HP-41CV Issues

[IROC]

OK, anyone who knows what an HP-41CV is belongs to a small, elite club (). My HP has been my constant companion since 1982. I use it every day at work and don't know what I would do without it.

It has performed flawlessly over the decades, but I have had a problem lately where the On/Off button is acting intermittently. I have to push it two or three times to get it turn on and/or off. Does anyone know what might be going on?

I have also bought an $8 app for my iPhone that is essentially an HP-41CX that I use very often when I'm not at my desk. I highly recommend it for those in the RPN club...

[IROC]

Obligatory pic...

[Don Plumley]

Can't help you - but this brings back memories. I had one in college - programmed all of my chemistry and physics formulas into it. What a machine.

[MBAtarga]

I've still got mine from my undergrad EE degree (>25 years ago) at Ga Tech! Sorry - don't know what might be the switch problem though. I love RPN!

[UconnTim97]

Arrrgh, I just got rid of mine from college. The battery door broke beyond repair. I forget the model number but it was the one that flipped open like a book. Once I got the hang of RPN, it was great.

[island911]

Mike, Have you checked the batteries?

Tim, 28S (28C) - Amazing it lasted for more than a few years.

[Esel Mann]

Can you, or do you feel comfortable pulling it apart?

It sounds a lot like button/switch related. It happens quite often on remotes or anything with buttons which is used a lot ages.

Perhaps it is one of the following (i am not sure which switch/button type it is):

- Button prong (which makes contact with either the switch membrane or tactile has broke or become bent.

- Switch membrane has deteriorated, torn, or the electrical contact part has shifted or become worn.

- Tactile button has shifted or become no longer tactile.

[IROC]

Originally Posted by island911

Mike, Have you checked the batteries?

Tim, 28S (28C) - Amazing it lasted for more than a few years.

I have not replaced them in awhile, so that might be something I ought to do anyway. Years ago I had the problem where the contacts in the battery housing became somewhat corroded, but I just checked them and they look fine...

[IROC]

Originally Posted by Esel Mann

Can you, or do you feel comfortable pulling it apart?

It sounds a lot like button/switch related. It happens quite often on remotes or anything with buttons which is used a lot ages.

Perhaps it is one of the following (i am not sure which switch/button type it is):

- Button prong (which makes contact with either the switch membrane or tactile has broke or become bent.

- Switch membrane has deteriorated, torn, or the electrical contact part has shifted or become worn.

- Tactile button has shifted or become no longer tactile.

This sort of my fear as this is how it is acting. I don't feel extremely comfortable taking it apart, though.

[jyl]

ask on the forum at hpmuseum.org, or , if its beyond you, send it to FixThatCalc.com

[IROC]

Originally Posted by jyl

ask on the forum at hpmuseum.org, or , if its beyond you, send it to FixThatCalc.com

Excellent suggestions. Thanks.

[BeyGon]

Find some Surveyors around you, some of them still use those. I got rid of mine but I know guys that still have them. Someone must fix them.

[masraum]

RPN is beautiful.

HP 32S II from 1989

[red-beard]

I still have my 11C

[UconnTim97]

Originally Posted by island911

Tim, 28S (28C) - Amazing it lasted for more than a few years.

That number sounds familiar. It didn't get much use outside of my college days. It was purchased in the early '90s and served me well all through my college career. Great calculator.

[island911]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I still have my 11C

Me too (I think) ...my wife is now addicted to RPN, and squirreled it away somewhere. Good thing I have my 48's. (SX & GX)

Back in school I had one of the 28's . . but saw that many failed with the flex-wires thru the hinge. (got the 48SX on release)

[jyl]

I can hardly use an algebraic. Get confused and work the keys like a 8 y/o.

I use HP12C (naturally, everyone in this industry does, it seems, I have 3 or 4 of them) and HP11C. Have a HP41CV. Also a broken HP25C. Had a HP48SX but gave it to my dad. There's another HP around home somewhere.

Wanted to get my daugher a HP48G/GX for high school, but everyone uses TI84 and the teaching materials are written specifically for it, so I caved and went to the dark side. Daughter wants a calculator watch now, but alas no RPN ones (well, excluding the DIY one that I have).

But lately, what I use the most are the HP emulators. There are good (like, perfect) emulators of HP12C and HP11C for the iPhone, and a decent HP25C emulator. I put HP12C emulator on every Mac and PC. (I have a free HP12C Windows emulator, PM me w/ your email if you want it.)

[island911]

I can hardly use an algebraic. Get confused and work the keys like a 8 y/o.

1(enter)+ ... doh!

It's great that the HP12C is still available new ~$70.

...I just checked ebay for the 11c. -- they're selling used for $120 -$220. (yikes)

[jyl]

Can you imagine the gross margin HPQ makes on each HP12C. Must be 95% gross margin.

There are hobbyist efforts underway to create a RPN calc. I haven't checked on the status.

I really want a working HP25/25C. But that is hard to find. It has a deisgn flaw. If the battery is bad, keeping the calc on the AC adapter will eventually burn out a NLA chip. That's why working HP25Cs cost so much, and why there are so many "I don't have the AC brick so I don't know if it works" ones on eBay for a lot less. I have bought two in the last 10 years. Neither worked.

[Teutonics]

Wow, the geek is strong in this thread!

Edit: I must be one too because I know what RPN is. ;-)