pete Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 There have been noises from resellers that it's getting harder to get packs of replacement pens for promethean boards, particularly the dark grey pens with the orange band. Trying to get hold of a ten-pack is proving difficult. For how long do Promethean guarantee a supply of / produce replacement pens for a given board type? Does a 3rd party make compatible pens if a pen+board type goes end-of-life? Since the boards are rather indestructable (with little functional difference between versons - and IWB is an IWB), we only replace them when they suffer catastrophic hardware failure.
cmssbrie Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 Hi, Just checked, and don't believe this is true. Perhaps the reseller may just be low on stock? I can't guarentee exactly how long the pens will be manufactured for - but certainly, as far as we know here, there are no plans to stop manufacturing of the Pen 3 (thats the ones you have) any time soon, and even if they were to cease production (which they are not!) - there would be a provision put in place for current users. Hope this goes some way to help clarify! 1
plexer Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 It's a shame that Promethean had to change things so that new pens don't work on old boards and vice versa, was that for reliability purposes or better multitouch or another reason? Shame there isn't the possibility to create a switchable pen that will work on all boards, different switchable coils perhaps? Thanks. Ben
laserblazer Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 It was one of the main considerations when we opted for Smartboards.
bossman Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 (edited) @pete: Look here: ActivPen for Promethean Activboard: ACTIVPEN - @cmssbrie Don't know if you can get them any cheaper than £10 a pen if you can then let me know Found them slightly cheaper here: http://www.crusaderstore.co.uk/categories/promethean-whiteboard-pen/c-1-3930/ Edited November 4, 2011 by bossman 2
sdc Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 Last time we needed some, I telephoned them and asked how we'd go about getting hold of some; the very helpful chap on the phone send me a pack of 10 or so, free of charge! This probably isn't normal practice, but it may be worth asking!
pete Posted November 4, 2011 Author Posted November 4, 2011 (edited) Cheers everyone - yeah, found a 10pk from another supplier (but the btowstore looks interesting). It was just the whole "Hmm, I have 30-40 of these things, do I need to start stockpiling pens?" I have floated the idea of a pen with two ends (like the old-style pens that could erase if you reversed them) as a suggestion. Can we also have a bit of strain relief added to the delicate wiring? The usual failure point for our pens is where the coil wire is attached at the end of the board. Repeat impacts (or just general use) knocks one of the wires loose. Use of potting compound after soldering (or a strain relief grommet that'll cushion the solder joints from stress) would extend the life of the pens. Edited November 4, 2011 by pete
plexer Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 I paid £10 each when I last got some from Dan @ Wstore may have to squeeze him on the price next time. Wow the new style ones are £21 each on that site, flipping eck. Ben
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