Itaste VTR just quit working.

[mn shutterbug]

I've had this device for about 6 months and rarely use it except when on the road. I was driving yesterday and it just quit working. I was surprised since I never saw the green light change to orange or red. When I got home last night I put that battery and another one that needed charging, on the charger overnight. I tried both batteries this morning and the light doesn't even blink when I close the battery door. As expensive as this bugger is, I'd expect it to last much longer than this. These are the correct batteries for this device and the device has never been dropped.

 

[mn shutterbug]

Update: It has something to do with the battery latch. If I let it barely touch the battery it will come on. As soon as I put just a bit of pressure on it, not even close to enough to close the hatch, it seems to lose connection. It's the opposite of what I'd expect. I did clean the contact on the battery hatch, but that didn't seem to help. After playing with it awhile, I did manage to get it to come on after the hatch is closed but I know it's nothing I can rely on. Anybody else have a similar problem?

 

[mn shutterbug]

I emailed the manufacturer and here was their reply -

Since the battery cathode material is made of copper, it will not attract the magnetic spacer.



Also, the battery door is made of zine alloy, it will not attract the magnetic spacer, either



If the battery door was barely touching the battery, the device can be turned on, maybe you could use adhesive tape to fasten the battery and divide the battery door.

This makes no sense to me.

 

[Dougiestyle]

There is a spring in the positive contact. The positive contact is soldered to a wire. The wire can and does moves slightly. If the wire became frayed or separated, then that could cause your issue. Any regulated mod has the potential to fail due to the current following a path through a circuit. I would not be surprised if you have had another piece of electronic equipment fail at some point due to circuit failure. It happens. It's sad.

I'd dissect it to examine all the contacts and figure out where the failure is and fix it, but that's just me. I do things like that for fun.

BTW, my stepson has the VTR since 2014 and it's still working afaik.

 

[Davey59]

My flat top batteries became dimpled on the pos side and no longer work in my VTR. New batts, no problem. If you have flats try nipples. (edit: not add nipple, factory made)

I hope your fix is as easy.

 

[retired1]

The use of magnetic spacers or any spacer to be used as a means to make contact with your batteries is definitely not advisable. Just get new batteries.

 

[mn shutterbug]

Thanks everyone for your replies. My batteries are the flat ended ones but one of them is practically new having been recharged maybe twice. The weird thing is, they make good connection when the battery door causes light contact but when it shuts all the way and makes more solid contact is when it seems to lose connection. Makes no sense. I have found that once I eventually get it to stay working, as long as I lay it on it's side and am careful how I pick it up, it remains working. Maybe trying a different style battery would cure it. Anyone know what brand would be nippled?