Moog Music Forum

Got the opportunity to buy a Moog source for $500, panel switchs not responding and patch memory not working.

Is it worth it???

Cheers.

Battery is probably dead, that may be why patch memory isn't working. You can still get those batteries, but I recommend that a tech replace them.

Buttons are another story. There was a guy who made replacement membrane switch panels, but I don't remember his name.

You're looking at another few hundred $$$ between panel, battery, and labor for a tech.

If it were me, I'd pass at that price and broken...but that's just me... Checking eBay it seems like working ones go for around $1000... By the time $500 and a tech touches that thing, plus locating membranes...you're probably there. If you could talk the seller down to maybe $200 tops it might be worth it.

Thanks for the replies, is the battery difficult because of the chance of exploding when soldering? can you get a battery clip for it?

You could always use a battery holder like this... But, usually, direct replacement Lithium batteries come with pre-welded connectors to solder directly in the printed circuit board.

But that won't fix the non-responding panel membrane...

If possible, ask the seller if they've attempted repairs. (Either by themselves or by a tech.)

The reason I advise this is that:

A: if a tech has already attempted repairs, the front panel membrane has likely already been looked at and declared unrepairable.

B: if the synth has been stored and no one has attempted repairs, one of the front panel connectors may only be loose or tarnished.
(an easy repair.)

If the seller is contactable and honest, choice B is what you want and choice A is what you run from.

Battery replacement is common and a number of possibilities exist as far as mounting. (as Alien666 has clearly shown.)
Just make sure it's the correct voltage and a lithium type.
Do not use a standard cell, alkaline, Nicad, or any other type of rechargeable cell.

I need to do a similar Li-ion replacement. Can I use a Li-ion cell phone battery of matching voltage? Although the shape is different (flat) I already have a barely used one (Nokia BL-5C) and feel it may actually be better than other options as its a recent product design.

In a word: NO.

Why ? Because your cell phone battery is the rechargeable type and that is not what is needed for memory back-up inside any synth with a Lithium battery back up. (the circuitry in those synths is not designed to recharge the back-up battery when the unit is powered on)

One should not confuse Li-Ion and Lithium batteries. The first is rechargeable, the latter is not.

The battery you need is a CR123A (or similar).

It's even available at your favorite Walmart store for five bucks (provided you install it into a battery holder like I showed a couple of posts earlier):
http://www.walmart.com/ip/UPG-88005-UPG ... s/21632075

Lithium batteries should be replaced every twenty years. CR2032 or CR2016 have a shorter life - some ten years, some five years depending on the current draw when powered down.

I have just replaced the BR3 in both my Memorymoog and Source (the aforementioned pic is my Source), the BR-2/3A in my Kurzweil 1000 expander units and OB-X, and CR2032 in several units. All were originally soldered to boards, I have opted for battery holders for ease of future replacement.

Worn batteries in used gear has been a common foible of just about all the net purchases I have made. Sometimes you can a good bargain from gear that is brain dead which a battery replacement has fixed (not always though). But it is a job for the tech, if you're not careful with the soldering iron the battery can explode.

Sorry about the pic MC, I just copied the link from Gearslutz.

To compensate a little, I'm including a picture that I actually own (from the battery replacement I did in my SQ80 back in 2003):

No apologies needed

Replacement membrane panels

http://www.technologytransplant.com/pro ... cts_id=331