The arrogance of some corporations

Maybe some help

Bob Hackett

>Talk to Chuck Woodruff at (206)723-8487 or e-mail him at woodco@gte.net.

Chuck is a woodturner and electrical engineer.I`d be surprised if he couldn`t help you.

Mainely,Bob

Re: The arrogance of some corporations

John Lucas

>Gary

I think your right. Obviously someone somewhere has a schematic. You might have to go above that guy however.

I went to my local dealer and got programming instructions for my Square D drive but I didn't ask them for schematics. I don't believe he had them however. It's been my experience that a lot of electronic equipment is repaired by changing boards. Not component level repairs like we used to do. It's simply cheaper to replace a board than to spend a few hours troubleshooting down to the failed component.

When you send in a hard drive they don't fix them anymore. They just give you a new one.

Re: Maybe some help

Gary Evans, Tallassee, TN

>Thanks, Bob,

I appreciate the contact info. I'll see if he can help.

Gary

Re: The arrogance of some corporations

Gary Evans, Tallassee, TN

>Hi John,

I know we are in a throw away society, but I also know that electronic boards are repairable. I couldn't believe that anyone would assert such a patently false idea and then turn around and ask me to buy a new drive from their company.

Thanks,

Gary

Coffee Gary, lots more coffee

Sam Simpson

>

Re: The arrogance of some corporations

Richard Allen

>Hi Gary

I don't work for Square D and do I have any inside knowledge.

It is possible that Square D is just branding third party devices. This is to say that there isn't a guy in the back room with any information. The lady who orders the stuff might have the invoice for the original purchase from the Taiwan supplier of the drive. But they haven't used that Taiwan supplier for several years because they get less expensive drives (which makes the older ones obsolete) from China.

So the only thing they have are the specs, which they said they would compare to find a comparable and perhaps the programing guide, though they might not keep programing guides for 7 years ago.

Then again I could be all wrong.

Thanks

Richard

Re: The arrogance of some corporations

John Lucas

>Richard is probably right. I've had several different units apart and they have a few boards that look awfully similar. I've wondered if they are buying the guts from one manufacturer and modifying them to fit their needs. They can be programmed to do almost anything.

Re: The arrogance of some corporations

Joe Fleming

>Gary,

I would offer one more explanation on behalf of SquareD (I don't work for them, own stock, represent them, blah blah disclaimers). Many manufacturers refuse to give out detailed service information because of product liability concerns.

If you were to work on the unit and get electrocuted, they fear that you would be taking them to court in two winks. They can't take a chance that a person might be less than knowledgeable no matter what that person says. If they were to give you the schematics, that would imply that they have authorized you to open up the unit. If I were them dealing with an unquantified person (from their perspective) such as you or I, I would say "no" too.

For what it is worth, I always try to acquire parts lists, schematics, assembly diagrams, etc. for all my equipment because I'm a tinkerer too.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

Re: The arrogance of some corporations

Dale Stansbery

>Your assumption that it's made with readily available parts may be your first bad assumption. Try getting an start relay for an older Baldor grinder motor. There may have been and probably were subtle design changes over the manufacturing life of your unit, and there may well be OEM parts used that just aren't available.

I'm with Joe...

BubbaBob

>...in that liability is probably a big issue in their not "helping" you open a sealed unit.

Don't get mad at so-called arrogant companies that are simply trying to protect themselves, get mad at scumbag ambulance chasing legal slime that are always trying to find some deep pockets to plunder.

BubbaBob

Re: I'm with Joe...

Gary Evans, Tallassee, TN

>Hi guys,

I can understand liability issues. But if that was their concern, they should have been honest enough to tell me that.

What got my dander up was the flat statement that the drive is not repairable. I know that is not correct when the proper information is available.

I guess it seemed to me that their message showed a lack of concern for customer service and satisfaction and I get tired of running into that attitude time after time when I try to deal directly with big companies.

Anyway, off my soapbox now. And Sam, I don't even drink coffee. I guess I'd be a real terror if I did.

Thanks all,

Gary

Re: The arrogance of some corporations

Doug Leite

>Gary,

A friend of mine has 2 VFD Generals, and the controller on one of them went bad. He was told that the motor and the controller had to be replaced as a pair, as the new controller wouldn't work with his present motor. How about that crock of ? He gave them both to me, and it's sitting on the floor with me having no clue as to what to do with them. The electrician cut all of the wires and he has no schematics. This thing doesn't even have a brand name on it. I probably will use the motor with another brand of controller, unless you come up with a solution for yours and are willing to share it with me.

Aloha

Doug