alkaline batteries where 4 x AA's are about 6 vdc. If you use NiMh
(as
| everybody does) the most you can get out of 4 x AA's is around 5.2
vdc. The
| result is that when the camera thinks the batteries are out of juice
and
| shutsdown, you can take those batteries, put them in a flashlight,
and they
| are really bright...there is a lot of power left. I would like to
tweek
| that circuit (hopefully its just a resistor change) to be better
suited for
| NiMh batteries.
|
| Thanks
|
| Dan
|
|
|