Vernier Tech Info Library TIL #1779

Question

LabQuest blue power button LED ring stays on, but the screen is black.

Answer

There are a few possible causes to this problem:

1. The unit may just be asleep.
In the LabQuest App v1.3 and newer, there is a power management feature that will turn the screen off after 5 minutes of idle time. To turn the screen back on, simply tap the screen, press a key, or press the power button. If you do not like this power-saving feature, adjust the power management. Tap the Home icon, choose Control Panel, and then select Light & Power.

2. LabQuest is crashed.
If this fails to resolve the issue, it may be necessary to reset the unit. Reset the LabQuest only if all other attempts fail. For more information, see:
TIL 1777: How do I reboot a LabQuest?

3. Could be caused by a problem in an old version of the LabQuest App software.
Once the LabQuest has been reset, verify you are using the latest version of the LabQuest App and update the unit if necessary. Updates are free and available at:
http://www.vernier.com/labquest/updates/

4. Extremely low battery caused a crash while shutting down.
It is possible for the battery level to get extremely low and there to be to little power to restart the unit, even when plugged into AC. (In this state, the battery will not charge).
When this happens, reset will not solve the issue. The only solution is to disconnect AC power and disconnect the battery. This will force the LabQuest to completely shut down. After all lights are off, wait 30 seconds, then connect the unit to AC power. The screen should light within two minutes, at which time the battery can be reconnected. Charge the unit for several hours before trying to use it without AC.

Created by: dlim on March 07 2008
Last updated by: jhopkins on January 25 2010