MFP M476 does not retain time and date setting

[CaRoBri]

MFP M476 does not retain time and date setting

MFP M476 scans to pdf ok but the time and date is incorrect - it is always "31 December 1999 23:02".

I set the correct time and date but a short time later it is lost and reverts back to "31 December 1999 23:02".

How can I get the printer to retain the time and date?

[east2100]

Looks like the battery(on the formatter) is gone and can't keep the time/date.

Try not to power off your M476 and keep it power on all the time. Or, at least, do not plug out the power cable and let it plug in all the time even when you power off M476.

[CaRoBri]

Hello.

Yes it does doesn't it.

The unit is not used very often so I don't want to leave the power on all the time.

Now all I need to know is how to change the battery.

I am technically competent to repair electrical and electronic devices, so can anyone tell me how to, or point me to the information of how to, change the battery please?

Regards to all,

CaRoBri

[east2100]

OK,  I think it will be an easy job for you.

Disassemble HP M476's right cover, find the old battery (on the formatter), buy a new one and replace it.

All will be done.

HP m475 disassembly -> right cover needed only

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXdOPgmx3Qs

[CaRoBri]

Hello,

Thanks for the reply but I didn't find the job to be as easy as you seem to think. If you have done it once then it may be easier after that but the first time - a bit of a trial.

Thanks for the video link - unfortunately the soundtrack wasn't in English so it took a bit of time to work out exactly HOW to remove the right side cover. With the power and other external connections disconnected and once that was done, the battery was revealed - with "legs" firmly soldered onto a printed circuit board. The circuit board  has to be removed to change the battery!

The board has several (many) ribbon connectors and a multi-pin plug, and is secured to the machine's chassis with 4 obvious screws plus a 5th screw hidden behind several of the ribbon cables. it also rests on two metal supports, the rear one having a "retaining peg". The ribbon cables and plug need to be disconnected (and labelled) before the board can be removed.

With the board removed the battery can be identified as a "BR1225" "button cell". Trying to find one it becomes evident that it is actually a "BR1225 H Type". So where to get one?

Couldn't find one! 

Solution - - - - I got a CR 3220 battery holder from an old computer mainboard (the CMOS battery holder); soldered two wires to its terminal pins; cut the legs from under the BR1225 and soldered the wires from the battery holder to the remains of the BR1225 legs (carefully ensuring the correct polarity).

When the board was refitted, carefully screwed in place and all the cables re-connected to the right places the "new" battery holder on its cable was fed through the handy removeable panel in the side cover and the side cover refitted.

When a CR3220 battery was inserted into the battery holder nothing went bang and no smoke appeared - so the external cables were re-connected and the unit powered "on". 

Again nothing went bang and no smoke appeared and the machine powered up normally with no warnings or fuss. Going to the "System Setup" and finding that the time and date were (expectedly) incorrect, the correct settings were applied.

After switching the machine off and removing the power supply cable the machine was left disconnected for about an hour. When the machine was re-connected and powered on the date and time were checked and found to be correct!

My thanks for the help

I wonder why HP decided to put a limited life battery (normally only expected to last 5 to 7 years) HARD WIRED to a circuit board inside the machine! It is almost as if the machine was PLANNED TO FAIL and MAKE THE BATTERY REPLACENT DIFFICULT, POSSIBLY UNECONOMICAL!

And again I offer my thanks for the help,
CaRoBri