DSM MK IV or Lacuna meter.

[Officer305]

Hello, Looking for a bit of help. I have a second hand DSM MK IV digital satellite meter. Lacuna. The battery is Ok and showing 7.8 volts on a volt meter.Voltage stays steady.

As it stands the meter will only work if the charger is plugged in and the battery is in place. The screen trickle charging comes up. After a couple of minutes it shows unable to charge.

It won't work on the battery by its self. It won't work if you remove the battery and just use the charger.

Its not for commercial use, just for setting up sky when caravaning.

Any constructive help would be appreciated.

Many Thanks.

[terriers]

hi m8...i have 1 of these also and the batteries are shite on these meters..dont last 2 minutes...get a 10 aaa battery holder from maplins and buy some good rechargeable batteries and this will do the trick...makes it better than the original,,though it will stick out a bit at the back....alternatively pay 50quid

[Officer305]

Hi, I Will give that a go and see what happens. I put a load on the battery and it seemed to hold up Ok. Thanks.

[Officer305]

Hi, Re your suggestion. I have just tried that out with batteries I had. Unfortuneately it didn'y work. Just the same as before. Thanks.

[ITS A SCAM !]

If you are using rechargable batteries they actually give out a lower voltage than proper AA Alkaline..For example, a maplins 2300 NIMH rechargable batter will provide 1.2 volts output, and a Duracell AA Alkaline will provide 1.5 volts. Try using some proper Duracell Alkaline batteries ( they are ?1 a packet poundland ) and then see what happens.....If it solves the problem see what the possibilities are of using a plug in mains adaptor with a long flying lead......

[Officer305]

Hi, I will gve that a go tomorrow. The specs say that the meter should run at 7.2 volts. We will see what happens? I see in the specs it has a switch mode poer supply. I wonder if that has anything to do with it? Thanks.

[Officer305]

Hello, I tried it with the other batteries and it is still the same. Any other help welcome. Does any one have a circuit diagram for one of these? Thanks.

[terriers]

get some quality rechargeables and they will be fine..you need 10 of these for the meter to work properly...7.2v not a prayer

[Officer305]

Hi mate, I tried it with new 8 X 1.5 volts Alkaline batteries and it just did the same. Thanks.