Ixus160 external power, observations

axman

145

Ixus160 external power, observations

« on: 11 / February / 2016, 15:30:59 »

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I have 2 of these with power switch physically shorted closed.
ShortMethod1- 1cm2 of copper leaf across on-off switch contacts, replacing the dished metal contact.
ShortMethod2 - wires soldered to switch contacts & run external to cam -> jumper'ed together
For these cams,
Normal power on is - close a switch and put ~4.7V DC to batt eliminator device
Normal power off is - open the switch
Normal control of cams is a chain of chdkptp commands. 'connect; rec; remoteshoot; play'
Normal cycle is exec'ed - one cam, every 3 min; one cam every 5 min round the clock

After 7-8K cycles, both cams now prompt for date/time at every power up. Setting the date/time is possible only when CHDK sdcard is removed from cam. (the CHDK logo pops up over top of the cam's prompt for date/time, and the FUNC/SET button is unresponsive. chdkptp commands sent to the cam while in this state continue to work correctly. Remove CHDK sdcard, setting date/time succeeds, SET button responds, but the value does not seem to be retained by the cam for very many cycles (tens, hundreds, zero) before it starts prompting again.

No complaint about CHDK/chdkptp, rather, I wonder if shorting the switch 'permanently' the way I did caused a drain on the battery responsible for retaining date/time.. Another possibility is I'm supplying too high Volts, and continuous over-voltage, over time, fries the "not-set" value into the cam.?.

Not sure if the tiny battery at end of plastic wire-ribbon (behind flash) is responsible for date/time clock. On my external-wires camera, it measured 3.04V. Foil-shorted camera measured 2.97V.

Tested for a drain by measuring V across the wires I'd run outside the cam, with cam Off. 0.3 V. Not sure I am seeing this correctly.. I don't recall measuring any V at the on-off switch copper contacts before ~~butchering~~ performing the soldering job.. It may be that I got it too hot and melted to a neighbor wire inside the plastic ribbon; not sure how else to explain measuring V across a switch that (in my mind) should only be 'continuity' and never 'current'.

I may have ruined something in the cam regarding date/time values, but both cams are still normal otherwise. And I must have at least soldered to on-off switch wires 'okay' because the cam's on-off switch action works correctly; touch those wires together (provide continuity, not current) by closing switch for 200ms, then opening switch causes the cam turn on & off. Lens retracts correctly for the off cycle. (Cam still prompting for date/time; even tho date/time is correct value, I can see it behind CHDK logo.) chdkptp commands all work good, they blow right past the date/time prompt.

Will have another rig soon to test with - one that will use Method2 only, and maybe I'll achieve better soldering on the on-off switch. If my suspicion above is correct, by using cam's on-off switch function instead of brute forcing it to power on, I'll avoid the problem. It may be drain on the date/time batt, over-voltage or something else but it's ok because using cam's on-off switch action gives me a more reliable lens retract than just giving chdkptp:play command followed by a power cut.

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reyalp

14118

Re: Ixus160 external power, observations

« Reply #1 on: 11 / February / 2016, 16:04:14 »

Interesting observation. I know others have used the button hold down mod. I don't recall any specific reports that match yours, but this thread may be useful http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=12626.0

Quote

the CHDK logo pops up over top of the cam's prompt for date/time, and the FUNC/SET button is unresponsive

If you send
=post_levent_to_ui(4484)
the buttons will probably become usable.

Quote

Not sure if the tiny battery at end of plastic wire-ribbon (behind flash) is responsible for date/time clock. On my external-wires camera, it measured 3.04V. Foil-shorted camera measured 2.97V.

I would be very surprised there was a battery for anything other than the RTC. Replacing it with an equivalent type would seem like the obvious thing to test.

You probably already know this, but just in case: Watch out for the capacitor on the flash when you are working with a disassembled cam, that could give you a VERY nasty jolt (maybe even fatal, if you are particularly unlucky)

edit:
IIRC it has been noted before that the camera continues draw power after being shut off with the button held down. See http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=9969.190

« Last Edit: 11 / February / 2016, 16:09:21 by reyalp »

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Don't forget what the H stands for.

axman

145

Re: Ixus160 external power, observations

« Reply #2 on: 11 / February / 2016, 19:34:45 »

Quote from: reyalp on 11 / February / 2016, 16:04:14

You probably already know this, but just in case: Watch out for the capacitor on the flash when you are working with a disassembled cam, that could give you a VERY nasty jolt (maybe even fatal, if you are particularly unlucky)

edit:
IIRC it has been noted before that the camera continues draw power after being shut off with the button held down. See http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=9969.190

All great infos, thanks for feedback. I had seen mention of flash capacitor warning elsewhere, but the reminder is good advice. Also comforting to learn that a slight draw through on-off switch (in similar configs as mine) is not unknown here.

Follow-on to obs made above;
What was ~4.7 on one Vreg was 4.9V on another, and should not have been. Reducing input voltage to 4.0V on my "problem cam" caused the date/time prompting to stop.

Lessons learned so far: (some seen elsewhere in this forum, and some learned from burnt fingers)

Try to mimic cam's functions when operated by a human more closely (use the on-off sw if possible).
Affix wires to their final locations before attempting to solder tiny wires to paper-thin switch contacts.
Try not to get it too hot - obviously.
Don't over-voltage - give the cam close to what it expects but not more - kind of obvious..
if possible, leave the power On inside the battery house throughout a day's cycling,
rather than cutting power each time -
the resulting power switch on-off action seems more reliable.

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Sdack

195

Re: Ixus160 external power, observations

« Reply #3 on: 04 / November / 2018, 18:26:31 »

Hey @axman,
I've been using IXUS 160s for a while now and am wanting a more reliable method of power switching them than my current one seen below.
As a newcomer to electronics and only developing time-lapse rigs for about a year, I'm getting better with my soldering iron but, up til now I've been hesitant to try either of your methods to bypass the physical switch. One thing which holds me back is the idea of trying to get the camera apart, the other is my poor soldering skills and the fact that I only have a cheap but very hot soldering iron, which is likely to melt anything nearby the switch contacts, which must surely be tiny.

Do you have any suggestions / photos of your switch hackery / advice?

I've been thinking of getting one of these, digitally variable powered irons

Maybe that will help.

Cheers

Sdack

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axman

145

Re: Ixus160 external power, observations

« Reply #4 on: 07 / November / 2018, 18:58:01 »

Hi Sdack,

Your concerns are valid. A nice soldering rig may make the power switch hack easier to achieve, but there is still risk. In my case, the choice of using hardware hack vs using other methods to control camera powerON-OFF was dictated by how I needed / preferred to use CHDK.

I think the usb-triggered method for powerON is easier and safer to implement, but unfortunatley it can't be used in my setup. (I kind of recall that one cannot use chdkptp through a usb -> cam connection that is used for powerON trigger, and I needed chdkptp. I could be wrong, it's been a while since I was in CHDK stuff.)

If you could adapt your time-lapse methodology or strategy to suit having a usb-triggered power control, it's easier and less risk. But if needs or desires drive you to hacking the power switch, suggestions below. ------------

Practice soldering tiny wires (24-28-32ga) to any old wire pad on a broken computer or other broken circuit board. This will give some sense of how fast you have to move the soldering iron & solder.

Decide in advance where you want the wire to exit the cam.

When you take the camera apart, mark where each screw comes from. One screw is longer than the others, and size diff can't be easily seen.

Run your tiny wire and have it completely glued in place before soldering. Glue the wire in place at several spots, making sure the glue joint closest to soldering point is good. If glue is not set, or is weak next to solder joint, wire is likely to curl or move away from desired spot at the worst possible time.

Bend or curve the wire ends where you will solder - bend the ends down so they are touching, or nearly touching the copper foil of the switch. You can't easily hold the solder AND the soldering iron AND push the wire down to touch the copper foil.

A little pre-heat to the wire helped. Tinning the wire first did not help.

Lastly, smoke a cigarette or something before soldering, as an offering to the blue smoke gods.. Good luck.

Crappy pix of IXUS160 switch hack;

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1EJFANigNXsXZW6-UjVGk7RnCgNqQqY3e

https://drive.google.com/open?id=10Edc1WV9c4huGtOyRvbwJN1P84YreSeQ

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ub9xYk10gaYUr3bDwfHfT_p6kdpW9NR4

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1S3wisXXwYRXFj_QSa9AHA-9k_iuo6GED

https://drive.google.com/open?id=144qVPbu2ASbhMFT6Eedy8PdH_xXbFdUX

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1hOsMBYpJWUcVqZuKHixGToGCQVijFoI_

Slightly less crappy pix of SX530HS switch hack;

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Y0de7J2DeVPEsK47w8ZTqLvG2zDQsoHP

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vgUg_xy3DaSa8XtBsgD9Abi1aimBoevo

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Yc262g9mXEjLeOXXIUVd3pQnCRPFWeUL

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1K8Yb260lDtN1UrxCGT8cd1vtiG0uI_DK

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1mcUz3lAWPYEEw9bP3eA1cQiCpxs09WAy

https://drive.google.com/open?id=144b7rWXq3pIE0u8gyzGZBtBbkytFXHld

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Sdack

195

Re: Ixus160 external power, observations

« Reply #5 on: 07 / November / 2018, 22:02:11 »

@axman,
thanks a lot for your post which was as entertaining as it was informative and encouraging.

You are right about not being able to use the USB port for both power AND chdkptp at the same time. It's such a shame because, like you I need chdkptp for my rig.

It's great to see your pictures.. I feel much more comfortable knowing that you have trodden the path before me.

For years after reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, I used to use what I called my "Zen Approach" to fixing up audio cassettes that had gotten tangled up and pulled out of the case. It involved starting from a very calm place, assembling all the right equipment and a clear place to work and then proceeding very carefully indeed. It worked a treat and I think it might be needed here.

I'll let you know how I go.

I may even take up smoking again.. after 35 years.
Thanks again
Sdack
Cheers

Nigel

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ottokar

29

Re: Ixus160 external power, observations

« Reply #6 on: 02 / January / 2019, 09:04:38 »

@axman,

Hi, looking at your photos, it looks like you removed the 'metal dome part of the switch to get to the solderable contacts, is that correct? That would mean the physical power button no longer works, it's a permanent, irreversible change?
thanks,
Andrew

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axman

145

Re: Ixus160 external power, observations

« Reply #7 on: 06 / January / 2019, 14:17:57 »

@ottokar,

Correct, the mod is irreversible given my poor soldering skills, and a physical press of that power button no longer turns the camera on.

But I think physical press / hold of Play button still turns camera on, so "normal" type operation is not completely lost.

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