Strange problem with Wixey Angle Gauge

[wizer]

This is weird. Picked up my Wixey Digital Angle Gauge today to set an odd angle on the SCMS. Dead. Must be the battery, thinks I. So I put it aside and when I'd finished brought it into the house to get the model number of the battery. When I peered over at it on the side, it was on. I picked it up and it went off. On closer inspection, you can view it only at certain angles. Head-on is blank?? I doubt it's fixable, I wonder what's happening?

 

[Chris Knight]

Tom,
Did you change the battery? It could be simply a case of a marginal battery that does in fact need replacing.

 

[LeeElms]

I found that mine (the Axminster version) didn't like getting very cold.

 

[Woody Alan]

Sounds like poor contact on the LCD display strip internally, (they are only laid together and rely on a pressure to keep contact) it could have been affected by the cold weather. There were some mobile phones that used to lose their display, the fix was sharp rap on a hard surface, I don't suggest for one minute you do that until you are unable to find any other fix and have absolutely nothing else to lose because you are on the verge of binning it.
Suggest you give these people a ring they must have come across the problem http://www.allendale-stores.co.uk/

Alan

 

[Niki]

Hi Wizer

I would go with Chris advice...

I have a digital temperature/humidity gauge in my garage and sometimes, I can see a blank display when looking straight at it but, when I look at an angle, I can see the numbers...from experience, I just change the battery and everything comes back to normal...

Regards
niki

 

[jasonB]

Could just be the cold, mine needs warming up if its been left in the metal working shed over a cold night.

Jason

 

[wizer]

Thanks Guys

I have ordered some new batteries and will see (hope) if this is the problem. If this doesn't fix it, I'll give allendale a call.

 

[wizer]

Could just be the cold, mine needs warming up if its been left in the metal working shed over a cold night.

Jason

It's been in the house for about an hour and is still doing it.

 

[Ironballs]

Ordered new batteries!? Where do you live? I was under the impression that Kent was still attached to the corner of south eastern England and as such there is access to "shops" that will actually sell you batteries

 

[Woody Alan]

It's been in the house for about an hour and is still doing it.

Patience it could easily be the case the cold has killed a marginal battery, when you first brought it in, it warmed up enough to give a last gasp.

Alan

 

[maltrout512]

Tom, sounds more like the battery, but like most electrics cold does not help. I bought the table saw digital readout as per my post about 2 months ago. Small problem occurred when the middle digit wouldn't show all of the time. Called Allendale who asked me to send the scale readout back. Within a week a new unit arrived with no charge. Great service in my book.

 

[wizer]

Ordered new batteries!? Where do you live? I was under the impression that Kent was still attached to the corner of south eastern England and as such there is access to "shops" that will actually sell you batteries

Honestly, I can't be bothered with finding a shop that sells watch batteries, then finding the right one. Do you honestly expect me to get dressed and go out?? I typed the model number into eBay and ordered 5 for £1.75, delivered. I would have spent more than that in petrol. If at all possible, I steer clear of most shops. That's what they made the internet for.

 

[filsgreen]

Hi Wizer

I have a problem with the AA battery in my clock in the workshop, it just doesn't like the cold, and we're only talking 50F. You can get a whole range of watch type batteries from Poundland type shops. IIRC you get about 40 batteries which fit all types of watches, cameras and the like for obviously £1. Well £1. 03 over here

Phil

 

[fossil]

dead display aside , i have seen the axminster version in there catalogue and thought Hmmm might be a nice gadget , but now i'm thinking YES i will get one !

question how acurate are they ?

 

[9fingers]

There are possibly two effects here.

1) the viewing angle of Liquid Crystal displays reduces with applied voltage

2) the speed of response of LCD drops with temperature to the extent that some segments might show up and others don't.

So a warm workshop and a new battery will likely bring it back to life.
Also make sure the battery contacts are clean (wipe with alcohol - not booze!) and put the battery in with a clean handkerchief - no finger grease or sweat on the contact surfaces.

On a more general point, as more electronic devices creep into the workshop, it is important that the shop is warm and even more importantly free from damp.

Bob

 

[joesoap]

Hi
Got mine from Aldi bout a year ago excellent tool It's still young and little used but in this weather in it's nice lined case all for £8 quid a good deal. T'was minus five overnight in the shed and showed crystal clear reading.
A bargain indeed .

 

[joesoap]

Sorry
I was referring to my vernier and not the angle finder , but still the l c d is the point in question here so it still applies???????? I thilnk ? doe's it ???? oh well what the hell , it's the morning after anyway .