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dead CZ101! lights on but no response!

dead CZ101! lights on but no response!

2015-05-07 by mipopete@...

I have been running across dead cz101 on ebay as of late and in the past and ALL of them have the exact same issue! They power on but ALL the leds are on and a very dim set of grey blocks on the LCD screen,no sound,no response to button presses. Now in 2015 I find no answers to this issue yet. I can obviously rule out the power board because in the past I would have some CZ101 with dead power board but working cpu main board. I would swap the good power board from a dead CZ101 with all lights on but no one home,and I could make one CZ101 work! Unfortunately,that does not fix the underlying issue with the mainboards being dead like that. Does anyone out there KNOW why all these CZ101 keyboards are coming up dead like this? I have noticed a common theme with most but not all. Battery acid inside the battery compartment and inside the keyboard itself and on the circuit boards. but for all the used CZ101 that I buy lately to have the same exact issue??


Re: dead CZ101! lights on but no response!

2015-05-07 by D T

The battery compartment is in the same place across units and thus usually leaks in the same place across units. The “same place” has a set of functions, and the acid disrupts this set of functions. Not too much mystery :) On the CZs that I have picked up with this issue, traces were corroded and legs were totally corroded on ICs - some of which were probably programmed at the factory. The only options are to remove all the affected parts, clean the boards and get the acid off, then rebuild traces and replace ICs. In other words… just get a replacement CZ or salvage a main board from one that was smashed or physically damaged in some other way. Both units that I owned were Frankensteins from salvage CZs.

best - DT

Re: dead CZ101! lights on but no response!

2015-05-07 by Matt

Are you sure you are supplying all these "dead" CZ-101's with enough power?  I believe at least 800ma is required for proper operation.  If you use a power supply with a lower output rating (ex: only 300ma) the CZ may not turn on, may flicker, or act randomly.

Check the output rating on your power supply.  Make sure the rating is close to 1000ma to be sure you are powering the CZ adequately. 

Another test: Install some (fresh) batteries to see the CZ will at least run properly on battery power.  If it does, then you know the main board is not "dead" and there must be some other issue. 

- Matt

Re: dead CZ101! lights on but no response!

2015-05-08 by mipopete@...

Thanks DT, I was afraid of that. Yep all of them have dead battery acid or corrosion on the boards,LCD screen,etc. I am just selling the part off them now for salvage and getting my money back that way. One thing I hate is batteries in a keyboard! Every portable I ever bought used in the fleamarket or ebay has that problem. People think batteries last forever and can be left in. No I say! Shame about the CZ101s and CZ1000s then. I will keep buying pig in a pokes till I get parts to make a good one lol!

Re: dead CZ101! lights on but no response!

2015-05-08 by mipopete@...

Hi Matt,thanks for the info. My power adapters are 1A or higher at 9VDC and the proper polarity and tip size. The battery acid issue seems to be the culprit in every one of the CZ101s I came across. The CZ3000 do not have that issue since they are AC powered units and the battery compartment is removable and replacable. I wish more CZ units were made that way. The CZ2000s(speakered version of CZ3000),uses an internal CMOS battery and that too can be an issue after 15 years! Soo... yeah.

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