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[biggiman]

Hi I bought a Pleo from Ebay for christmas,

when i first started i got in his ParkingPosition with beepbeep. So i checked the internet for help,

I checked the battery and ordered new one. The Same still beeping.

After  two hours of trying out I randomly got Pleo started. Somehow, I don't know how.

Ich reset the clock and Pleo himself and then for a reason it starts an worked well.
But after charging it was same again. Starting Pleo was like wheel of fortune.

ich have ordered a 2gb sd card and updatet him successfully.
But still them same.

One mor Info: Pleo can not be turnedd off by pressing the button.
Somehow i think it's a software problem.

Dino-Mite crashes on my WIN10 PC.

Am absolutetly new to PLEO and knew nothing about it before.

P.s: The seller offered to return him, but my son is so happy with it when it works.

[pnhicks]

Hi biggi,


I know it is not easy for everyone to communicate in English, but I'm going to ask you for more detailed information about your problem.
 
There is a lot of good info in this post on the forum:


Pleo Reborn owners FAQ with videos! (bobthepleo.com)


I will include part of the info that may apply to your case here below:


When Pleo shuts down, either because you've turned them off, or because its past their bedtime, they will emit 1-3 beeps, this helps you determine the reason for their shut down.


1 beep means they have gone into sleep mode and will wake up in about 10 hours time. This is characterized by Pleo have head and tail tucked in and curled to one side.


3 beeps means the battery has gone flat and Pleo has saved his current state before shutting down, it is safe to remove the battery. When the battery is flat Pleo will assume the standard box posture EXCEPT that his head and tail will be down and not straight.


2 beeps means you've manually shut Pleo down and it is now safe to remove the battery. This is also the way to get Pleo into the box position, he/she will have a perfectly straight posture with a straight head and tail which puts the minimum stress on the skin. If you are storing your Pleo for long periods of time this is the position you should use.


Now I hope that clears up somethings about beeps and shutdown, maybe not?

To manually shutdown Pleo you must keep the button depressed (hard to tell under all that rubber skin) for about 10 seconds (you will then hear the beep-beep) and Pleo will go into the park position)

If Pleo goes beeps constantly beep..beep..pause beep..beep..pause beep..beep,pause  etc that means that the real time clock battery in the right rear foot pad is inserted wrong (polarity incorrect + side should face you when installed, or contact prongs not on top of battery) or it is requires replacement.

Let me know if I have not addressed your problem!

Cheers!

Peter

[biggiman]

Thanks for your patience and your answer .
Some of the stuff i already read.

It only starts by randomly resetting Clock.
Pleo alway starts in this position.

Here is a Youtube of my Problem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4TeuYpiuqw

Do i need SD-Card in regular use?

After randomly starting he somtimes go back in this parking position


The following quote never happend till now.

When Pleo shuts down, either because you've turned them off, or because its past their bedtime, they will emit 1-3 beeps, this helps you determine the reason for their shut down.


1 beep means they have gone into sleep mode and will wake up in about 10 hours time. This is characterized by Pleo have head and tail tucked in and curled to one side.


3 beeps means the battery has gone flat and Pleo has saved his current state before shutting down, it is safe to remove the battery. When the battery is flat Pleo will assume the standard box posture EXCEPT that his head and tail will be down and not straight.


2 beeps means you've manually shut Pleo down and it is now safe to remove the battery. This is also the way to get Pleo into the box position, he/she will have a perfectly straight posture with a straight head and tail which puts the minimum stress on the skin. If you are storing your Pleo for long periods of time this is the position you should use.

[pnhicks]

Hi Biggi,


I'm almost positive it's a problem with the clock battery! It is easier than it looks to make a mistake when installing it!  


IF the foot battery is installed correctly, then there is a problem with the wiring from the foot pad to daughter card in rear belly.  As it runs along the outside of the right rear leg, it could have been damaged from twisting the skin on the leg, or the solder joints on the foot pad may have come loose.  It is not hard to loosen the skin from the bottom of the foot and remove the foot pad.


Please watch this video:


Pleo Reborn Clock Battery Tutorial - YouTube


Let me know what you think!


Cheers!


Peter

[biggiman]

I know that for a reason thinks there's no battery.

But what can  the reason be? I have the fourth new unused battery inserted.

[pnhicks]

Hi Biggie,


Happy New Year (Almost)!


Here are some photos!  Words seem to fail us!


1. Remove the two screws that secure the footpad ring. (you can leave the battery installed).


2. Remove the footpad ring.


3. Remove the footpad as far as the wires will allow (maybe not much).


4. On the reverse or back side of the footpad you will see the contacts for the Real Time Clock battery.


5. Inspect to see that they are secure on both ends (the footpad and the circuit card in the foot.


Note there is usually some glue or other stick stuff on the wires to help secure them in place.  The wires can be completely or partially broken with only the glue holding them in place!


Pictures here:


https://www.dropbox.com/s/vkfq40sf7677df4/20201231_180953.jpg?dl=0



https://www.dropbox.com/s/qol8engj0zhvt0p/20201231_180716.jpg?dl=0


https://www.dropbox.com/s/b85yz5tsvps07qc/20201231_181352.jpg?dl=0


Cheers!

Peter

[biggiman]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


thanks again for your patience.

i will try that.

Was afraid of disassembling

[pnhicks]

Hi Biggi,


Happy New Year!


This is a very low risk procedure! 


There are two springs under the footpad that can "pop out" and be difficult to find!  So disassemble over something that will "catch" the springs if they try to escape!


The rest is a piece of cake!


Cheers,


Peter

[biggiman]

So the red wire broke while disassembling. After a time the black too.

So i tested the wires with the batterycase  in and a multimeter. There were 3V.

Then I tried two wires with battery to touch the + and - on the board.

Not even for a second the beepbeep stopped.

I'm afraid this could be an other problem. But tomorrow a friend will see with the soldering iron. We will see.

[pnhicks]

Hi Biggi,


Someone has done a very poor attempt at soldering the wire to the negative solder pad on the foot board!


The solder ball is barely touching the pad on the board and is most likely a non-conductive joint (cold solder).  It may have mechanically supported the wire at one time, but I doubt it completed the electrical circuit.

There is also some stray solder on the board below the pads that should not be there at all.


You should inspect the joints on the rear side as well. If the past owner applied too much heat to post in the unsuccessful attempt to attach the wire, the pads may have lifted of the circuit card or be burned (carbonized).


Hopefully it is just a nonconducting (cold) solder joint, and should come clean with a bit of good flux and fresh solder to remove the oxidation and the old wires. Using good solder technique to reattach the battery wires, your Pleo should be working again!  Remember to observe the polarity of the wires (Black to - and red to +) as marked on the rear of the board!


Cheers!


Peter

[biggiman]

Hi pnhicks,

i commented/asked the last pic of your dropbox.

does it matter if we use the right or the left contact of plus on the board?
we tried it with the left + cause it was too hard to attach. the solder didn't stick.


We tried to attach the wires but Pleo didn't work 

Your really think there already tried to repair something. There was the glue that i tried to take down a little bit?

My friend also said there were different kind of solder.

You have an idea where I could the circuit card?

I'm really sad for my son.

[pnhicks]

Hi Biggi,


It makes a big difference as the contact on the left of the plus is not connected to anything!


I replied to your comment as well.


You need a really good flux to solder on these Chinese boards (no prejudice intended).  The solder repair was horrible, there is no way that was done in the factory!  The factory does use a coating to protect the solder and wires after production from corrosion (in case Pleo goes for a walk outside, NOT a good idea, or steps in some liquid on the floor.).


These coatings can make repair solder difficult.  A good flux will help greatly. The glues and corrosion can be removed with a GENTLE scrub with a nonmetalic brush and some isopropyl alcohol.


You need a proper electronics soldering pencil, with a good tip and leaded solder (Pb). In pro environment Germany (1 or 2 grams will not destroy the planet more than it is) this maybe difficult to find (maybe in a Chinese store, jejeje).


Don't be sad, I will not let your son down!  I probably have one with wires and battery holder laying around somewhere in the storeroom!


Postage to Germany from Spain can't be too much!


I will take a look (if I can fit in the door!)


Cheers!


Peter

[pnhicks]

Hi Biggi,


I have this part available, free if you pay shipping from Spain to Germany!


https://www.dropbox.com/s/vlymnlses13hefu/20210103_111625.jpg?dl=0


https://www.dropbox.com/s/lhmsbq7ujiqlx1m/Rb%20right%20rear%20footpad.jpg?dl=0


Cheers!

Peter

[biggiman]

Oh thank you!
I should i pay?

We got pleo to work, we soldered the right contacts but it broke again when we assembled it.
Would like to take the part to be safe for future .

[pnhicks]

Hi Biggi,


No problem!


I will package it up and get a rough idea of the cost from the Post Office on shipping to Germany and let you know!


Cheers and happy 3 kings day!


Peter

[biggiman]

Thx,

plz send me a PM for the details

[pnhicks]

Hi Biggie,


I am still trying to get to the Post Office!  The holidays here have made the lines too long to fight!


The Three Kings asked Amazon for help delivering gifts for Three Kings Day and now everyone is returning what they didn't like (or what didn't work!).


I hope to get it a chance this week!


Cheers,


Peter

[biggiman]

Thx for your answer.

My friend soldered again and couldn't connect it again. he thinks the circle board might be damaged and it's hard to find a place to get connected.

[pnhicks]

Hi Biggi,


I sent you a PM!


Cheers,


Peter

[biggiman]

Thx for all PNHICKS

Is it possible to use parts froms 1st generation of pleo for the RB as well?

[pnhicks]

Hi Biggi,


Glad it worked for you!


Depends on which part(s) you are referring.  The servos are basically the same, the electronics, no, the plastic bits and bobs yes and no, depending on where and how much "modifiication" you can perform.


Any particular reason, as you know I happen to have an overstock of both breeds!


My wife is threatening to leave me if I don't "find a home for this stuff".   


Actually, she is very kind and has put up with way too much for way too long...


Anyway, let me know before its gone!


Cheers,

Peter