PANASONIC Memory Card Camera-Recorder - AG-AC130 - AG-AC120 – Lithium battery replacement – How to access Service mode – firmware update procedure – Digital camera Repair and service

Category: Digital camera Repair and Service 

Contents of this article 

• How to access service mode 
• Firmware Update procedure
• Checking the zoom motor operation 

PANASONIC AG-AC130 - AG-AC120

Replacement procedure of Lithium Battery

1. Remove the SIDE CASE R S Unit. (The removal procedure has been described to the item “Removal of SIDE CASE R S Unit”.
2. There is a Lithium battery on the SIDER P.C.Board (Ref No: B500 at foil side of SIDER P.C.B.).
3. Insert the screwdriver to groove of the Lithium Battery Holder and press down it to remove the Lithium Battery. (Pay attention for remove of battery to be pop-up)
4. Install the new battery.
5. Set the date and time of internal clock (Refer to item “Setting the calendar” of operation instructions (vol1) for the setting method).

NOTE: The date and time of internal clock can be set also with PC EVR software. Main menu > Settings(S) > Calendar and clock set up(C)

NOTE:
The lithium battery is a critical component.
It must never be subjected to excessive heat of discharge.
It must therefore only be fitted in equipment designed specifically for its use.
Replacement batteries must be of the same type and manufacture.
They must be fitted in the same manner and location as the original battery, with the correct polarity contacts observed.
Do not attempt to re-charge the old battery or re-use it for any other purpose. It should be disposed of in waste products destined for burial rather than incineration.

CAUTION: DANGER OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY IS INCORRECTLY REPLACED. REPLACE ONLY WITH THE SAME OR EQUIVALENT TYPE.

Service menu

This model has DIAGNOSTIC menu as service menu besides the setup menu.
How to open the DIAGNOSTIC menu
NOTE: PB mode can not be display the menu.
1. Turn on the power. Confirm that the camera recorder is set to CAMERA mode.
2. Press the button in order of “RESET/TC SET” button > “STOP (Tilt the operation lever in the DOWN direction)” button > “DISP/MODE CHK” button > “MENU” button, DIAGNOSTIC menu can be displayed in addition to a setup menus.

3. After the item DIAGNOSTIC MENU is displayed, tilt the OPERATION lever in the UP/DOWN direction to select the item “DIAGNOSTIC MENU”, and press the OPERATION lever (ENTER button) (or tilt RIGHT direction) to open the DIAGNOSTIC MENU menu.

Software Version Display

Each software version can be confirmed at items “SOFT VERSION” and “EEPROM VERSION” in DIAGNOSTIC menu.
NOTE: The each version of Microprocessor, FPGA and EEPROM can be confirmed also with the PC EVR software.
SOFT VERSION
1. Tilt the OPERATION lever in the UP/DOWN direction to select the item “SOFT VERSION”, and press the OPERATION lever (ENTER button) (or tilt lever in RIGHT direction)

2. Tilt the OPERATION lever in the UP direction to select the “YES”. And press the OPERATION lever (ENTER button) to move the SOFT VERSION display screen.

3. Pressing the OPERATION lever (ENTER button), the screen is return to DIAGNOSTIC menu screen.

EEPROM VERSION
1. Tilt the OPERATION lever in the UP/DOWN direction to select the item “EEPROM VERSION”, and press the OPERATION lever (ENTER button) (or tilt lever in RIGHT direction)

2. Tilt the OPERATION lever in the UP direction to select the “YES”. And press the OPERATION lever (ENTER button) to move the EEPROM VERSION display screen.

3. Pressing the OPERATION lever (ENTER button), the screen is return to DIAGNOSTIC menu screen.

Service Information

The following information is displayed on the SERVICE INFORMATION screen.
# Model No.
# Serial No.
# 1394 UID
UID product numbers is displayed as AVCHD. The displayed number of 16 figures is “UID”. ex.) 00804582-38837003 (First 8 figures are fixed numbers and last 8 figures are unique numbers).
# Operation number of times of Zoom Motor
# Operation hours of FAN
1. Tilt the OPERATION lever in the UP/DPWN direction to select the item “SERVICE INFOMATION”, and press the OPERATION lever (ENTER button) (or tilt lever in RIGHT direction)

2. Tilt the OPERATION lever in the UP direction to select the “YES”, and press the OPERATION lever (ENTER button) to move the SERVICE INFORMATION display screen.

3. Pressing the OPERATION lever (ENTER button), the screen is return to DIAGNOSTIC menu screen.
Note: The UID information can be confirmed also with the PC EVR software.

Firmware update procedure

Version display method

The version of system in this camera recorder is displayed in OTHER FUNCTIONS menu screen of setting menu.
1. Turn the power on.
2. Press MENU button to display the setting menu.
3. Use OPERATION lever to select the OTHER FUNCTIONS menu and press OPERATION lever (ENTER button) to open the OTHER FUNCTIONS menu.
4. Select the item “SYSTEM INFO” and press OPERATION lever (ENTER button). And select the “YES” and
press OPERATION lever (ENTER button) to display the version of system in this camera recorder.

Update with the SD memory card

CAUTION: Before Updating Software
# Do not power down or pull card while upgrading..

Preparation of update

< Preparation for SD memory card >
1. One piece of SD memory cards (more than 64MB memory card) is required. Use only SD memory cards that comply with the SD or SDHC specifications.
2. Insert an SD memory card into the card slot of this unit and format it.
NOTE: SD memory card used in this unit requires to be conformed to SDTM standards. Be sure to format SD memory card on this unit.
< Copy of Image data for update >
1. Download Image Data “VSI*****.zip” for the update from “Support Desk” web site.
2. Copy the file “VSI*****.zip” to hard disk of your PC and extract the file.
3. Insert a formatted SD memory card into the card slot of PC.
4. Copy the folder “PRIVATE” to one piece of SD memory cards. The downloaded image data (upgrade file:
VSI*****.img) is included in folder “PRIVATE”.
NOTE: Do not change the construction of folder and file name. The folder construction shown in the following and
top of directory should be “PRIVATE”.

Folder: PRIVATE MEIGROUP PAVCN SBG AVCCAM FW
File Name: VSI*****.img

< External Power >
It is best to power the unit from the external power supply. This will prevent the unit from shutting off during updating.
Updated procedure

1. Turn the power on. Confirm that the camera recorder is set to CAMERA mode.
2. Insert the SD memory card into the SD memory card slot 1.
3. Press the MENU button to display the setting menu.

4. Keep pressing the “STOP (Tilt the operation lever in the DOWN direction)” button and “EXEC” button, press “MENU” button, UPDATE menu can be displayed in addition to a setup menus.
5. Select the item “UPDATE” on the menu and press the OPERATION lever (ENTER button) twice. When update is executed, select the item “YES” and pressing OPERATION lever (ENTER button), update program is started.

NOTE: When the update file is not recognized on SD memory card etc., the following messages is displayed.
Please confirm whether the update file is correctly written on the SD memory card.

6. The LCD screen darkens when shifting to the update processing, and the CAMERA Lamp blinks. During updating software, CAMERA Lamp is blink.

Software update takes approx. 1 to 2min. Do not power down while updating.
7. In updating succeed, CAMERA Lamp is change from blinking to lights.

8. Remove the SD memory card and turn the power supply of AC Adaptor OFF. Then power OFF the camera recorder and power ON the power supply and camera recorder.
NOTE: Power OFF/ON by the power SW of camera recorder does not work just after updating the software. Please shut OFF the external power supply.
9. Confirm that the version number is renewed for your confirmation update was correctly done.

Confirmation method of operation number of times of the Zoom Motor

The operation number of times of Zoom Motor is displayed on the SERVICE INFORMATION screen of the DIAGNOSTIC menu.
1. Confirm that the camera recorder is set to CAMERA mode.
2. Push the button in order of “RESET/TC SET” button > “STOP (Tilt the operation lever in the DOWN direction)” button > “DISP/MODE CHK” button > “MENU” button, DIAGNOSTIC menu will be displayed in addition to a
 3. Push the OPERATION lever in the UP or DOWN direction to select the DIAGNOSTIC MENU. And push the OPERATION lever (ENTER button) to open the SERVICE INFORMATION screen.
4. The operation number of times of Zoom Motor is displayed on item SERVO ZOOM in SERVICE INFORMATION screen.