Adjusting the PowerPro Settings

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 2:45 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Recommended reading prior to DIY tweaking of Power pro parameters.

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?p=116984&postcount=91

And:

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?p=111713&postcount=13

As noted by charlese, I would contact Shopsmith. They have had a few more PowerPros to repair since the above posts were made and those repairs have added to their knowledge base.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:05 pm

SDSSmith wrote:As noted by charlese, I would contact Shopsmith. They have had a few more PowerPros to repair since the above posts were made and those repairs have added to their knowledge base.

Undoubtedly, their knowledge base has increased!
For example, the control panel software version has changed. So has the message emitted when running or being shut down. Now, when the button of a selected speed is first pushed the display shows "low speed". These words disappear as the speed increases. Also when the power switch is turned off, the display indicates the words "low power". These words were no available on my earlier version.

In April of 2012, Paulmcohen said this:

When the PowerPro is first powered up, the display shows the firmware version, mine .is "v9.02xa05 2010". (I have posted in another thread http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/show...hlight=version) the same question but no one replied with a version. It goes by so fast the only way I was able to read it was to take a photo with my iPhone when it appeared, then blow up the photo on my computer.
__________________
Paul Cohen
Beaverton, OR

(this was the same version I had when the headstock was new and through the first repair.)

A few posts later SDSSmith showed a photo of his control panel. It had v9.08csa16 2011. This is also the same version control panel in my newly repaired headstock.

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?p=116955&postcount=89

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:42 am

It is very good that Shopsmith is servicing all these problems under the warranty and that they are upgrading "firmware" when needed.

But what happens when, two or three years down the road, I (or anyone else) purchase a seldom used PowerPro that has not been upgraded because the original owner never recognized it had a problem.

Am I going to have to pay for a factory upgrade to get the firmware changed?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 12:47 pm

A related question is, How can all those 'older' versions get 'upgraded' short of a ride to/from Dayton?

A usb port would be 'handy'!:D

No, wifi NOT recommended!;)

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 1:51 pm

dusty wrote:It is very good that Shopsmith is servicing all these problems under the warranty and that they are upgrading "firmware" when needed.

But what happens when, two or three years down the road, I purchase a seldom used PowerPro that has not been upgraded because the original owner never recognized it had a problem.

Am I going to have to pay for a factory upgrade to get the firmware changed?

The PowerPro headstock has a 5 year warranty. If you are interested enough, you might call customer service and ask if the warranty transfers with the machine.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:50 pm

dusty wrote:It is very good that Shopsmith is servicing all these problems under the warranty and that they are upgrading "firmware" when needed.

But what happens when, two or three years down the road, I purchase a seldom used PowerPro that has not been upgraded because the original owner never recognized it had a problem.

Am I going to have to pay for a factory upgrade to get the firmware changed?

IMHO this hypothetical situation is; 1)very unlikely to occur, as seldom used PowerPros will most likely hold the same price as new for quite a few years. 2)highly unlikely that Shopsmith will honor their warranty on used equipment. They never have as far as I know.
The excellent Shopsmith warranty is the major reason I have turned down buying used equipment.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 5:35 am

Rob and Charlese: Either my question is unclear or you guys are sidestepping the answer.

There are more than a few PowerPro headstocks now in service that were built with older versions of the firmware. Firmware that has NOT BEEN updated to reflect the current "Shopsmith Knowledge Base".

If one of those machines is resold and then it is discovered that it needs repair similar to what Charlese' has had - is the only recourse a trip to the factory (at the owner's expense).

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 5:43 am

[quote="charlese"]IMHO this hypothetical situation is]

Charlese, the five year warranty is very attractive and it serves users like you and I very well. However, some thirty year old who buys a PowerPro is not going to be quite as impressed with five years of warranty protection (even if it is transferable).

Shopsmith has been known to honor their warranty (at least in part) to second owners. There has been some discussion of that here on the forum just recently.

algale · Post by **algale** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:17 am

dusty wrote: Shopsmith has been known to honor their warranty (at least in part) to second owners. There has been some discussion of that here on the forum just recently.

I can vouch for that. See discussion here. http://shopsmith.net/forums/showpost.ht ... stcount=75 (warning it is a lengthy post).

But to get back to the subject of Dusty's post, it seems to me that the firmware for the PowerPro is kind of betwixt and between things that may come under "warranty." A warranty generally covers things that are defective or out of spec when sold or that breakdown within a certain period of time or both.

Was the original PowerPro firmware out of spec or defective when it was sold? Just because something has been updated doesn't mean the original was defective. If I buy a Shopsmith (new or used) with a 510 table system, I wouldn't expect Shopsmith to update it under warranty for free to a 520 table system just because a 520 is the later table system. Similarly, it isn't clear to me that Shopsmith has a duty to update all prior PowerPros to the latest firmware.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:02 pm

I just learned something about warranty's on second hand equipment. Thanks for the info!

Another correction on what I said above - At 79 years old, the chances of having a stroke or heart attack are probably a lot greater than a thirty year old. If, in a few years, if I am unable to do woodworking, there is a fair chance that my equipment may be sold.

In the meantime, it needs to be understood and accepted that the PowerPro is simply not as accessible for user repairs as the old trustworthy Mark V headstock. I look at it a lot like repairing a 2,000 year automobile as compared to one from 1950. If a computer in a new auto fails, the fix is to replace it. As far as I know, the diagnosis of the needed repair and the computer replacement is only done by a mechanic (now called a technician) in a shop that can get factory parts.

The PowerPro is a wonderful headstock, even if it is not totally up to date. I keep thinking of many folks participating in this forum that have the first delivered PowerPros and they are working super. 8iowa is one example!

My unit has given me many hours of pleasure and performed like a champ! Also, my personal experience has been a little frustrating at times, but my only issue has bee performance with the bandsaw. If I had a self standing bandsaw, I never would have noticed a problem other than adjusted by my first phone call to Wes. Yes, my headstock never ran whisper quiet, like some have noted (until now) but it was a whole lot quieter than the old belt and sheave model. After the last repair, it runs whisper quiet at speeds of 1350 or less. At 3450 RPM (sawing speed) it sings!!!