LarryF Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Some time ago, we improved battery life on older SM transmitters by adding a small speck of silver paste to the battery door thumbscrew. If this silver grease didn't solve your battery contact problem, it is then probably a tolerance build up problem where the thumbscrew is tightening the eclip to the case rather than the door. We have come up with an improved washer and thumbscrew for those units. The washer is a Monel (63% nickel 31% copper plus iron and manganese) screen that makes smoother contact than the old stainless steel compression washer. In addition the new thumbscrew has additional relief so there is never a chance of binding the eclip to the case rather than correctly pulling the door to the case. The free (!) kit is sent out with instructions to replace the washer and thumbscrew. The new thumbscrew is a eBeni finish and is darker than the original Pentuf finish. The new washer is the Monel screen described above. The kit also includes a new eclip so when you lose it in the carpeting you have an extra. Finally, there is a small amount of silver paste included. This resolves a tolerance buildup problem where the eclip was binding on the case causing battery life problems even though silver paste had been correctly applied. Replacing the older setup with the new kit is a good preventative measure. You may never have the tolerance build up problem but I recommend replacement. You can tell if you need the kit by looking at the washer under the thumbscrew. If it is a silvery screen, you have a newer setup already. If the washer is a compression washer you should replace it, particularly if you are having variable (weird) battery life. Here is a link to the replacement instructions so you can see what I'm describing: You can get the kit by emailing service.repair@lectrosonics.com. Service will need to know if you have a single battery SM (SM, SMa, SMv) or a two battery SM (SMd, SMda, SMq, SMqv) as the thumbscrews are subtly different. We will need a mailing address also, of course. The kit names are SM1DOORKIT for all single battery units and SM2DOORKIT for all dual battery units. Best Regards, Larry Fisher Lectrosonics p.s. All current builds use the new setup SM Battery Door Washer Replacement.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Deakin Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Man Lectrosonics service is amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 It's nothing but great when a manufacturer volunteers, "Here's a potential problem we've found and here's a fix for it.". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriky Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 I have noticed on a rare occasion the battery life wouldn't last as long. I attributed it to a bad battery. But maybe not. I just checked my transmitters and checked one that I had just sent in to get the LCD screen replaced. It looks like they did replace the washer you are speaking of. I took a pic of the transmitter that was just returned to me yesterday against the old washer so folks know what to look for even though you have posted a how to PDF. Thanks for posting this! Kriky The transmitter on the left is the new washer and thumbscrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryF Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Hi Kirky, Good picture showing the washer difference. Service would also have replaced the thumbscrew with the newer version too. You can see the difference in color if you look hard, between the new eBeni finish and the older Pentuf on the thumbscrew. Best Regards, Larry F Lectro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al mcguire Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Thank you again Larry Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacysound Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Not sure I know the difference between the new eBeni finish and the older Pentuf. Based on above picture - Left = bad, Right = Good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryF Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Not sure I know the difference between the new eBeni finish and the older Pentuf. Based on above picture - Left = bad, Right = Good? Exactly backwards. Newer version is the left unit. LEF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Rockstar! p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Thanks, Larry. I have an SMa and UH400a in for service, and have requested 8 kits to be returned with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sound Intuition Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Thank you Larry for the constant product refinement and the attention to customer care. I have infact had to have two of my SMv's doors replaced. I have also found the paste will harden up in the vile if not used right away. On one of my units I sometimes power it up and it shuts of right after I release my two fingers. Will this help that? Thanks Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryF Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 The paste will work soft or hard if you can get it on the threads. The silver particles are what does the work. I'm not sure why it is getting hard. The new setup "should" fix the startup problem. Best Larry F P. S. I'll be out of the office for a week so replies may be sporadic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnpaul215 Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 A+++ thanks Larry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bralleput Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Larry for president.As always! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundtrane Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Larry for Prime Minister of India! -vin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Matthews Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Great customer service from Lectrosonics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bralleput Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 And let's make Gordon Vp,for crying out loud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordi Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Gotta love the service, thanks Larry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Weaver Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Email sent! Thanks so much. And I agree! We should make Larry the Prime Minister! Or we could make Larry King! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek H Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Hi Larry, the link is broken to the PDF instructions in your original post. Any advice for removing the old E-clip without scratching the door? ..and I figured it out. Tweezers, pull on the little notch. Good thing I went to school for this. It did scratch the door a bit though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomboom Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 here's a PDF... SM Battery Door Washer Replacement.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnotsMedia Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 No problems scratching the door but other problems...replaced 7 easy breezy...number 8..Lectro screwdriver right into the thumb...deep. Be careful. Batt life definitely seems to be improved in SM's...SMQV's seem the same,which was always great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek H Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Use the flat edge of a wooden spatula or tool handle to push the e clip on. Much safer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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