SPORTident BS Series - User Manual

Battery exchange in BSF7 and BSF8 stations
V1.1 22.09.2015
SPORTident GmbH • Arnstadt • Germany • www.sportident.com • support@sportident.com 1/9
Battery exchange in BSF7 and BSF8 stations
All BSx7 and BSx8 control stations are equipped with high quality lithium batteries. The continuous
current in standby mode is extremely small. To avoid problems with the cable connector the batteries
of these control stations are soldered directly to the electronic board. The battery exchange requires
technical equipment and skills. Please read the following instructions to learn how the battery
exchange can be realized successfully.
BSx7 battery exchange
Remove the 4 screws with a screwdriver.
Take care of the nuts falling off at the back
side.
The box is tightly sealed. Take a blunt knife or
a flat screwdriver to open the box carefully.
Remove the two screws that hold the board in
the housing. Lift the board with the hole first
and then move the board slightly out of the
housing. Take care of the cable if the station is
equipped with a cable output.

Summary

BSx7 Battery Exchange Procedure

Opening the BSx7 Housing

Remove 4 screws, then carefully open the tightly sealed box with a blunt knife or flat screwdriver.

Desoldering the Battery

Cut shrink tube and desolder battery contacts using a 40-60W soldering iron at 350-400°C.

Battery Handling and Disposal

Handle battery lugs carefully to avoid explosion. Dispose of old batteries as hazardous waste.

Soldering the New Battery

Solder new battery using lead-free tin solder, press lugs with a spiky tweezer while soldering.

Reassembly and Sealing

Slip shrink tube over battery, reinsert board, clean rubber ring, and close case securely.

BSF8 Battery Exchange Procedure

Opening the BSF8 Housing

Carefully open the BSF8 station box using a short screwdriver or a blunt knife.

Removing Seals

Carefully remove the large rubber ring and silicone remnants, leaving the small rubber ring untouched.

Desoldering the Battery

Desolder battery contacts with a 40-60W soldering iron at 350-400°C, as per BSF7 procedure.

Battery Handling and Preparation

Handle battery lugs carefully, dispose of old batteries as hazardous waste, and bend new battery lugs.

Soldering the New Battery

Solder new battery using lead-free tin solder, pressing with a finger while soldering.

Reassembly and Sealing

Place large rubber ring, press with case, and apply silicone to the large rubber ring.

Finalizing Station Assembly

Clench parts, allow silicone to harden, remove excess, and clean the station with a soft cloth.

Writing New Battery Parameters

Enabling Service Mode in Config+

Right-click shortcut, modify 'Target' field by appending '--service' to enable service mode.

Updating Battery Settings

Start Config+, select device, go to Service > New device battery, set parameters like usage and date.

Repair Material List

Battery and Sealant Supplies

Lists article numbers and descriptions for batteries, O-ring seals, silicone, shrink tubing, case press, and gauge.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Important Technical Specifications
3. Usage Features
4. Maintenance Features

This document outlines the battery exchange procedure for SPORTident BSF7 and BSF8 control stations, providing a detailed guide for maintenance and ensuring proper functionality after battery replacement.

Function Description

The SPORTident BSF7 and BSF8 control stations are electronic devices used in sports timing, particularly in orienteering. They are equipped with high-quality lithium batteries that provide power for continuous operation. The primary function of these stations is to record and process data, with a very low current consumption in standby mode. The batteries are directly soldered to the electronic board to ensure a reliable connection and prevent issues with cable connectors. This manual focuses on the process of replacing these integrated batteries.

Important Technical Specifications

• Battery Type: High-quality lithium batteries.
  • BSF7: Lithium 2000 mAh / AA (Article number 33310).
  • BSF8: Lithium 1000 mAh / 1/2 AA (Article number 33320).
• Soldering Requirements:
  • Soldering Iron: 40 to 60 Watts.
  • Soldering Temperature: 350°C to 400°C (due to lead-free tin solder used).
  • Solder Material: Lead-free tin solder, recommended alloy Sn 95.5 / Ag 3.8 / Cu 0.7 with a diameter less than 1.0 mm.
• Polarity: The green ring on the battery indicates the minus pole. "+" and "-" markings are present on the printed circuit board for correct orientation.
• Sealing:
  • BSF7: Uses shrink tubing (Article number 33350) for battery insulation.
  • BSF8: Uses flexible O-ring seals (Article number 33330) and liquid silicone (Article number 33341) for sealing the case. A special case (Article number 33360) is used to press the O-ring seals.
• Tools: Screwdriver, blunt knife or flat screwdriver, side cutter, heat gun (for BSF7 shrink tube), spiky tweezer, gauge for bending 1/2 AA battery cable (Article number 33370).
• Software: Config+ for resetting battery parameters, checking settings, and setting the station time. Requires enabling "service mode" via a desktop shortcut modification.

Usage Features

The control stations are designed for robust use in various environments. The battery exchange procedure is a maintenance task rather than a regular user operation, requiring specific tools and skills.

• Opening the Case: For BSF7, four screws need to be removed. For BSF8, a short screwdriver or blunt knife is used to carefully open the box.
• Board Removal: The electronic board needs to be carefully lifted and moved out of the housing, paying attention to any connected cables.
• Battery Polarity: Critical attention must be paid to the correct polarity during battery installation, indicated by a green ring on the battery (minus pole) and markings on the circuit board.
• Reset Signal: Upon contact of solder lugs to solder pads, the station will emit two beeps, indicating a reset signal and coming online.
• Post-Replacement Configuration: After battery replacement, the station requires configuration using Config+ software. This involves:
  • Resetting battery parameters.
  • Checking and verifying device settings.
  • Setting the correct time of the station.
  • Updating the battery change date and usage counter in the "Service" menu of Config+.

Maintenance Features

The battery exchange process is a key maintenance activity for these control stations, designed to extend their operational lifespan.

• Battery Removal:
  • Shrink Tube Removal (BSF7): The shrink tube around the battery is cut with a side cutter, avoiding contact with board electronics.
  • Desoldering: Battery contacts are desoldered using a 40-60 Watt soldering iron at 350-400°C.
  • Safety Precaution: It is crucial to cut the soldering lugs from the battery with a side cutter to prevent shorting and explosion risk.
• Battery Disposal: Used batteries must be disposed of as hazardous waste at a collecting point or returned to the manufacturer.
• New Battery Preparation:
  • Lugs Bending (BSF7): Soldering lugs of the new battery are bent around the board.
  • Lugs Bending (BSF8): A specific gauge (Article number 33370) is used to bend the soldering lugs for the 1/2 AA battery cable.
• Battery Installation:
  • Soldering: Additional lead-free tin solder (Sn 95.5 / Ag 3.8 / Cu 0.7, <1.0 mm diameter) is used to solder the new battery.
  • Cooling: Allow soldering pads to cool down before touching.
• Re-sealing the Case:
  • BSF7: Slip new shrink tube over the board and heat it with a heat gun (level 2) for about one second per side to ensure even coverage. Ensure the LED on the back is not covered. Clean the rubber ring with alcohol and apply silicone spray for proper sealing. Fasten screws with a cordless screwdriver on a low gear level.
  • BSF8: Remove the big rubber ring and silicone remainders carefully, leaving the small rubber ring untouched. Place the big rubber ring in the groove of the ground plate and press it in with the special case (Article number 33360). Apply a small quantity of liquid silicone continually over the large rubber ring, avoiding the small round rubber ring. Use special electronics silicone to prevent corrosion of rubber seals or plastic parts. Clench the ground plate and upper part together.
• Curing Time (BSF8): The station must be placed in a dry, warm place for 24 hours to allow the silicone to harden.
• Finishing: Remove excess silicone with a sharp-edged plastic strip (avoid metal tools to prevent housing damage). Clean the station with a soft cloth.
• Software Configuration: Use Config+ to reset battery parameters, check settings, and set the station time. This requires enabling "service mode" in Config+ by modifying the desktop shortcut's target to include "--service".

SPORTident BS Series Specifications