This might be useful for Labradar owners if and when the warranty (1 year) is expired and your favorite piece of range equipment fails to create a new string. And forgets the actual date/time. 
History:
Mine is almost 3 years old and finally (as I found later) the internal RTC (Real Time Clock) battery died. I contacted manufacturer with symptoms and got a prompt reply. Good folks at Labradar offered me to send my unit to QC to replace the battery, no cost has been ever mentioned. The idea of packing the unit and sending it across the frozen country was not appealing to me for 2 main reasons: 1) I hate packing fragile stuff for mailing; 2) Being dependent on manufacturer for minor service like battery replacement is not a good idea. Oh, and shipping is not free - that crossed my mind too.
Symptoms:
1. All attempts to create a new string failed (further investigation uncovered new folders on the memory card, but these are not visible on the Labradar display).
2. Every time on power-on time and date start from 0:01 1/1/2015 (in my case).
3. It is possible to clear the memory card and start from string #1 and continue, but all the files will be dated 2015 and any attempt to create a folder/string that appears to be OLDER (after clock reset) than THE LAST ON CARD fails to produce visible results.
Disclaimer:
Any negative experience connected in any way with information below is your own responsibility.
This is a simple 10 minute job to replace $1 battery (CR2032, same as in many red dots or fake tea-lights), but if you are not comfortable around delicate and static-sensitive electronics - DON'T DO IT! Here, I said it!
I specifically avoid disclosing any hints on how to actually open the unit... if you can't locate 8 screws... so you get the idea! Be careful with ribbon cables, especially with the one that goes to the front side of the unit (you are removing FRONT side, remember!) There is NO NEED to disconnect cables, see the first picture.
Shall we?
I always wanted to see what's inside... What about you?
See the yellow arrow on the picture below? That's the battery. The worst part is to CAREFULLY remove the hot glue - don't be in a hurry and don't apply too much force - you can kill the PCB by bending it. Start detaching the glue (which is pretty rigid, not a soft silicone) from the top of the battery towards the edge, avoiding transferring too much force to the battery holder and/or board. Small sharp blade might be helpful, I used fingernails. Don't try to remove the battery yet.
Yes, you are reading it right... I only had IKEA brand handy
The original was Panasonic.
Pry the battery from the side marked by yellow arrow. Gods of technology will be angry if you start from the other side (hint - there is a good chance to bend or destroy the golden contacts (above numbers "2" and "0").
Install the new battery of your choice, it will be up to you to apply hot glue - or not. The battery holder is actually pretty solid and I skipped the glue part. I will post the update after actual shooting if the hot glue is in fact needed...
Put everything back together, power up the unit and set the time and date in settings.
That's all!
Have fun!
s>
History:
Mine is almost 3 years old and finally (as I found later) the internal RTC (Real Time Clock) battery died. I contacted manufacturer with symptoms and got a prompt reply. Good folks at Labradar offered me to send my unit to QC to replace the battery, no cost has been ever mentioned. The idea of packing the unit and sending it across the frozen country was not appealing to me for 2 main reasons: 1) I hate packing fragile stuff for mailing; 2) Being dependent on manufacturer for minor service like battery replacement is not a good idea. Oh, and shipping is not free - that crossed my mind too.
Symptoms:
1. All attempts to create a new string failed (further investigation uncovered new folders on the memory card, but these are not visible on the Labradar display).
2. Every time on power-on time and date start from 0:01 1/1/2015 (in my case).
3. It is possible to clear the memory card and start from string #1 and continue, but all the files will be dated 2015 and any attempt to create a folder/string that appears to be OLDER (after clock reset) than THE LAST ON CARD fails to produce visible results.
Disclaimer:
Any negative experience connected in any way with information below is your own responsibility.
This is a simple 10 minute job to replace $1 battery (CR2032, same as in many red dots or fake tea-lights), but if you are not comfortable around delicate and static-sensitive electronics - DON'T DO IT! Here, I said it!
I specifically avoid disclosing any hints on how to actually open the unit... if you can't locate 8 screws... so you get the idea! Be careful with ribbon cables, especially with the one that goes to the front side of the unit (you are removing FRONT side, remember!) There is NO NEED to disconnect cables, see the first picture.
Shall we?
I always wanted to see what's inside... What about you?
See the yellow arrow on the picture below? That's the battery. The worst part is to CAREFULLY remove the hot glue - don't be in a hurry and don't apply too much force - you can kill the PCB by bending it. Start detaching the glue (which is pretty rigid, not a soft silicone) from the top of the battery towards the edge, avoiding transferring too much force to the battery holder and/or board. Small sharp blade might be helpful, I used fingernails. Don't try to remove the battery yet.
Yes, you are reading it right... I only had IKEA brand handy
The original was Panasonic.
Pry the battery from the side marked by yellow arrow. Gods of technology will be angry if you start from the other side (hint - there is a good chance to bend or destroy the golden contacts (above numbers "2" and "0").
Install the new battery of your choice, it will be up to you to apply hot glue - or not. The battery holder is actually pretty solid and I skipped the glue part. I will post the update after actual shooting if the hot glue is in fact needed...
Put everything back together, power up the unit and set the time and date in settings.
That's all!
Have fun!
s>
Last edited:
