vnx205
30th September 2011, 01:23 PM
Ever wondered what is inside the GPS that several of us have bought to install Garmin, Tom Tom, Igo8, Igo Primo and/or OziExplorer etc?
Well here is the answer.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/16/2005444/GPS.JPG
I had a need to open mine because after it had performed faultlessly for ages, I managed to wear out the power switch. I'm not sure if it was just bad luck or whether I had pressed unnecessarily hard on the button on the top or whether it just gave up after being clicked about a thousand times. (I have played with it a lot, installing and modifying various skins.)
On a recent trip, the GPS refused to turn off. When I did manage to turn it off, it then refused to turn on. All the symptoms suggested that the power switch was inoperative, so when I got home, I pulled it apart.
The problem was in the two switches that are about 6mm long and sit under that rocker switch on the top.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/16/2005444/Switch.JPG
The right hand one which is used to return to the main menu was quite loose even though I hardly ever use it. The one on the left is the power switch and it was no longer making contact.
The problem seems to be that the switches are located by two pegs and are glued in place. As far as I can see the contacts on the switches are not soldered to the PCB as access is impossible. They seem to rely on the switch contacts just resting on the connection on the PCB. Pressure on the power button would probably encourage the switch to tilt very slightly on the two pins so that contact was maintained or possibly marginally improved. Maybe that system only works for a certain time or can only handle a certain amount of pressure.
I had visions of replacing the setup with two external switches with wires soldered to the connections on the PCB. However the original switches are so tiny that I didn't think I could do that and I couldn't find any replacement switches that were anywhere near small enough.
So plan B is to glue the switches back the way they were originally and to insert a piece of rubber the right thickness so that when the cover is screwed back on, it will exert a small amount of pressure to keep the switch contacts touching the PCB.
I'll let you know how it goes.
My reason for this long explanation is that it is possible that the whole problem was caused by my pressing unnecessarily hard on the button so that the switches were dislodged just enough to stop the contacts touching the PCB.
So if you have a "Ranga" GPS, it might be a good idea to ensure that you apply just enough pressure to activate the click and no more. The over centre click you can feel in the switch is a function of that tiny 6mm switch, not the button.
Well here is the answer.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/16/2005444/GPS.JPG
I had a need to open mine because after it had performed faultlessly for ages, I managed to wear out the power switch. I'm not sure if it was just bad luck or whether I had pressed unnecessarily hard on the button on the top or whether it just gave up after being clicked about a thousand times. (I have played with it a lot, installing and modifying various skins.)
On a recent trip, the GPS refused to turn off. When I did manage to turn it off, it then refused to turn on. All the symptoms suggested that the power switch was inoperative, so when I got home, I pulled it apart.
The problem was in the two switches that are about 6mm long and sit under that rocker switch on the top.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/16/2005444/Switch.JPG
The right hand one which is used to return to the main menu was quite loose even though I hardly ever use it. The one on the left is the power switch and it was no longer making contact.
The problem seems to be that the switches are located by two pegs and are glued in place. As far as I can see the contacts on the switches are not soldered to the PCB as access is impossible. They seem to rely on the switch contacts just resting on the connection on the PCB. Pressure on the power button would probably encourage the switch to tilt very slightly on the two pins so that contact was maintained or possibly marginally improved. Maybe that system only works for a certain time or can only handle a certain amount of pressure.
I had visions of replacing the setup with two external switches with wires soldered to the connections on the PCB. However the original switches are so tiny that I didn't think I could do that and I couldn't find any replacement switches that were anywhere near small enough.
So plan B is to glue the switches back the way they were originally and to insert a piece of rubber the right thickness so that when the cover is screwed back on, it will exert a small amount of pressure to keep the switch contacts touching the PCB.
I'll let you know how it goes.
My reason for this long explanation is that it is possible that the whole problem was caused by my pressing unnecessarily hard on the button so that the switches were dislodged just enough to stop the contacts touching the PCB.
So if you have a "Ranga" GPS, it might be a good idea to ensure that you apply just enough pressure to activate the click and no more. The over centre click you can feel in the switch is a function of that tiny 6mm switch, not the button.