Bad Molex Connector

Ken · 11th June 2006, 21:37

I am stripping my Meg for shipment and I noticed today that cell #2 read zero. Ok. So, I swapped out Cell #2 with a new one. Zero. Hmmm?

Ok. Try another. Zero. Take out the connectors and I noticed they are beautifully soldered and gold...or at least I think they are. Rub them with an eraser - bright and shiny. No visible sign of corrosion under the loupe. Zero.

Ok, I am just at the point of snipping the connections and using bare wire to test the cell. However, I am curious to know if any other owners have had issues with lovely, soldered gold connectors?

On my Inspiration I always expected corrosion and always swapped out molex's. They were the bargain basement, crimped metal connectors.

Thanks. Ken

p.s. am using a Shearwater - the bird had better not be acting up!

**trob09** · 11th June 2006, 22:12

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ken)

I am stripping my Meg for shipment and I noticed today that cell #2 read zero. Ok. So, I swapped out Cell #2 with a new one. Zero. Hmmm?

Ok. Try another. Zero. Take out the connectors and I noticed they are beautifully soldered and gold...or at least I think they are. Rub them with an eraser - bright and shiny. No visible sign of corrosion under the loupe. Zero.

Ok, I am just at the point of snipping the connections and using bare wire to test the cell. However, I am curious to know if any other owners have had issues with lovely, soldered gold connectors?

On my Inspiration I always expected corrosion and always swapped out molex's. They were the bargain basement, crimped metal connectors.

Thanks. Ken

p.s. am using a Shearwater - the bird had better not be acting up!

Hmmm.. #2 sensor reading zero...its not the sensor...seems like I've heard this before.

Let us know how this shakes out. I want to know if I should be giving Kevin J. a call.

T

Ken · 11th June 2006, 22:18

Quote: (Originally Posted by trob09)

Hmmm.. #2 sensor reading zero...its not the sensor...seems like I've heard this before.

Let us know how this shakes out. I want to know if I should be giving Kevin J. a call.

T

Hey Tim,

Let's hope not.

As much as I like the Hammerhead...I like this bird better.

The scenario is not pretty since I have to be up in AK in less than two week and my KISS Classic is doing a goofy number on me too. Sometimes these ECCR's make me nuts!

**trob09** · 11th June 2006, 22:24

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ken)

Hey Tim,

Let's hope not.

As much as I like the Hammerhead...I like this bird better.

The scenario is not pretty since I have to be up in AK in less than two week and my KISS Classic is doing a goofy number on me too. Sometimes these ECCR's make me nuts!

Good luck on that.

I would like to keep the Shearwater too. Thankfully mine hasn't had any issues since its initial problem.

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 12th June 2006, 03:09

I don't know if you can do this on the Meg. But, on the Optima, I can switch the connectors around (disregarding the color coding). This will help narrow down if it is a particular wire or not.

seaturtle · 12th June 2006, 03:23

Sorry to say, but this scenerio landed me a new apecs 2. Did you try unplugging the battery connections and reconnecting them?

Ken · 12th June 2006, 10:56

Hi ScubaDad and Seaturtle... that's a nice option on the Optima. In this particular case the molex is directional and the wires look absolutely pristine. That's the weird part. Will be doing the battery thing right now.

I'll also be calling the factory today before I void my warranty by doing something I shouldn't.

Seaturtle...I think I know your unit. She was a particularly toothsome beastie. She was giving me some strange readings when I had her at the pool with its previous owner.

Let's hope my bird doesn't have to undergo a lobotomy.

The deco. features of the bird are super nice.

Of course, all of this is a major drag since the KISS Classic is acting stupid too.

At least it's a drop in display, but the sliding the plexi-glas pane over the older displays is a tad dicey. Thanks fellas!

Gadget · 12th June 2006, 13:16

I have had a break in the cable where it is crimped to the molex pin before.looked fine but the internal cores were brokern. replaced the conector and was up and running again.

Ken · 12th June 2006, 23:19

I thank everyone for their responses and assistance. My Bird is up and running.

Steve Stolens of Innerspace kindly walked me through the process. I am not sure where the original issue started as I had not fiddled with the cell. That's a mystery,

In the final process the Meg. wanted me to calibrate all cells as well as cell #2 which was reading zero. In short, Steve told me to check resistance of the molex leads. The circuit should register 5 K Ohms. Next, go to the millivolt reading. If that's working, the user goes through the calibration process. Once that's in order, the user powers down, waits for the capacitors to drain. Restart. If startup and cell reading register normally the bird is in business. Phew!!!

Also, the Apecs 3.0 head will be different than the 2.0 or Shearwater head. It's expected sometime towards the end of the year. It'll be interesting to see what this new head looks like. Cheers.

**trob09** · 12th June 2006, 23:54

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ken)

I thank everyone for their responses and assistance. My Bird is up and running.

Steve Stolens of Innerspace kindly walked me through the process. I am not sure where the original issue started as I had not fiddled with the cell. That's a mystery,

In the final process the Meg. wanted me to calibrate all cells as well as cell #2 which was reading zero. In short, Steve told me to check resistance of the molex leads. The circuit should register 5 K Ohms. Next, go to the millivolt reading. If that's working, the user goes through the calibration process. Once that's in order, the user powers down, waits for the capacitors to drain. Restart. If startup and cell reading register normally the bird is in business. Phew!!!

Also, the Apecs 3.0 head will be different than the 2.0 or Shearwater head. It's expected sometime towards the end of the year. It'll be interesting to see what this new head looks like. Cheers.

Good news Ken.

Re Apecs 3 - interesting indeed. I spoke with Leon at BTS about Apecs 3 (as I'm sure many others did) and am interested in seeing it materialize. I'm personally not holding my breath for the end of '06 timeline discussed, though (given that we should all have had access to the Cis canister clone a year ago).

T

11th June 2006, 21:37	#1 (permalink)
Ken Team Torrent Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 331	Bad Molex Connector I am stripping my Meg for shipment and I noticed today that cell #2 read zero. Ok. So, I swapped out Cell #2 with a new one. Zero. Hmmm? Ok. Try another. Zero. Take out the connectors and I noticed they are beautifully soldered and gold...or at least I think they are. Rub them with an eraser - bright and shiny. No visible sign of corrosion under the loupe. Zero. Ok, I am just at the point of snipping the connections and using bare wire to test the cell. However, I am curious to know if any other owners have had issues with lovely, soldered gold connectors? On my Inspiration I always expected corrosion and always swapped out molex's. They were the bargain basement, crimped metal connectors. Thanks. Ken p.s. am using a Shearwater - the bird had better not be acting up!
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11th June 2006, 22:12	#2 (permalink)
trob09 . Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 701	Re: Bad Molex Connector Quote: (Originally Posted by Ken) I am stripping my Meg for shipment and I noticed today that cell #2 read zero. Ok. So, I swapped out Cell #2 with a new one. Zero. Hmmm? Ok. Try another. Zero. Take out the connectors and I noticed they are beautifully soldered and gold...or at least I think they are. Rub them with an eraser - bright and shiny. No visible sign of corrosion under the loupe. Zero. Ok, I am just at the point of snipping the connections and using bare wire to test the cell. However, I am curious to know if any other owners have had issues with lovely, soldered gold connectors? On my Inspiration I always expected corrosion and always swapped out molex's. They were the bargain basement, crimped metal connectors. Thanks. Ken p.s. am using a Shearwater - the bird had better not be acting up! Hmmm.. #2 sensor reading zero...its not the sensor...seems like I've heard this before. Let us know how this shakes out. I want to know if I should be giving Kevin J. a call. T
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11th June 2006, 22:18	#3 (permalink)
Ken Team Torrent Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 331	Re: Bad Molex Connector Quote: (Originally Posted by trob09) Hmmm.. #2 sensor reading zero...its not the sensor...seems like I've heard this before. Let us know how this shakes out. I want to know if I should be giving Kevin J. a call. T Hey Tim, Let's hope not. As much as I like the Hammerhead...I like this bird better. The scenario is not pretty since I have to be up in AK in less than two week and my KISS Classic is doing a goofy number on me too. Sometimes these ECCR's make me nuts!
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11th June 2006, 22:24	#4 (permalink)
trob09 . Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 701	Re: Bad Molex Connector Quote: (Originally Posted by Ken) Hey Tim, Let's hope not. As much as I like the Hammerhead...I like this bird better. The scenario is not pretty since I have to be up in AK in less than two week and my KISS Classic is doing a goofy number on me too. Sometimes these ECCR's make me nuts! Good luck on that. I would like to keep the Shearwater too. Thankfully mine hasn't had any issues since its initial problem.
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12th June 2006, 03:09	#5 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,217	Re: Bad Molex Connector I don't know if you can do this on the Meg. But, on the Optima, I can switch the connectors around (disregarding the color coding). This will help narrow down if it is a particular wire or not. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
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12th June 2006, 03:23	#6 (permalink)
seaturtle RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montauk,NY USA Posts: 35	Re: Bad Molex Connector Sorry to say, but this scenerio landed me a new apecs 2. Did you try unplugging the battery connections and reconnecting them?
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12th June 2006, 10:56	#7 (permalink)
Ken Team Torrent Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 331	Re: Bad Molex Connector Hi ScubaDad and Seaturtle... that's a nice option on the Optima. In this particular case the molex is directional and the wires look absolutely pristine. That's the weird part. Will be doing the battery thing right now. I'll also be calling the factory today before I void my warranty by doing something I shouldn't. Seaturtle...I think I know your unit. She was a particularly toothsome beastie. She was giving me some strange readings when I had her at the pool with its previous owner. Let's hope my bird doesn't have to undergo a lobotomy. The deco. features of the bird are super nice. Of course, all of this is a major drag since the KISS Classic is acting stupid too. At least it's a drop in display, but the sliding the plexi-glas pane over the older displays is a tad dicey. Thanks fellas!
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12th June 2006, 13:16	#8 (permalink)
Gadget Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon rEvo Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Dolphin Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hoddesdon, Herts. Posts: 163	Re: Bad Molex Connector I have had a break in the cable where it is crimped to the molex pin before.looked fine but the internal cores were brokern. replaced the conector and was up and running again. __________________ Si Lawrence www.divehdi.com
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12th June 2006, 23:19	#9 (permalink)
Ken Team Torrent Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 331	Re: Bad Molex Connector I thank everyone for their responses and assistance. My Bird is up and running. Steve Stolens of Innerspace kindly walked me through the process. I am not sure where the original issue started as I had not fiddled with the cell. That's a mystery, In the final process the Meg. wanted me to calibrate all cells as well as cell #2 which was reading zero. In short, Steve told me to check resistance of the molex leads. The circuit should register 5 K Ohms. Next, go to the millivolt reading. If that's working, the user goes through the calibration process. Once that's in order, the user powers down, waits for the capacitors to drain. Restart. If startup and cell reading register normally the bird is in business. Phew!!! Also, the Apecs 3.0 head will be different than the 2.0 or Shearwater head. It's expected sometime towards the end of the year. It'll be interesting to see what this new head looks like. Cheers.
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12th June 2006, 23:54	#10 (permalink)
trob09 . Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 701	Re: Bad Molex Connector Quote: (Originally Posted by Ken) I thank everyone for their responses and assistance. My Bird is up and running. Steve Stolens of Innerspace kindly walked me through the process. I am not sure where the original issue started as I had not fiddled with the cell. That's a mystery, In the final process the Meg. wanted me to calibrate all cells as well as cell #2 which was reading zero. In short, Steve told me to check resistance of the molex leads. The circuit should register 5 K Ohms. Next, go to the millivolt reading. If that's working, the user goes through the calibration process. Once that's in order, the user powers down, waits for the capacitors to drain. Restart. If startup and cell reading register normally the bird is in business. Phew!!! Also, the Apecs 3.0 head will be different than the 2.0 or Shearwater head. It's expected sometime towards the end of the year. It'll be interesting to see what this new head looks like. Cheers. Good news Ken. Re Apecs 3 - interesting indeed. I spoke with Leon at BTS about Apecs 3 (as I'm sure many others did) and am interested in seeing it materialize. I'm personally not holding my breath for the end of '06 timeline discussed, though (given that we should all have had access to the Cis canister clone a year ago). T
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