Hi There,
Has anyone ever changed the internal battery on a Solton MS40 (Made by Ketron) and can tell me any details and whether it is a DIY job.
Can't find the manuals as I have had the module from new, probably around 15 years but it's still being used.
Tony

borrowed this from the yahoo solton club, hope it helps:
MS series battery replacement

That battery number is generic just like AA or C. Easiest place to
find it is Radio Shack. Here's a warning though. The MS batteries
are mounted on a special 3 prong holder which solders in. There is
no way you will change it in 2 minutes so back up your regs etc.
Also you can get the battery mounted in a holder from Radio
Shack, but the holder is not the same size so the prongs don't fit
well. Also as you solder try very hard not to let the new battery
get very hot. Ned, I don't know if Radio Shack is in UK or not.

THE BATTERY IS ACTUALLY SOLDERED TO THE PC BOARD IF I
REMEBER CORRECTLY. IF YOU CONTACT LOU AT BELL DUOVOX IN
NEW YORK HE CAN GIVE YOU THE CORRECT BATTERY
REPLACEMENT # AND POSSIBLY SUPPLY YOU WITH THE CORRECT
BATTERY. JUST A WORD OF WARNING THOUGH. IF YOU ARE NOT
COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH AND SOLDERING ON PC BOARDS,
TAKE IT TO YOUR LOCAL SHOP. IT IS VERY EASY TO CAUSE MAJOR
DAMAGE IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL

HI THE BATTERY DETAILS IN THE SERVICE SHEET IS AS FOLLOWS----
- LITHIUM BATTERY CR2032 PART NUMBER-IBTL002.... LET ME KNOW
HOW YOU GET ON AS I HAVENT REPLACED MINE AND I DONT KNOW
HOW OLD MY MS-40 IS AS I BOUGHT IT AS A DEMO MODEL

Ross, The battery is 3 volt lithium and very common for electronics. The same as a
computer uses. Now that makes it easier to find, doesn't it?
I replaced a battery in the solton 'arranger plus' model but that was a 10yr old
keyboard and it had to be soldered into place. I hope for your sake and all of us, our
MS40 has an easily replacable type, like in a PC.
Push out the old, push in the new. Simple

Hi Gruhs,
Many thanks for your very comprehensive reply.
In view of the fact that the battery is soldered, I have decided to leave it and just reload my PROGRAMS and REGISTRATIONS from floppy every time I switch on.
The people who took the place of Radio Shack in the UK is Maplins, a very good store and quite close by my home so I could probably source the battery ok but my soldering skills in general are crap so it's better left alone.
As I use the MS40 mainly just for strings (still far better than the offerings of Technics KN7000 & Tyros4), I just need my Programs & Registrations in place so I will manage for now and consider buying a Midjpro.
Thanks again for your help.
Tony

Hello,
No soldering required. Just flip out the old battery and put a new one in the holder.
At least, so was my MS40...

Regards, Carlo

Many thanks Carlo,
So the mS40 is slightly different from the full size boards - that's really good news.
Tony

Hi Tony, I changed out the battery in my MS 40 2 years ago. Its just a clean swap............no soldering required. Hope this helps.
Boxman

Hi Boxman,
Many thanks for letting me know.
I have since bought a Midjay Pro but still have the MS40 and may still decide to replace the battery if it's such an easy job.
Best wishes,
Tony

How are you doing with the MIDJPRO? I've had lots of problems with mine.

No problems with the module as such but the operating system (good though it is) needs some more work. There's no way to quickly access edited voices (no User Voices Folder on screen to match the User Styles folder) or General Midi voices, and it needs a file manager as you can get lost whilst trying to copy/move styles around or to put them in the correct folder to start with.

Another gripe is that 2 of the demo's use styles which are not even in the MidJpro - 0005 Big Band & 0018 Jazz Club.
Never known an instrument with demo's which you can't re-create yourself.

Really happy with it though as it works well and has generally good sounds & good styles.
Tony