Brymen BM235 issue, nonresponsive, frozen display

[jediger]

I have the EEVBlog BM235 I bought years ago for use around the house. Whenever I turn it to any setting other than OFF it shows only the same few dark LCD segments and does not give any other indication of function. The backlight and continuity beep don't work either.

I have:
Changed the batteries
Opened the back up

Next I am going to desolder the leads to the input board so I can fully disassemble it and inspect the dial and lcd contacts.

Has anyone else has seen this?

[Muttley Snickers]

I have the EEVBlog BM235 I bought years ago for use around the house. Whenever I turn it to any setting other than OFF it shows only the same few dark LCD segments and does not give any other indication of function. The backlight and continuity beep don't work either.

I have:
Changed the batteries
Opened the back up

Next I am going to desolder the leads to the input board so I can fully disassemble it and inspect the dial and lcd contacts.

Has anyone else has seen this?

Welcome to the forum.   
I was one of the first to receive Dave's BM-235 and out of interest I tend to monitor threads where it is mentioned but I don't recall seeing this type of failure before.   

Can you describe the last operation you did with the meter or did it just randomly fail in that manner?   

[jediger]

Thanks for the response. I was measuring some voltages on my car and when I put it away it was working. I have moved since and it was packed away, life, etc. I was storing it in the garage. I'm not sure how hot it could have gotten, local summer highs can be 112F-114F (44C-46C). I found my order and the invoice date is Aug 20, 2016.

I took pictures of the inside. The solder joints on L2 and L3 looks cold but they don't move when I poke them. There seems to be a slight scuffing around the dial contacts.

I'm not sure what else to look at.

[Muttley Snickers]

Thanks for the response.
I'm not sure what else to look at.
(snip...)

I can only suggest that you send Dave (EEVblog) a Private Message and include a link to this thread, he would be the best person to ask if a similar failure has happened to anyone else.

[J-R]

U4 looks odd in the photo, maybe just an optical illusion though?

[2N3055]

Check if the CPU clock works at all (if you have a scope).

[jediger]

U4 did have something on it, maybe flux. It came off with a bit of alcohol.

I'll have to take it in to the lab at work to use a scope, but I will follow that up.