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it's raining but I ... volt... time...
The timer for the Christmas lights on my porch, the timer I used without a problem last year, isn't working. It came in a 2-pack, and the other timer still works, so it's okay sort of.
But I wanted to fix the non-functional one. Leaving the timer plugged in for a while didn't fix it. The package says that it uses a Ni-MH battery for backup, so maybe the battery went bad. The timer unit has triangle head screws. Do I have any triangle head bits in my tools? No. Not unless there are any in the tool case at Q's house, but I doubt it. And it is cold and rainy, and do I want to go outside for that? No.
Why do they keep coming up with different screw heads? It doesn't stop people from getting the screws out; it only makes them keep having to buy more tools, and makes it more of a pain.
An online video suggested using a flat screwdriver on the triangle screws, and that actually worked. So I got the timer unit open. It does have a button-battery looking object inside.
I get out my pocket voltmeter, but discover that it isn't working! ::my mood drops another 5 points:: (I've got so much to do, and mucking about with the timer wasn't even on the list.) Are its batteries bad? I use my battery tester on its 2 button batteries. They seem fine, their level shows up in the green part of the scale. But maybe they are bad anyway? I check if I have replacement batteries of the right size; I do, what luck! I put them in the voltmeter, but it still doesn't work. :-( Why would it just stop working? It's worked fine all these years. ::meh::
The can't try my battery tester on the battery in the timer unit, without getting the battery out first. It is wedged in quite tight, and might break if I tried to get it out. It's obviously not meant to be replaced, what with the triangle screws.
I stare morosely at my voltmeter. Its backside says "No user serviceable parts. Do not remove this cabinet cover." I decide to give it some whacks (when all else fails...).
I whack it against my hand, and then lightly against the floor. I turn it on, and it works. Yay!!
I use the voltmeter to check the battery in the timer unit. The battery seems ok; at 1.2V. I don't see any broken or corroded connections, so I guess there's nothing I can do.
But I feel relieved that at least my voltmeter still works. Not because they are hard to get, and not that we don't have other ones at Q's house. But this one is special to me because I've had it for quite a while, and it is nice and small.
But I wanted to fix the non-functional one. Leaving the timer plugged in for a while didn't fix it. The package says that it uses a Ni-MH battery for backup, so maybe the battery went bad. The timer unit has triangle head screws. Do I have any triangle head bits in my tools? No. Not unless there are any in the tool case at Q's house, but I doubt it. And it is cold and rainy, and do I want to go outside for that? No.
Why do they keep coming up with different screw heads? It doesn't stop people from getting the screws out; it only makes them keep having to buy more tools, and makes it more of a pain.
An online video suggested using a flat screwdriver on the triangle screws, and that actually worked. So I got the timer unit open. It does have a button-battery looking object inside.
I get out my pocket voltmeter, but discover that it isn't working! ::my mood drops another 5 points:: (I've got so much to do, and mucking about with the timer wasn't even on the list.) Are its batteries bad? I use my battery tester on its 2 button batteries. They seem fine, their level shows up in the green part of the scale. But maybe they are bad anyway? I check if I have replacement batteries of the right size; I do, what luck! I put them in the voltmeter, but it still doesn't work. :-( Why would it just stop working? It's worked fine all these years. ::meh::
The can't try my battery tester on the battery in the timer unit, without getting the battery out first. It is wedged in quite tight, and might break if I tried to get it out. It's obviously not meant to be replaced, what with the triangle screws.
I stare morosely at my voltmeter. Its backside says "No user serviceable parts. Do not remove this cabinet cover." I decide to give it some whacks (when all else fails...).
I whack it against my hand, and then lightly against the floor. I turn it on, and it works. Yay!!
I use the voltmeter to check the battery in the timer unit. The battery seems ok; at 1.2V. I don't see any broken or corroded connections, so I guess there's nothing I can do.
But I feel relieved that at least my voltmeter still works. Not because they are hard to get, and not that we don't have other ones at Q's house. But this one is special to me because I've had it for quite a while, and it is nice and small.