Category: accessible Devices
Last night, my braillenote somehow ended up getting water on it, but how that happened is a total mystery because there was no way any water could have gotten spilled on the unit. Anyway, for a while, the braillenote worked, just bearly. I took it out of the case overnight, and this morning, I found that the braillenote was acting as it should, although the second to last cell on the braille display is always stuck when the braillenote is turned on. I put the braillenote back in the case, and turned it on. It started acting as it had last night, thumb keys not working, as well as over half of the keyboard. After taking the braillenote back out of the case and leaving the case up side down for a few hours, I decided to put the braillenote back in the case one more time. After doing this, the braillenote started working as it should, but that one cell is still stuck. Having said this, I'm wondering if its safe to even use it at this point.
You could try using an alcohol pad on the cell, to clean it. Others will probably have better advice.
You might have your roof checked for leaks as well.
Water on these types of things is always a catch and catch can.
We did get a lot of rain here the other day, so that may have had something to do with it.
Sure. Roof has a leak. That really needs to be looked after.
It can cause other issues as well.
I wiped mine down with a chlorox wipe after the display randomly went out. I've never dropped this thing, waste anything on it, and was just confused. Somehow, wiping it down helped a lot. I just have one stubborn pen that refuses to go down.
The trick with water is twofold:
Water is only your enemy while the board is actually wet. If you don't turn the board on, it won't short. And the second part? The problem is mainly the impurities in the water. So it would depend on what the water had in it.
If your device started up, it's probably fine.
Do what Anthony said, I wuld never use Klorox or anything but alcohol, as straight alcohol has no residue or impurities. Something like 97% Isopropyl Alcohol, something like those pads Anthony was referring to.
Also I'd place the device upside down afterwards for hours to let it drain off if anything is still in there. Lay it upside down over a couple of paper towels.
Good to know. Thanks Leo.
Water from the roof has lots of stuff in it. Rust and you name it.
She doesn't have any idea where the water came from, so it had to be the roof.
Guys, I know we've all been told otherwise in the past, but please, don't use alcohol on your braille displays. Clorox wipes are a definite no-no, especially because of the breakdown of the harsh chemicals as well as the lint particles from the wipe. But rubbing alcohol was deemed acceptible and it was even mentioned as a point of maintenance in one of the older braille note manuals. Guess what? Don't do it. The alcohol somehow ends up contributing to the breakdown of the cell over time, and one of the reasons the then PulsData decided to spread around the rubbing alcohol tip was so they could guarantee units being sent in for repairs within a year or two of their use. Instead, use a lightly dampened microfiber cloth to wipe down your braille displays every month or so, and do it when the machine is upside down. Make sure the cloth isn't actually wet, just slightly damp. That helps loosen the dust particles that are trapped in your braille display, without actually causing any water damage. As for this braille note in question here, I have no idea. Smarter people than I have already offered their advice. (smile). I'm only here to chime in regarding the misinformation about the alcohol.
Do these company's have a help line or technical support service that can be call in cases of accidents?
Yes, it's called sending your device in and paying thousands of dollars.
Thousands of dollars for a repair?
I'm thinking about buying one, so I will need to investagate the after service policy.
If it cost thousands of dollars to repair, I'd just buy a new one.
Not saying you're not right, but that doesn't make sense.
Insurances only cover upkeep, not actual stuff that it need too.
In response to post 13:
It usually depends. In my experiences, it has never cost me thousands of dollars to repair any units that I've ever owned. Hundreds of dollars, but certainly not thousands. The cost of the repairs is considerably lessened if you pay for a hardware protection plan, which I have done from time to time and almost always been glad for.
How do I get one? Because when I tried to renew my insurance, they said that they will only cover shipping and keeping the pens cleaned. Also, someone waste coffee on my braille display back in high school. Are you sure it was only a few hundred dollars to repair that?
There's a difference between rubbing alcohol and denatured alcohol. Use denatured, not rubbing alcohol.
In my experience coffee does lots of damage even more so then water.
I once spilt coffee on a wireless keyboard. It worked reasonably for a day, but after that the electronics inside start to fry sort of from the acid content in coffee.
Maybe if you had enough coffee spilt, your unit needed rebuilding not repairing.
I am interested in the reply to this however.
When I buy protection plans for other devices, depending on the plan, the cost of repairs, or even replacement are reasonable, or free.
Example, I can buy an accidental protection plan on Dell. If I drop, lose, or whatever, the laptop, it gets completely replaced.
On other protection plans, my cost have been small, or reasonable within the time frame.
Um, duh?
The only alcohol I've ever used is the bottles of 97% Isopropyl and that rarely.
The damp cloth is a very good suggestion though. But I would not use the kind
of rubbing alcohol that is more of a paste, the liquid that is in a plastic bottle.
But good to know, I'll look into that.
I have tried all the sugestions mentioned here, and that cell is still stuck. Even ecersising the braille display didn't do the trick. I'm not in a sport where I can send the thing in to get fixed right now, so is it safe for me to keep using the braillenote for my every day activities, like reading, classwork, etc, even with that messed up cell?
Yeah, as long as it still turns on, and you're getting most of the braille pens, you're good. Like I said, I have a pen stuck, and don't know why. It's just is.
Pins. P i n s.
When I wanted to send my unit in, I was told it would cost 1800 dollars to repair the cells.
Wow! 1800? I'll really need to investigate these company's well before I bite the bullet.
I can't see how repair cost like these are reasonable at all.
Even expensive electronics that can be repaired, don't cost this.
Maybe, it depends on what happenes to your unit, and if they must basicly rebuild it.
I've been thinking about buying a small model for my iPhone, or a 32 cell model for general use, but if I pay 3 grand or so, then something goes wrong and I've got to pay 1800 to fix it, never mind.