Lectrosonics HME plugon looses battery connection

[PMC]

Hello, all. I can't seem to find this topic on the forum which is odd because I am told this is a known issue. 

 

I bought a used HME xmtr from a dealer a year ago and haven't used it a great deal until now and I am discovering that if I just tap the plugon xmtr in a tabletop it looses power. I have to open the battery door and close it and then it powers back on. I can also wack my palm against it and get it come back on sometimes too.

 

I have tried alkaline and rechargable cells. Same thing. I perceive nothing loose inside the battery compartment.

 

Please direct me to a thread that tells me how to fix this or just tell me how to fix it. Do I bend a battery tab? Do i stuff a foreign object in there? Thanks.

 

Kent

[Constantin]

Clean the battery contacts on both ends. I had exactly the same issue and that fixed it. 
You also may need to apply a little bit of that silver paste. Lectro will provide that to you, I believe, or you can find out exactly which paste to get by calling their service line

[Tobi A]

I had the same problem, sent it off to get repaired.

I think it's the spring that pushes up the battery terminals inside the unit that needed replacing.

[edward chick]

For a temp fix, put piece of card stock  in between the door and the batts, it should keep pressure on the batts against the terminal.  Then off to Lectro when you have the time to send it. I’ve done that with HM series. HmE I have not had that issue. 

[PMC]

Thanks everyone. I will clean the contacts and try to lengthen the spring very delicately. 

[PMC]

Well, the battery tabs are just bent bits of brass or copper at the inaccessible end. Not gold. And no spring. The battery door side contacts are just shinny metal.

 

I cleaned all contacts with a cotton swab dipped in tuner cleaner. Then used an eraser head. Then more cleaner. Then I pulled up the contact on the right (in thie pic) a bit with a hooked paper clip but the left contact is captured behind a plastic retaining ring that prevented me from pulling that up.

 

I reassembled the battery door and the battery contact failure rate is less now. Still not solid but better.

 

Thanks again

Kent

[Constantin]

8 hours ago, PMC said:

not solid but better

Remember that silver paste…

[PMC]

I was told this from Lectro service manager,

 

"Hello Kent,
 
The silver paste is only for use on the threads of the SM-style battery doors – do not use it, or any other chemical, inside the battery compartment. It could be that the internal battery contacts have gotten pressed down some. It may need service.  Let me know if you have any questions or need anything else.
 
Best Regards"