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HiNote VP Battery Replacement

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HiNote VP 550/575: the main battery module (3) slides out of the right side; the expansion bay (4) can take a second lithium-ion battery (DEC service guide Figure 1-2)

The HiNote VP has three kinds of battery: the main battery module, an optional lithium-ion second battery that fits the expansion bay in place of the diskette and CD-ROM module, and a CMOS battery that keeps the BIOS settings.[1][2] DEC's service guides and user's guides give the battery types, part numbers, removal and care; DEC lists the main and second batteries as field-replaceable units; the CMOS battery is not a separate FRU in the VP 550/575 guide.[3]

Warning: DEC warns of a danger of explosion if a lithium battery is replaced incorrectly. Replace a VP 700 main battery only with DEC's VP 700 series lithium-ion packs, and tape across the terminals of old packs before recycling them.[4] See Battery Explosion, Capacitor or Corrosion Damage and Battery Refurbishment.

Main battery packs

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HiNote VP main batteries (DEC service guides)
Series Type Rating DEC part numbers
VP 550/575 (VSS5120 to VTS5150) ENiMH 32.4 Wh Spare NiMH 30-48532-01 (3900 mAh)
VP 550/575 (VTS5166) ENiMH 42 Wh –
VP 500 (lithium-ion option) Lithium-ion – FR-PCP9H-BP (30-48533-01) spare main battery; FR-PCP9H-BN (30-48534-01) for the VP 500 II
VP 700 (MSX5166M) NiMH 37.4 Wh Spare NiMH 30-49117-01
VP 700 (MTX5166M, MTX5233M) Lithium-ion 40 Wh –

[5][3][6][7] Both NiMH and lithium-ion packs are smart batteries: press the button marked "Push" on the pack and up to five LEDs light, each representing about 20% of full charge.[8] The first HiNote VP of 1996 used a NiMH battery module, and a second battery could be fitted in place of its diskette drive.[9]

Removing the main battery

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On the VP 550/575 series the battery is on the right side of the system unit. Slide the battery lock/release clip to the release position and pull the pack out.[10] Turn the notebook off and disconnect the AC adapter first; DEC's FRU procedures start by removing the battery and disconnecting peripherals.[11]

Charging and run time

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Charge times for a single battery (DEC specifications)
Series System off System on
VP 550/575, 32.4 Wh 2 hours 3.5 hours
VP 550/575, 42 Wh 3 hours 5 hours
VP 700 MSX5166M (NiMH 37.4 Wh) and MTX5166M (lithium-ion 40 Wh) 3 hours 3.5 hours
VP 700 MTX5233M (lithium-ion 40 Wh) 3 hours 5 hours

[5][6] The amber battery charger LED is lit while the battery charges and goes out when it is full; the AC power LED is green when the adapter is powering the notebook.[12] At the low-battery level the notebook beeps, with a margin of about ten minutes; at the critical level it suspends to disk.[13]

NiMH packs: memory effect and forming

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DEC's guides say a NiMH pack that is repeatedly recharged before it is drained comes to deliver only that partial run time, and that a typical NiMH pack lasts up to 800 charge and discharge cycles. DEC's cure is to form the battery:[14]

  1. Charge the battery fully; the battery charge LED goes out.
  2. Use the notebook until the battery is completely drained. To speed this up, disable power management in the BIOS setup program and turn the screen brightness to maximum.
  3. Charge fully and drain again.
  4. Charge fully. The battery is now formed.

DEC estimates about ten hours for the whole process. Form every new battery, any battery that no longer gives its old run time, and any that gives odd readings on the battery gauge in the LCD status panel.[14]

Lithium-ion packs

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DEC gives a lithium-ion pack about 1,000 complete charge and discharge cycles and says it does not suffer from memory effect, so it need not be drained before charging.[14]

Storage

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If the notebook will not be used for more than 30 days, DEC recommends taking out the main battery, NiMH or lithium-ion. Out of the machine a pack has a shelf life of about 90 days before it needs a charge cycle.[14] A pack left for years will need charging and, for NiMH, forming before its gauge and run time can be trusted; if it will not take a charge, replace it.

CMOS battery

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The CMOS battery charges only while the notebook runs on AC power. After more than a year switched off it drains and the BIOS settings are lost; the notebook then reports a CMOS checksum error at start-up, with F1 to continue or F2 to enter setup.[2] DEC's recovery:[2]

  1. Press F2 to enter the setup program.
  2. Set the system time and date.
  3. Load the default settings from the Exit menu, then save and exit.
  4. Leave the notebook connected to the AC adapter for 24 hours to recharge the CMOS battery.

If the error comes back after a full recharge, the CMOS battery itself has failed; the BIOS then reports "System battery is dead - Replace and run SETUP".[15] DEC's VP 550/575 FRU list has no separate CMOS battery: its field replacement for the notebook's electronics is the whole on-site shell (29-33841-01 for DSTN, 29-33842-01 for TFT models).[3]

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References

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  1. ↑ Digital Equipment Corporation, DIGITAL HiNote VP 550-575 Series Service Quick Reference Guide, ER-PD1WF-SR.A01, October 1997, chapter 1, front and side components, Figure 1-2 (File:Digital HiNote VP 550-575 Series Service Quick Reference Guide (ER-PD1WF-SR.A01).pdf).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 DEC, ER-PJ1WW-SR.A01, chapter 3, p. 3-1, note on the CMOS battery.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 DEC, ER-PD1WF-SR.A01, appendix A, FRU list with option and spare part numbers.
  4. ↑ DEC, ER-PJ1WW-SR.A01, p. 1-25, caution on lithium batteries and disposal.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 DEC, ER-PD1WF-SR.A01, chapter 6, battery, status display and keyboard.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 DEC, ER-PJ1WW-SR.A01, appendix A, specifications, p. A-8.
  7. ↑ DEC, ER-PJ1WW-SR.A01, FRU list, spare main battery.
  8. ↑ Digital Equipment Corporation, Digital HiNote VP 500 Series User's Guide, ER-PD1WF-UA.A01, March 1997, chapter 2, main battery pack and smart battery gauge (File:Digital HiNote VP 500 Series User's Guide (ER-PD1WF-UA.A01).pdf).
  9. ↑ Digital Equipment Corporation, Digital HiNote VP User's Guide, ER-P90WW-UA.A01, chapter 1, battery and AC power system (File:Digital HiNote VP User's Guide (ER-P90WW-UA.A01).pdf).
  10. ↑ DEC, ER-PD1WF-SR.A01, chapter 5, removing the battery, p. 5-6 and Figure 5-2.
  11. ↑ DEC, ER-PJ1WW-SR.A01, chapter 5, FRU removal procedures.
  12. ↑ DEC, ER-PD1WF-UA.A01, chapter 2, AC power and battery charger LEDs.
  13. ↑ DEC, ER-PD1WF-UA.A01, chapter 2, low battery activity, p. 2-11, and suspend to disk.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Digital Equipment Corporation, DIGITAL HiNote VP 700 Series Service Quick Reference Guide, ER-PJ1WW-SR.A01, December 1997, chapter 1, battery care, pp. 1-21 to 1-25 (File:Digital HiNote VP 700 Series Service Quick Reference Guide (ER-PJ1WW-SR.A01).pdf).
  15. ↑ DEC, ER-PD1WF-SR.A01, chapter 4, BIOS error and warning messages.
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