My HP-50G Blue dropped dead - The resurrection report

[rprosperi]

(01-27-2018 08:16 PM)jebem Wrote:  So, I was lucky this time.
Took me 5 minutes to open the calculator. Another 10 minutes to find the fault. And 5 minutes to fix it.
I have used a low power solder iron to fix the joint, then used Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the joints.
After inserting a set of batteries, the display was back to life!

Nice rescue Jose!

Thanks for the usual detailed walk-through notes and clear photos. I hope I never will need this information, but it's bookmarked just in case.

Interesting observations that the assembly techniques are both manual and sloppy. Possibly this particular unit didn't pass the standard assembly QC checks and was reworked manually? It's hard to imagine these machines were made by the thousands every week, with such manual techniques.

Does it seem feasible that the broken solder joint (broken upon the fall) was a result of poor assembly, or would a similar fall break such a joint if completed properly?