Hello everyone,
Overnight, I became an amateur surveyor. The reason is that I bought a Leica TC 400 N to measure electrical and water lines, pathways, and buildings on my property.
I assumed I could simply send the device to Leica Heerbrugg for inspection, calibration if needed, and receive a report stating how accurate my instrument is.
Far from it. I received a refusal from Leica and also from another company advertising services to check and calibrate these devices. I always believed that buying Leica meant owning something for life.
But apparently, those times are over. What a shame.
Can anyone here help me?
1) Is there a TC 400 N user group?
2) Does anyone still service these devices?
3) Does anyone have a German user manual in PDF format?
Thank you very much for any advice!
Juergen
Overnight, I became an amateur surveyor. The reason is that I bought a Leica TC 400 N to measure electrical and water lines, pathways, and buildings on my property.
I assumed I could simply send the device to Leica Heerbrugg for inspection, calibration if needed, and receive a report stating how accurate my instrument is.
Far from it. I received a refusal from Leica and also from another company advertising services to check and calibrate these devices. I always believed that buying Leica meant owning something for life.
But apparently, those times are over. What a shame.
Can anyone here help me?
1) Is there a TC 400 N user group?
2) Does anyone still service these devices?
3) Does anyone have a German user manual in PDF format?
Thank you very much for any advice!
Juergen
J
Jesse Custer4 Feb 2026 09:33Far from it. I received a rejection from Leica and from another company that advertises services for testing and calibrating such devices as well. I always thought that buying Leica meant getting something for life.
But apparently, those times are over. What a pity.But you do realize that this is an old Reusse from the 1990s, which wasn’t even manufactured by LEICA? These were professional devices that have long since been retired...
I’m not even sure if data transfer is still possible at all unless you happen to have a notebook running Windows 3.11 lying around somewhere... I believe it was serial connection...
Professional-grade device sounds good. The device appears to be from 1997.
Data transfer via serial interface has not changed in the last 30 years. This also works with Windows 11 or an Android phone.
Are there any publicly accessible test fields with precisely measured points where I can check my device?
Data transfer via serial interface has not changed in the last 30 years. This also works with Windows 11 or an Android phone.
Are there any publicly accessible test fields with precisely measured points where I can check my device?
Now I have a new problem:
The batteries cannot be charged with the Leica GKL 23.
After extensive testing, the following pattern has emerged:
An old NiCd battery responds quite well, the relay in the charger switches, and the battery charges for a few minutes before blinking green.
The NiMH batteries, however, do not start charging.
I now have two of these GKL 23 units, and both behave the same way.
Meanwhile, a third charger is on its way: a Chinese model. It might work better with the Chinese batteries.
If anyone has more detailed information about this, please let me know!
The batteries cannot be charged with the Leica GKL 23.
After extensive testing, the following pattern has emerged:
An old NiCd battery responds quite well, the relay in the charger switches, and the battery charges for a few minutes before blinking green.
The NiMH batteries, however, do not start charging.
I now have two of these GKL 23 units, and both behave the same way.
Meanwhile, a third charger is on its way: a Chinese model. It might work better with the Chinese batteries.
If anyone has more detailed information about this, please let me know!