Dead Vu+Duo repair guide

[nikdegreek]

c850 ??? is this repairable have you any ideas can it still be replaced? or am i reallly screwed!

 

[yepzdk]

Is it possible to use a 470uf 25v 105c capacitor for this fix?

 

[timofee]

It would be easier to stick to a 220µF capacitor with the same or higher voltage rating than the original. They are cheap enough!

Someone above used a 330uf capacitor and that was reported as being ok - but I don't see the point of using a 470uf unless it is absolutely impossible for you to obtain a 220uf

 

[Auldtam]

Great thread..this happened to my box last year and I put it in the loft thinking it was dead, been using an android box since. After reading this thread I got the box out, trip to maplins, followed the instructions and hey presto its working again...cant thank you guys enough.

Ive installed latest image and channel list...what plugins should I add?

 

[johnspeedster]

Yes, great thread. I have been away from home for three months but left the Duo on recording programmes. The wife followed me away a month later. Came home yesterday.... Red light of death! Went to pull the Duo out of the shelf and noted glass table coasters over the top vent.... I've been using 2.3 on my 3 year old machine with just the odd crash as expected. My first thought before I started reading was that my internal 2Tb drive was full and that was the problem. Anyway, I guess I'll just do the cap. Cursing because I am in NZ having just returned from London and several visits to Maplin! Any Kiwis know where to get a new capacitor? Should I flash the latest Boot and version of Vix after this?

 

[Larry-G]

Yes, great thread. I have been away from home for three months but left the Duo on recording programmes. The wife followed me away a month later. Came home yesterday.... Red light of death! Went to pull the Duo out of the shelf and noted glass table coasters over the top vent.... I've been using 2.3 on my 3 year old machine with just the odd crash as expected. My first thought before I started reading was that my internal 2Tb drive was full and that was the problem. Anyway, I guess I'll just do the cap. Cursing because I am in NZ having just returned from London and several visits to Maplin! Any Kiwis know where to get a new capacitor? Should I flash the latest Boot and version of Vix after this?

Yes as you are on such a old image it would be wise to first flash the latest (v3.0) boot loader before any image update.


Sent from my iPad Air using Tapatalk HD

 

[kafus]

Brilliant piece of detective work originally that I expect is going to save me a bucket of time tomorrow. Must go shopping for some caps.
Thanks.

 

[data100]

thanks mate worked for me thanks

 

[mcquaim]

Any special equipment needed to replace the regulator or best to get an expert to replace this?

It looks pretty small for a soldering iron..

 

[nsw9154]

I think the only thing you need is a 25watt soldering iron as a 15watt might be a little underpowered, some good quality solder a pair of small wire cutters and a steady hand
but if you are not feeling confident enough a TV repair shop should do it for you for about £20

 

[mcquaim]

I think the only thing you need is a 25watt soldering iron as a 15watt might be a little underpowered, some good quality solder a pair of small wire cutters and a steady hand
but if you are not feeling confident enough a TV repair shop should do it for you for about £20

This is not for the capacitor, it's the regulator U801. I don't think wire cutters are required for that chip..

I have already replaced C807 and no joy so now for the regulator but it's a little on the small side I reckon for my soldering skills.. I've asked a local TV repair guy and he says it needs some equipment that blows hot air over the regulator to soften the solder to be able to remove the faulty one and he hasn't gotten one. He reckons a regular soldering iron would be too clumsy..

I will search the net for a more specialised electronics guy to repair it..

 

[nsw9154]

Sorry about that I thought you wanted to change the C807 capacitor

 

[abu baniaz]

A rework station would be best as per your man. Mobile phone repair shops/diy enthusast should have one. Doesn't have to be specialist.

You should be able to do it with a soldering iron and some wick.

 

[mcquaim]

Cheers Abu, I will take a look when the part arrives to see how brave I am.. If not I will look around to see who does this sort of thing in this area!

 

[Hunty]

Hi all,
My vu packed in as same in thread but I have a question.
Will the fan still power I when c807 has blown as I have replaced this and still nothing. Does this mean its the power supply?
Thanks
Hunty

 

[zola25]

Thanks for the Sticky had the red light of death at the weekend changed the capacitor and it came back to life, nice fix for under one Euro and 10 minutes work.

 

[mcquaim]

Hi all,
My vu packed in as same in thread but I have a question.
Will the fan still power I when c807 has blown as I have replaced this and still nothing. Does this mean its the power supply?
Thanks
Hunty

It didn't power on when my sisters Duo got the red light. Her issue wasn't the C807 capacitor though, it was the U801 regulator that was gone so perhaps that's why the fan did not spin up..

 

[Rob van der Does]

When the box is being used while the C807 is dying, the next in line to be damaged is the regulator.
So best practise is: when the very first sign of C807 issues show, cut the power to the box and don't use it until the cap has been replaced.

 

[Guy]

My box has been crashing a lot recently, several reflashes and still not working. Had lots of horizontal lines on the picture today and the remote control was unresponsive. Power cycled the box and it worked ok for 30mins then the picture would freeze but the sound carried on as normal, after 5 minutes it turned itself off and back on again. Removed the duo from my AV cabinet, Opened up the duo and plugged it into the wall only to get a red light with no display.

Decided to strip the box down and cut the capacitor off the board. it measures out at 56uf on my digital multimeter.

Also noticed this mark on top of U801 - looks like the casing of the chip has burnt?

 

[mcquaim]

Also noticed this mark on top of U801 - looks like the casing of the chip has burnt?

Yes, looks fried alright...

Reckon you need C807 and U801 replaced and maybe more... My U801 was gone but it didn't look anything near as bad as that!!