GBFans Soundboard Dead Already? (Resolved)

Equipment Proton Packs
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At present the store still doesn’t ship to Canada or Internationally.

I did send a message to AJ regarding the information I found. Maybe their are other restrictions on these particular types of items which I couldn’t find. Since there are still some restrictions of certain types of Lithium batteries. Maybe this one is still banned by USPS.

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Lithium Ion batteries sold individually like this cannot be shipped via USPS Internationally. This is their rule, not ours. The only legal way to do this would be to install the battery in a device and ship the whole device along with the battery. (Ex. Cell phones, laptops with batteries, tablet computers, etc…). You still cannot ship just a replacement battery using USPS Internationally.

I adhere strictly to USPS guidelines. I even attach the stickers warning of the lithium ion battery, even though I’m not strictly required to. Most sellers, especially those on eBay, that sell the batteries, probably just throw it in an envelope and send it on its way. It would really suck as a recipient to receive a damaged / leaky / explosive battery without any kind of precaution taken.

Or worse, for an unsuspecting mail carrier or postal worker to be harmed from a problem with these batteries.

I believe I can ship to Canada using UPS or FedEx ground however… but that’s going to cost more than the price of the battery itself. (And it would probably require a load of paperwork for the hazardous battery).

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Thanks AJ. Appreciate the clarification.

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AJ I will be contact bout that soon enough. Might be able to help out by proxy.

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Oh and speaking from past experience here.

I bought a replacement battery for my laptop off of eBay a few years ago. The seller just threw it in a padded paper envelope and sent it on its way. When it arrived, the casing was all beat up, and the battery itself was swelling. Needless to say I was ■■■■■■, and I’m even more upset now that I know the regulations and the dangers. (This might have been during the time the batteries were completely banned from USPS too). Needless to say I got my money back on that one.

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This is a good thing to know when people are buying these also. Never thought about that. I’m pretty dumb lol

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Wow this has spurned some good discussion on postal regulations! :slight_smile:

Since we’re already talking about the blue box, can someone who has one describe how they wire it into their respective sound/light kits? Are you guys cutting the plug and using the wiresdirectly, or is there some sort of adapter to get it to work?

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Oh and for an update, Spongeface has some ideas on possible issues on my soundboard based on my voltage readings and has offered to take a look at it if I send it to him. Great guy!

Here is some good info he sent me in regards to the board for those who may be interested:

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That would make sense if you had an early Run #1 board. The future runs had a diode soldered on to help prevent problems.

Usually what Spongeface can do is to install a new voltage regulator, and that typically will solve any problems.

You have to be really careful when hooking up the battery, but especially a 9V since it is so easy to touch the contacts with the wrong ends.

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I wired mine up from the existing leads but I’m noy awesome at this shit.

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At R2DEVO’s suggestion, I purchased something from Radio Shack along these lines…

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102490

No need to cut the wires of the blue brick (I call mine Blue Max in homage to my mentor Brian Daley). just plug the outgoing wire of the battery into this power plug, and solder some wires to the leads inside it. The outer cover of it unscrews so you can get to the leads.

I did however cut up a spare AC adapter and connected it to one of these…

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102486

…which was mounted on my ‘switch bracket’ so I can recharge Blue Max without removing the shell.

This video may help you grasp this better. It used a lot of pics that I never posted in my build thread.

Alex

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I completely opened mine, removed the switch and red led to prevent battery drainage. I soldered new leads and duct taped the battery back together, and ran wires to my switchplate for easy charging. Just make sure the charger that comes with it puts out ~12v when its plugged in. Then you can splice the end of that and solder on a connector to plug into the switchplate. I used 4 pin mic connectors from Radio Shack for the plugs on the switchplate.

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Thanks for the vid Alex, that was really informative!

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Alex, I love all of your videos!

I have a limited number of blue brick batteries left. I will be placing another order for some more soon!

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Final Update

All is well with the world! Doug was able to check out the board found it to be an odd board defect that probably shouldn’t have worked in the first place! He repaired my board and sent it back in a weekend and refused any payment since it wasn’t my fault. The soundboard is working great and I can’t begin to thank Doug enough.