Sharp Elsimate EL-8031

		Home New Stuff Author Links Guest book Web-log	Adverts Bric-a-brac Calculators Components Ephemera Events	For Sale Glossary History Hit or Miss Radios Transport	Ultra Vales Wanted Metal Puzzles Articles Clocks

Calculators: Handheld: Sharp Elsimate EL-8031

		Size (approx):	80mm x 131mm x 21mm (max) (w,h,d) Weight 136g excluding batteries
		Power:	3V DC, 2 x AA size batteries. Also accepts adaptor (EA-17E, 3V 0.35W, centre negative) which can be used as a charger. Socket at top side on the left. Back says use rechargeable battery EA-18B, 2.4V. Mangan [sic] batteries are quoted as lasting 14 hours continuous use. The on/off switch is on the left hand side in line with the Sharp logo.
		Case:	Slim two piece plastic case, the front being micro-lined black plastic and the back smooth white plastic. A small brushed aluminium plate above the display is printed white and red with the company name and model number. Above it sits a metallic sticker for "Made in Japan". A green plastic display filter has a reminder for error and minus signs printed underneath. It is flat and flush with its own black plastic escutcheon and gives a reasonable display. The keys are squishy but work well.
		Display:	8 digit green VFD with a ninth (right-most) digit used for minus and error indictors
		Features:	4 function calculator with percentages and square root.
		Age:	1977/8
		Manufacturer:	Sharp Corporation. Made in Japan. Serial number 7207534X is on a sticker on the inside of the battery compartment as well as on the box. Also own 82040027
		Comments:	Typical quality Sharp that fits quite well in the hand especially with the on/off switch at perfect thumb position. Does one really need to know that minus is represented by a "-" sign! Odd right hand digit use for error flags and minus is common to Sharp. The logic is OK but the lack of recovery and negative zero bug is sloppy. Original black leatherette case is mottled, open-topped with embossed Sharp logo. Oddly the calculator does not fit in the box in its slip case. This was later revised by the Korean made Sharp EL-8031S.

Components:	1 x cpu: Hitachi HD37320 7J 33 (1977 date code), 28 pin DIL, 0.6" width [also have one coded 8C 38 which is early 1978] 1 x 9 digit VFD; single glass tube flat faced, Futaba 20 1 x transistor 4 x diodes 6 x capacitors 3 x resistors 1 x transformer; TDK 1470
Boards:	The main cpu board (F1518) floats on top of the keyboard assembly and is joined by a 16-way ribbon cable. The keyboard assembly is metal backed, very sturdy and fixed to the front with two screws.
Construction:	Remove the two screws from the back. Quite difficult to open without damage. The best way appears to be by levering out the two lugs on the bottom side and hinging from the top two large lugs you can see in the battery compartment.

Logic comments:	The (CE) button is used to clear last entry of a number and the (C) to clear the whole calculator.
	Overflow on number input is suppressed, keying in a ninth digit is ignored
	An overflow shows the result and "C" ("E" if negative) in the far right (first) digit and is not recoverable
	Divide by zero shows "0.C" and is not recoverable
	There is automatic constant on multiply and divide only
	Negative numbers are flagged by a "-" sign in the far right (first) digit thereby allowing full eight digit negative numbers.
	Negative square roots give you the number with "E" in the far right (first) digit but is not recoverable.
	It suffers the divide to negative zero bug: (0)(-)(1)(=) to give "-1" then (/)(1)(0)(=)(=)(=).. etc will eventually give "-0"
	It suffers the "negative zero" bug; try (1)(-)(2)(=) to give "1-" then (+)(1)(=) gives "0-"

Sharp 8031 box

This box at 85mm x155mm x 30mm is the tray plus slip-case type. Box has a sticker on the left hand side with the serial number. Printed in lime green and black.
Made in Japan.

Ref: SPAKC 2452 CCZZ

Sharp 8031 Manual

A comprehensive, four language, 48pp two/one colour manual in a colour that does not match the box at all! It measures 127mm x 82mm so struggles to even fit in the box.

Notice the use of the old name "Compet" in this booklet.

Printed in Japan with reference numbers "E.G.F.S." and "7I25Y M2050". The calculator also came with a similar sized "Cheat Sheet" (2pp one colour black). larger guarantee card and long-form warranty contact details.