Replacing Back-up Lithium Battery for Pioneer 520H

[dvp7]

Hi all,

Have anyone tried replacing the backup lithium battery (CR2032) inside the 520H? My 520H is about 3 yrs old and recently it turns off itself totally and no display in the front panel. It can't start and record. After moving a bit the lithium battery inside, it starts again and works perfectly normal. After a couple days, it turns off again. The cycle still goes on. I guess the lithium battery inside isn't working anymore. But it's fixed inside and it's not so easy to replace. Have anyone had this experience? Many thanks.

I upgraded my 520H 2 years ago to 300GB and has been working perfectly well except this issue recently. It would be a pity if it can't work just because of this lithium battery!

[Krispy Kritter]

I wouldn't suspect the battery is needed for operation, it should function fully from mains power. Batteries are typically used to maintain power to memory functions in case of power loss.

Sounds like you are actually having hardware failure.

[dvp7]

I wouldn't suspect the battery is needed for operation, it should function fully from mains power. Batteries are typically used to maintain power to memory functions in case of power loss.

Sounds like you are actually having hardware failure.

Thank you for your comments. In fact, I've called Pioneer in my area and the mechanic said like what you said and asked me send it to them for repair. But it just takes time to do that and I've upgraded the harddisk myself. I don't know how they will charge me.

My 520H has a much dimmer display on the front panel since I bought it (and is getting dimmer and dimmer recently and hardly can be seen), as compared to my 720H used together at home. As the service manual says the lithium battery deals with the display / clock time, so I have such a guess and that's why I want to have a try.

[LCSHG]

dvp7

Don’t have the Pioneer But have a number of Liton/ilo units. All have a battery that controls (when the unit is off) the clock timer and display. The batteries failed, they were an odd make, built in and like you a dog to replace.
I clipped the connections, soldered a + and - lead to the connections, lead them to an area that was free and installed a holder for a battery
The biggest problem for me was the timer. It went dead when the unit was turned off as is required

As krispy kritter said I also do not think the battery is used to operate the unit But by your post the battery seamed intermittent and may have caused a problem with the timer use in coming on or turning off

[trhouse]

As the service manual says the....

Do you have the service manual?

[dvp7]

As the service manual says the....

Do you have the service manual?

Here it is :P
http://www.rockabilly.net/files/manuals/DVR-520H-service-manual.pdf

[trhouse]

Thanks for the link.

...recently it turns off itself totally and no display in the front panel

This will happen if a power supply part is failing. The power supply has a protection circuit which will shut it down under certain conditions. I would open the unit and just do a visual examination of the power supply. Look for any capacitors that might be bulging or oozing fluid with unit off and unplugged. The voltages in a switching power supply can be dangerous and are present as long as it is plugged in.

[dvp7]

Thanks for the link.

...recently it turns off itself totally and no display in the front panel

This will happen if a power supply part is failing. The power supply has a protection circuit which will shut it down under certain conditions. I would open the unit and just do a visual examination of the power supply. Look for any capacitors that might be bulging or oozing fluid with unit off and unplugged. The voltages in a switching power supply can be dangerous and are present as long as it is plugged in.

Thanks all for your advice.

Though I thought you are right, I still had a try to change the CR2032 last night. The good news is there is only loss of some basic settings like the date and time, recodring presets etc. There is no change in the tuner setting and the harddisk data. It's pretty easy to set it back. The bad news is that the turning off problem still remains.

I shall have a look at the power supply and capacitor stuffs and see if there is any clue for replacement. Thx.

[dvp7]

The bad news is that the turning off problem still remains.

I think I've made a mistake by not seeing the dimmed display on the panel after changing the battery. In fact, the Pioneer has not turned off itself (i.e. without display on the front panel), since I changed the battery. So far so good! :P Hope it will last long till I want to upgrade to some other new model.