Apologies if this has been covered, but I couldn't find the EXACT issue, so instead I went chasing all the other solutions (actually, red herrings) I could find until a Eureka moment...
It may be nothing to do with the visible connections to the batteries, but instead it may be the hidden connections from the battery contacts to the controller PCB itself - mine was. These connections are made by additional coiling of the very same springs that make the battery contacts, but this time at 90° to press against the PCB. The PCB has nice gold-plated land areas too. It all looks like quite a nice design, but the spring plating seems not to be inert enough. In my controller both springs, out of sight behind the battery compartment, had badly oxidised, the tips looking dull and greyed, not even vaguely metallic anymore. The gold plated PCB contacts looked perfect, so I suspect it's just choice of spring materials.
An easy five minute fix...
After doing this my panel now has a truly robust connection to the battery - I can pull and twist etc with no disconnects, solving a problem I've fought with for the last three years!
Slightest movement of the controller (off the charging stand) causing reboots?
Even the gentlest handling or lifting?
The darned thing just keeps rebooting if you so much as touch it?
So fickle you can't do anything with it until safely back on the charging stand?
Even the gentlest handling or lifting?
The darned thing just keeps rebooting if you so much as touch it?
So fickle you can't do anything with it until safely back on the charging stand?
It may be nothing to do with the visible connections to the batteries, but instead it may be the hidden connections from the battery contacts to the controller PCB itself - mine was. These connections are made by additional coiling of the very same springs that make the battery contacts, but this time at 90° to press against the PCB. The PCB has nice gold-plated land areas too. It all looks like quite a nice design, but the spring plating seems not to be inert enough. In my controller both springs, out of sight behind the battery compartment, had badly oxidised, the tips looking dull and greyed, not even vaguely metallic anymore. The gold plated PCB contacts looked perfect, so I suspect it's just choice of spring materials.
An easy five minute fix...
- Remove fascia
- Prise gently with a flat bladed screwdriver in the three prise points below the battery compartment until the rear housing pops off
- Gently press and release each of the two PCB retaining clips above each battery near the ends, thumbs will do
- Swing the PCB up gently out of the way, being careful not to damage the ribbon cable - I preferred not to unplug mine
- Clean and polish the two newly exposed ends of the coil springs using a fibreglass contact cleaning pen or similar
- If you have some, add a drop of Electrolube contact cleaner / lube to each spring tip to prevent any further oxidation
- Check the two PCB battery contact areas - if in doubt polish them with a soft dry cloth
- Re-engage the top of the PCB with the top of the housing and carefully align and centre
- Gently press the bottom of the PCB to click it back in back under the two retaining clips
- Clip the controller back into the rear housing
- Refit fascia
After doing this my panel now has a truly robust connection to the battery - I can pull and twist etc with no disconnects, solving a problem I've fought with for the last three years!