Doc's dive computer problem.

[Doc Bricco]

I've got an old Aladin sport UWATEC dive computer that has served me well over the years and I would like to continue using it. The problem I'm having is that it has an "Err" displayed in the lower left corner and I cannot get it to reset or do anything else, any suggestions ??

 

[Jax]

Umm, well, first of all, you should post this question here -- this forum is for ScubaBoard issues. Perhaps you could ask a mod to shift it to Equipment, Dive computers

Second, I am very familiar with the Aladins . . have four of them, and ran into your error twice!

The problem is that you had an old battery in it, and it died suddenly. You see, the Aladin batteries last about 10 years if little used . . . but if they are 10 years old, they die suddenly and without warning. Mine went from 54% to "err" in a heartbeat.

Easy fix. go to SCUBAPRO UWATEC | Deep Down You Want The Best - SCUBAPRO-UWATEC and find a dealer. ScubaPro owns Uwatec now. Please don't bother grousing because you cannot deal with them directly -- that is their business model.

Have you registered the computer on that site, or with Uwatec? If not, do so. You also want to send in a copy of the receipt if you have it. Uwatec has a "batteries for life" program.

If don't don't have all that, it will cost about $125 to get your watch serviced and the battery replaced. As you noted, you had many fine years of service and you will probably continue to get that in the future. Just consider this service as one of those safety checks.

Hope this helps!

 

[Doc Bricco]

Thanks for helping out the new guy.

 

[keyshunter]

Doc,
Beuchat marketed the Aladin Pro and Sport before Scubapro bought them. If it says Beuchat on the case, Scubapro will not honor the free battery deal. But all is not lost,. The battery is pretty easy to change. If it is really old, the battery is probably soldered in. Battery is available on ebay. It is a 10 second solder job. Do not remove the old battery until you are ready to solder in the new one.

 

[Texfrazer]

If I'm not mistaken, if you try and do this yourself, you had best solder in the new battery in parallel before removing the old battery. Otherwise, you'll end up with a computer that needs to be reset, which can only be done by the factory.

 

[mksmith713]

Thanks for the heads up Tex.
I have one of the Beuchat CX2000's and though it has 88% battery life remaining, I plan on servicing it myself when it gets close to it's end of life.
I hadn't considered a parallel power source as being necessary but when I think about it....it makes sense.
One question.....will I get a spike in voltage since I have two batteries soldered up?
I'd hate to go through all that just to toast the thing..

 

[Texfrazer]

One question.....will I get a spike in voltage since I have two batteries soldered up?
I'd hate to go through all that just to toast the thing..

Not if you wire them in parallel (positive to positive, negative to negative), whereby you double your amps. If you wire it in series, which would be really difficult if you aren't disconnecting the existing battery, you will double the voltage. Doubling the amps will only result in a battery that lasts a lot longer (about twice as long), with no harm done to the electronics. Doubling the voltage can short many things!

To do the job, you will want to carefully expose a bit of the existing wire (use a sharp blade and "whittle" the wire insulation away from the existing wire) as close to where it touches the battery as possible, while still leaving enough room to cut that wire after you are through. Do this on both sides.

Now, take your new battery and solder a wire to the positive side and a separate wire to the negative side. Solder these wires (being careful to connect positive to positive and negative to negative) to the bare wires you exposed.

Finally, cut the wires to the old battery. Now wrap the ends and the exposed/soldered areas with a piece of electrical tape and you are good to go.