Solar Powered Calculator - NOT!

planenut · 2nd August 2019, 13:49

I've got a decent calculator that has a solar cell on the front, so that when I have used it, I have religiously used it in either daylight or electrical light; yes, I know, "when else would I use it?" but I never gave it a thought, until I tried to use it yesterday.

Sadly, it had died, even though I gave it a whole day in sunlight, nothing, no display, and so I thought it was destined for the bin. However, I opened it up to find a button battery there which was flat (yes, on both sides), i.e. no power.

I replaced that just now, at great expense at the Pound shop, and the calculator is functioning perfectly.

I wonder, how many things like this are discarded due to our lack of knowledge?

Rev Jules · 2nd August 2019, 14:27

Ah! now I understand I have Solar powered wrist watch, that doesn't work at night, will have a look at what sort of battery it has.

Rev

planenut · 2nd August 2019, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev Jules

Ah! now I understand I have Solar powered wrist watch, that doesn't work at night, will have a look at what sort of battery it has.

Rev

Whah? I thought that would have got enough light from your halo?

Darcydog · 2nd August 2019, 19:31

Slightly different but a friend had a Citroen C5 estate where the central LED brake light in the tailgate slowly failed. Each individual LED failed one after the other.

I think it was over £100 to replace and of course “the unit is a sealed unit and not repairable” - he stripped it down, replaced the LED strip for a few quid and it’s been fine ever since.

That unit on its own is probably worth more than the car now.....

2nd August 2019, 13:49	#1
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,955 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Solar Powered Calculator - NOT! I've got a decent calculator that has a solar cell on the front, so that when I have used it, I have religiously used it in either daylight or electrical light; yes, I know, "when else would I use it?" but I never gave it a thought, until I tried to use it yesterday. Sadly, it had died, even though I gave it a whole day in sunlight, nothing, no display, and so I thought it was destined for the bin. However, I opened it up to find a button battery there which was flat (yes, on both sides), i.e. no power. I replaced that just now, at great expense at the Pound shop, and the calculator is functioning perfectly. I wonder, how many things like this are discarded due to our lack of knowledge?

2nd August 2019, 14:27	#2
Rev Jules This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer+ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Radcliffe on Trent Posts: 10,711 Thanks: 7,308 Thanked 3,929 Times in 2,051 Posts	Ah! now I understand I have Solar powered wrist watch, that doesn't work at night, will have a look at what sort of battery it has. Rev

2nd August 2019, 19:31	#4
Darcydog This is my second home Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 5,428 Thanks: 3,123 Thanked 3,170 Times in 2,096 Posts	Slightly different but a friend had a Citroen C5 estate where the central LED brake light in the tailgate slowly failed. Each individual LED failed one after the other. I think it was over £100 to replace and of course “the unit is a sealed unit and not repairable” - he stripped it down, replaced the LED strip for a few quid and it’s been fine ever since. That unit on its own is probably worth more than the car now.....