Problems with SD cards

hiker_jon

Problems with SD cards

« on: 24 / June / 2014, 14:27:48 »

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Hi,
I just bought a SX150 on EBay. It was called "refurbished". It looks like it is nearly new, but the "push to eject" mechanism for the SD card is gone. So there must have been some trouble with this mechanism and they removed it somehow.
My problem is that it is now very sensitive to certain cards. Some cards work fine, but others get a "Memory Card Error, Card is Locked".

I suspect it is some kind of misalignment. Has anyone else seen this problem?

Thanks for any advice
Jon

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waterwingz

11953

Re: Problems with SD cards

« Reply #1 on: 24 / June / 2014, 14:58:57 »

The SD card lock switch is a purely mechanical mechanism. The card reader slot has a switch that gets activated when the lock is in the forward position. So it makes sense that its position & alignmnet sensitive.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

philmoz

3146

Re: Problems with SD cards

« Reply #2 on: 24 / June / 2014, 15:57:44 »

There should be a spring that pushes the card out, and a catch that latches it in place when you insert the card.
When you push the card down to eject it, the catch releases and the spring pushes the card up.

Sounds like the SD slot eject mechanism is broken - if it was refurbished then Canon would have fixed this.
Whatever has been broken is possibly also interfering with the card-lock microswitch.

Phil.

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CHDK ports:
sx30is (1.00c, 1.00h, 1.00l, 1.00n & 1.00p)
g12 (1.00c, 1.00e, 1.00f & 1.00g)
sx130is (1.01d & 1.01f)
ixus310hs (1.00a & 1.01a)
sx40hs (1.00d, 1.00g & 1.00i)
g1x (1.00e, 1.00f & 1.00g)
g5x (1.00c, 1.01a, 1.01b)

hiker_jon

Re: Problems with SD cards

« Reply #3 on: 24 / June / 2014, 16:15:14 »

Quote from: waterwingz on 24 / June / 2014, 14:58:57

The SD card lock switch is a purely mechanical mechanism. The card reader slot has a switch that gets activated when the lock is in the forward position. So it makes sense that its position & alignmnet sensitive.

I don't think the card lock sensor is the problem. CHDK would boot if the card were truly locked. Instead no images on the card can be seen and the camera beeps if I try to put it in record mode. So I think it is the contacts at the bottom that are not aligned correctly for some cards. I don't know how to diagnose and fix this. There seems to be no room for the card to move to either side.

Jon

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hiker_jon

Re: Problems with SD cards

« Reply #4 on: 24 / June / 2014, 16:18:32 »

Obviously not refurbished by Canon. In fact I would object to the sellers use of the word refurbished.
But it was a deal and I want to keep it.
My guess is that the contacts are misaligned a little so that some cards work OK, but others fail.

Quote from: philmoz on 24 / June / 2014, 15:57:44

There should be a spring that pushes the card out, and a catch that latches it in place when you insert the card.
When you push the card down to eject it, the catch releases and the spring pushes the card up.

Sounds like the SD slot eject mechanism is broken - if it was refurbished then Canon would have fixed this.
Whatever has been broken is possibly also interfering with the card-lock microswitch.

Phil.

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