HP45 power switch lubrication without opening calculator?

[calc-calcs]

GreyUser:

Yes that makes a lot of sense of dust getting into the works over time, thank you for the detailed explanation about the mechanical switch operation. Guess eventually will have to open up the calculator when things get too tight, but for now a solution seems to be to slightly press down on the switch while flipping it. Besides, it will not be seeing a lot of everyday use anyhow. And after rethinking it, I also agree that probably not a good idea to try getting some lubrication into the switch through the top slot.

Interesting idea about leaving out the two screws under the label, should be OK as long as the calculator stays safely on a desk and is not dropped, as I assume the overall impact resistance and stability might be affected by leaving out those two screws. I'm guessing HP put them in there for a good reason, but if one is careful, not a bad idea to leave them out for future convenient access to the innards. I've seen some people cutting two holes into the label over the crews, but to me that would not be an acceptable solution.

BTW, where would you get a new back label? Guessing there must be people out there making reproductions. Any members here making those?

About the batteries, I am aware that the classics have a dual separate charger and power circuits coming from the wall adapter, plus the contact between the two positive (lower) contact pins so as to separate the battery while its charging. Still I like to leave any heat generated by the charging process away from the calculator, and one never knows if that even one of those modern NiMH cells might have a slight outgassing episode, even tough they are better behaved than NiCDs. But why risk it, so I think its best to play it safe with battery charging and always do it outside of the calculator.

Speaking of charger damage, its a shame how many Woodstocks have been damaged (unknowingly) by sellers on ebay that find them and just automatically plug in the charger to test them. Then the ACT gets zapped and display does funny things, or nothing at all, and it gets listed as untested for parts only. Quite often I would send them a message explaining how and why they damaged the calculator, in hopes that they wise up, and the next time they will not do the same thing and at least one more calculator that has been sitting quietly in a drawer for 30-40 years does not get instantly zapped, and manages to survive the "ebay experience". Almost all of the sellers usually thank me for the information. Although many HP2x have been brought back to life thanks to the excellent Panamatik ACT, including one of my own HP25's.