PBP Hardware Issues

[wtdonnelly]

I've an issue with LCD panel's backlight. It never worked. They sent me a new LCD Panel, but it didn't resolve my problem.

I'm supposing in some way it hasn't enough energy to turn it on.

Hello Bloris.  I read your post about the nonfunctional backlight(s). Can you see an image on the screen when you shine a bright light on it, and have you tested whether you have video out over USB-C to rule out a problem with the video system? 

One other thing to make sure of is that your brightness setting hasn't been accidentally turned to the lowest possible setting (I'm not implying that you are stupid, this could be overlooked by anyone--see this story https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/new...et-too-low

Bill

[Bloris]

I've an issue with LCD panel's backlight. It never worked. They sent me a new LCD Panel, but it didn't resolve my problem.

I'm supposing in some way it hasn't enough energy to turn it on.

Hello Bloris.  I read your post about the nonfunctional backlight(s). Can you see an image on the screen when you shine a bright light on it, and have you tested whether you have video out over USB-C to rule out a problem with the video system? 

One other thing to make sure of is that your brightness setting hasn't been accidentally turned to the lowest possible setting (I'm not implying that you are stupid, this could be overlooked by anyone--see this story https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/new...et-too-low

Bill

 Hello Bill,

with an external light on the screen i'm able to see the graphics. I didn't have tested with USB-C because i don't have it.

Yesterday, when i was measure the energy to eDP Pin, after like 5 minutes of fumbling i was able to turn on the backlights for about 10 minutes. After that, meanwhile i was pressing the keyboard, backlight stopped again.

I think it's the welding of eDP's Pins...I've never done such a job, but I'll try to fix it anyway. Seeing the monitor turned on gave me hope, eheh

[bigCamel]

...
4) There are reports of the plastic underneath the USB ports breaking.
...

The housing seems to have more weak spots. My PBP case broke close to the display hinges. 
This is the corresponding thread: https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=9212

[leibide]

Here's a new potential problem, but one with a happy ending:

I ran the battery down so low that the laptop wouldn't charge from the barrel connector. I left it plugged in all night but to no avail. The charging light would not come on and the charger stayed cold. Eventually, I tried charging from the USB type C port, and to my great relief the charging light began to flicker. Now it's charging from the barrel connector and the charging light is staying on. It''s unlikely anyone else will discharge their battery so much that they will experience this problem though. It happened to me after a number of botched and aborted installs while not charging.

UPDATE: Barrel connector charging port doesn't work at all any more. I must have damaged it. I do not remember pulling the charging cable at an awkward level though. The USB type C port still charges just fine, so it's not really a problem.

[bcnaz]

Here's a new potential problem, but one with a happy ending:

I ran the battery down so low that the laptop wouldn't charge from the barrel connector. I left it plugged in all night but to no avail. The charging light would not come on and the charger stayed cold. Eventually, I tried charging from the USB type C port, and to my great relief the charging light began to flicker. Now it's charging from the barrel connector and the charging light is staying on. It''s unlikely anyone else will discharge their battery so much that they will experience this problem though. It happened to me after a number of botched and aborted installs while not charging.

UPDATE: Barrel connector charging port doesn't work at all any more. I must have damaged it. I do not remember pulling the charging cable at an awkward level though. The USB type C port still charges just fine, so it's not really a problem.

The charger that came with my ANSI PBP this year has a bad connection to the US plug adapter,  so it was only working intermittently and then quit completely...
   ( The spring loaded contact did not have the spring or just stuck in place )

 I use ether a usb-c charger or the charger from my previous ISO PBP.....

  I did not want to go through the warranty process..

Perhaps your charger has the same flaw  ?

[leibide]

"The charger that came with my ANSI PBP this year has a bad connection to the US plug adapter"

Interesting. Sorry I didn't answer sooner - I had to be sure what was happening first. I've been able to test the laptop with a different Pinebook pro charger (I have two of these laptops). Both chargers are for the ISO edition. The same thing happens with both chargers on this laptop: sometimes the charging light turns on, sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it flickers. It never chargers this laptop though, even if the light is on. The connector does not appear to be loose but nonetheless it doesn't work. It did when I first got the laptop, but not now. It's really not a problem though. Now that I'm aware of this, I just use the USB type C connector instead.

[zaius]

I've been able to test the laptop with a different Pinebook pro charger (I have two of these laptops). Both chargers are for the ISO edition.

The ISO and ANSI chargers are the same, so that shouldn't make a difference.