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      Troubleshooting Power Issues on a Topcon FC-6000 & Sokkia SHC-6000

      Use these methods to troubleshoot specific power issues with a Topcon FC-6000 or a Sokkia SHC-6000.

      Charge Indicator Is Uncalibrated

      For the charge indicator to accurately show the status of the internal and removable batteries, you must calibrate the charge indicator. When the charge indicator is uncalibrated, the battery may appear to never fully charge or appear depleted when it still has some charge left.

      To calibrate the charge indicator, fully charge the battery and then fully discharge it. Repeat the calibration process as needed.

      Battery Is Unbalanced

      An older Topcon FC-6000 or Sokkia SHC-6000 battery may become unbalanced, requiring the battery to be updated then recovered. For instructions, see fixing an unbalanced battery. 

      New Battery Does Not Work in Unit

      Before inserting a new battery into a Topcon FC-6000 or Sokkia SHC-6000, update the firmware and OS on the tablet. If you add a new battery to an outdated tablet, it may not turn on or flash the red light three times when you press the power button. 

      To fix this problem, remove the new battery. Perform a 20-second hard reset (or remove the power source and drain the internal battery for at least 12 hours). Update the tablet's firmware and OS before re-inserting the new battery.

      Performing a Hard Reset

      If the soft reset doesn't work, hold the power button down for 20 seconds. The batteries will electrically disconnect from the tablet, causing a complete shutdown. If you are in the field, keep in mind the tablet cannot be powered on again until it is plugged in with the AC wall charger. 

      Caution: Holding the power button down for 20 seconds for a forced disconnect is recommended only as a last resort. Forcing the power off causes all unsaved data to be lost and corrupts active data transfers to storage.

      Flexible Card Retainer Not Fully Seated

      Make sure the flexible card retainer is fully seated, as shown in the following images. Problems with the flexible card retainer may prevent the battery from engaging.

      Mesa Card Retainer

      Topcon FC-6000 or Sokkia SHC-6000 Not Powering On

      If a unit will not turn on, plug in a 30 W wall charger and a powered USB-C cable (only for a second) simultaneously. If this works, make sure updates are installed (see note below). (See also stuck during boot.)

      Topcon FC-6000 & Sokkia SHC-6000 :: Updates

      20 Mar 2023

      UPDATE: 20 June 2023 - Android no long provides security and feature updates for Android 9. Therefore, Juniper Systems recommends upgrading all Android units to Android 11. An Android 9 device must be running build number 1.0.1-20220312 or later before you can upgrade the device to Android 11.

      Operating system build number 1.0.1-20230228 is available.

      For detailed information on the changes, review the release notes and see Battery Information.

      When connected to the internet, Android will notify you that a system update is available. If the notification does not appear, go to: Settings > System > Advanced > System update > Check for update.

      For detailed instructions and troubleshooting methods, refer to Android-update-instructions.pdf.

      To verify the build number and battery information, select Settings > About tablet. You can also update and recover battery packs as needed.

      Reviewed and approved: lr, 20Mar2023

      Wall Charger Or Other External Power Source Not Correct

      The Topcon FC-6000 or Sokkia SHC-6000 (or dock) requires a 30 W or higher power supply with a 12 V output to power the tablet and charge the batteries at the same time. An older charger will not work properly with a new unit. For details, see old charger will not charge newer product model.

      You can also try testing with a spare charger or from another unit. Make sure the external power source meets the requirements. (See Power Input Requirements and Limits.)

      Electronically Disconnected Batteries

      A Topcon FC-6000 or Sokkia SHC-6000 unit may not immediately turn on if the battery pack(s) have been electronically disconnected (for example, after a hard reset). To recover a unit that is in an electronically disconnected state, make sure the main removable battery pack is inserted properly in the unit, attach a 12 V 30 W or higher power source, and then briefly press the hardware power button.

      Over-Discharged Batteries

      If a Topcon FC-6000 or Sokkia SHC-6000 doesn’t turn on, batteries are not appearing to charge, or the unit is not seeing the battery pack(s), the batteries may be over-discharged.

      To repair overdischarged batteries,

      1. Plug in the tablet.

      2. Power off the tablet by pressing the power button for a few seconds and selecting Power Off or Shut Down. Do not select Restart. 

      3. Leave the tablet plugged in overnight.

      Caution: Make sure the battery is within a recommended temperature range (about 68°F or 20°C). Batteries will not charge (or charge slowly) at temperatures below 32°F (0°C) or above 122°F (50°C).

      Note: Initially, the system will slowly trickle charge the severely depleted battery pack(s). Eventually, the red light flash slowly, indicating that the battery has recovered and is charging normally again.

      When the battery reaches 40% capacity, the tablet may respond to pressing the Power button. However, Juniper Systems recommends fully charging the tablet batteries.

      To avoid over-discharged batteries, leave the tablet plugged in overnight and on weekends as recommended. If you are not using the tablet daily, store the unit and batteries properly, as instructed in the Mesa 3 manual.

      For additional information on battery care, see Battery Not Present or will not charge to full.

      Door Magnet

      Make sure the door magnet is not missing or weak. 

      Loose Charging Port

      The charging port may be loose or damaged. To determine whether the port is damaged, charge the battery using a dock, another Topcon FC-6000 or Sokkia SHC-6000 unit, or an external battery charger. For repairs, contact our Service Department. 

      Replace Battery

      If the removable battery has unbalanced cells or another problem that prevents the battery from fully charging or being detected, removed the battery and insert a spare battery or one from another tablet.

      Other Hardware Issue

      For additional troubleshooting, see:

      Article originally from 6 April 2020