Hello,

I recently bought a Saitek Blitz, it happens to have a non-blocking defect: the function selection wheel (the one controling the digital display window) does not detect the rotation direction.

According to the user manual, this is a concern only in two situations:
- in game mode, to replay forth & back the moves that are stored in memory (but moving the pieces on the board is a working substitute)
- in set-up mode: one direction to change piece, the other way to display the squares that are occupied by the selected piece. In this context, my Blitz can only show the king's position, no way to switch to other pieces. As a consequence, I cannot verify current position... To set-up a board position, I have a workaround: from game start position, I can remove unused pieces and move the other ones to their target square.

Now, let's get to the question I have: turning the function selection wheel, I can hear a light click when the chosen function changes; exactly the same sound as a reed switch does when a piece activates it in a Mephisto Modular board. I opened the Blitz and could check the wheel does include four magnets, arranged with 90° steps. This confims a reed swith must be hidden under the wheel - I couldn't check as dismounting further on seemed a but tricky. Now, how is the Blitz supposed to be aware of the direction the magnet is moving in? My guess is there are two reed switches, and the first one triggered identifies the direction. If so, one failing switch would result in the issue I have: the function can still change, but only one way.

Can anybody owning a Blitz confirm? I think a very simple and non-intrusive test consists in turning the wheel, device powered off (to hear the clicks rather than any beep), while listening, and if two clicks are heard close to each other when turning the wheel, each quarter of a revolution, this would be an evidence two reed switchs are indeed used (and one is dead in my device...).

Thanks & regards,
Eric

Hello Tibono,

There are indeed reed switches, but fortunately they are on the top of the PCB. It is not necessary to disassemble the PCB to replace them, as you can cut the pins and solder new ones.

Also attached is a photo of the wheel with the magnets. I once found one of these magnets detached.

Best,
Gerardo

Miniaturansicht angehängter Grafiken

   

Hello Gerardo,

nice pictures, very helpful and much appreciated answer!
A huge thank.
Eric

And this is exactly what I did... 2.78€ per switch, I ordered two of them to have a spare (should I break one) but soldering the first one succeeded. My Blitz is now completely OK!

I am so happy! Funny enough, buying a Hall-sensor device and having to deal with a faulty reed switch...

Now I can much more easily setup a position; I think I will go thru BT-2450 test!

Cheers,
Eric

Amuse-toi bien!