Dolphin Card battery swap

[Christopher Mondt]

NEVER change a battery with server off.

The capacitor of the old Dophin cards are are so weak at this time that sometimes You have only 20 second for the change.
Many cards where build 2007.

We have experienced that even some Years ago with two cards.

Since we do it with running servers we never had any problems.
Changed over 50 batteries within the last 5 Years

Used Dolphin cards are not so easy to find anymore.
Many have been lying around since a Year and clock stopped.

So its a lot of electronic junk with these cards...

Did anyone ever tried to find and contact a retired DOREMI technician for resetting a clock?
Just for environmental protection.

I have 8 cards that need reanimation.

?


Christopher

[Leo Enticknap]

My understanding is that, for the DCI compliant variant of the Dolphin card at any rate, recertificating it has to be done in a FIPS-approved facility and with all sorts of oversight, rules, and regulations governing the process. It's not just a case of finding a former Doremi tech who'd be willing to do it as a side hustle. Therefore, if a media block of any description loses its certificate now, it's destined for the e-waste basurero.

The capacitor of the old Dophin cards are are so weak at this time that sometimes You have only 20 second for the change. Many cards where build 2007.

That warning likely applies to Doremi IMBs, too, because the first ones aren't much younger. The problem is that there is no way to swap its battery with it seated in the card cage and powered. The only alternative would be to connect the terminals to 3V DC power while replacing the battery in some way, as has been discussed at length on this site previously in the context of replacing the soldered in certificate battery on the TI ICP.

[Carsten Kurz]

For the IMBs, it is important to follow the specific battery swap procedure provided by Doremi/Dolby. Especially to power up the projector fully immediately before the battery swap in order to allow the buffer capacitor to become fully charged before the battery change. Prepare everything fully before taking out the IMB card and have new battery and tools ready sitting on a bench. Don't let something disturb you during the process, no kids or animals ;-)

https://kb.dolby.com/CinemaKnowledge...ment-Procedure

[Leo Enticknap]

The point Christopher was making is that those buffer capacitors could now be up to 18 years old, and therefore will likely give you much less than than the three minutes (IIRC) that the official instructions tell you that you have to get the new battery in and seated.

[Carsten Kurz]

For the original Dolphins, yes, but their batteries can be swapped with the servers running. The IMBs are not that old. Also, there is a difference between Dolphin 1.0 und 1.2 when it comes to battery depletion. Only the later Dolphin 1.2 go braindead with empty batteries.