My 18650 batteries vented when I put them in the PicoCalc


Some damage found in the solder, may have melted, due to short circuit, and cause buzzing???

Then I’d definitely try opening it up, carefully disconnect the LCD panel ribbon, powering it up, and see if it makes the noise… beyond that, I can’t think a component outside the onboard audio, or the power/charging circuit… which we also ran into our laptop fleet… which would, in and of itself, be capability of making a noise.

I hear like a buzzing sound mixed with a beeping like alarm like sound.

The stuff around the pins looks like flux they didn’t clean off. Heat may have spead it out. The only reason I could image them possible “buzzing” is if they’d sepetated and were arcing. I don’t know how the power circuitry is set up on the PicoCalc, but on a long shot, you could GENTLY, depress the solder tabs to see if that makes a difference… and I emphasize GENTLY because the LCD is do bloody fragile.

and this same sound, still now appears if you have the fpc cable in or not

ok I gently depressed the solder tab, and it looks normal now, repowered using usb-c and still alarm sound coming from top 1/3 of the PicoCalc, somewhere around raspberry pi pico.

I know this may sound absolutely stupid, but I asked chatgpt to inspect, and it said that it may be something to do with a broken voltage regulator, and built in systems alarming you to tell you that high voltage coming in.

I don’t know if it is correct, please fact check.

Ok, it’s not the backlights then…Hmm, had a odd long shot thought. If you remove the batteries, and plug the PicoCalc in to powered (usb C port) and turn it on, does it make the noise?

Also try plugging a headset/earbuds into the PicoCalc as see if the sound stops, or if you can hear the noise through the headset.

this whole time I have been testing plugged into usb-c as in the title of this thread, it says my batteries vented, and they are most likely dead now as I have tested them (or the battery holder is broken, but no visible signs of damage to it)

Possibly, I’ve experience noisy power circuitry, so it might be the regulator, my old place never did board level repairs, so I couldn’t say for sure… That you’re hearing something of a compound sound, rather just a simple buzz, makes me think it’s possibly noise from the Pico or STM32. Sound likes something the hardware gurus on the forums might have better guess about. Otherwise, I’d give Alex an email to see if they can help.

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Thanks a lot for the help over the last hour.

Does the LED on the Pico light up when you hear the “alarm like sound” ?

no.

and I also figured out the issue, and it’s with the voltage regulator. I gave Alex an email, awaiting response.

Also apparently there is a 6 month warranty? right? What does that warranty cover, like does it cover the whole mainboard :upside_down_face:

Warranties don’t cover damage caused by user error, only manufacturing defects.

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Well anyone know where on the mainboard is the voltage regulator, so I can send an image here, and someone may find a potential fix.

U101 APX2101 https://github.com/clockworkpi/PicoCalc/blob/master/clockwork_Mainboard_V2.0_Schematic.pdf

On the right hand side of the Pico pin 21, near the reset button.

Thanks, but Alex is offering me a replacement, for $25 USD, free shipping, for a full board replacement.