Dead Vu+Duo repair guide

[ford]

Hey lads.
Sorry I have not posted for some time.
Busy setting up my 2 way radio repair centre.
I have SMD rework equipment.
Hot air, and IRDA.
Not fishing for work, but if you get stuck please feel free to PM me.
Thanks for your kind comments on my sticky.
Cheers.

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..

 

[ford]

Hiya mate.
Good to be back.
Yeah. Wet Electrolytics drying out.
Same old, same old

The damage to the caps is not from surge damage but prolonged exposure to heat which has dried them out.

 

[yunus786]

Hi Mate,
You quote 'If you hear the drive spooling up on power up, and the box is dead, it's a reasonable indication that the power supply itself may be ok!'...

What if the drive does not spool and I still get the red light. Does that mean the PSU is dead as well, or can I get away with replacing just the Capacitor C807 and perhaps the regulator U801?

 

[zola25]

My drive did not seem to spool up and i just replaced the C807 capacitor and it came back to life.
I would try just the capacitor first as it is dead easy.

 

[Guy]

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!!

New U801 from ebay for 12 quid sorted it.
Had the 3 220uf caps replaced and they had to replace the smaller ones either side due to signs of failing. 105degree good quality japenese caps installed to replace the chinese ones.

 

[sillyprice]

Hi guys
just wanted to say thank you for this wonderful post. It worked saving me a fortune.
Thank you again

 

[redout]

Is it possible to remove the green board with c807? I have unscrewed everything but the card reader is basically stuck to it so can't pull the board free. I wanted to remove the board completely from the box to do a proper solder.

 

[Guy]

yes it is, I removed the full board from mine.

You have to clip off the front facia and I also had to remove the HDD to allow me to manouver the board out.

Part of the card reader stayed on the board when I took it to the repair shop

 

[redout]

yes it is, I removed the full board from mine.

You have to clip off the front facia and I also had to remove the HDD to allow me to manouver the board out.

Part of the card reader stayed on the board when I took it to the repair shop

Aye, front facia. That is what I was thinking. Have it off now. Will give the soldering a go tomorrow. Hopefully it works and saves me a few quid. Repair shop wanted €90 for this!

 

[MatLCFC]

Looks like I am another member of the red dot club...



Not the best picture... but looks like U801 has gone?

Is there anyone on here I can send the board to who can repair & send back to me?
I would much prefer this to DIY or rip off repair shop.

 

[pidici2]

Hello and excuse fom my english!
Could you tell me the right voltages of each connector of the power suplly, so I can test them?
Thank you.
Bye

 

[jib4of5]

Hi Ford,
Just like to say a big Thanks!! for posting this fix.
Changed cap C807 and My Vu+ Duo box is back up and working.

 

[jib4of5]

Hi Ford,
Just like to say a big Thanks!! for posting this fix.
Changed cap C807 and My Vu+ Duo box is back up and working.

 

[khan888]

Thanks for this fix, duo went last night replaced cap and all working again :thumbsup:

 

[majortom]

Hi Guys,

Looks light the red light of death has got me too this morning. I run my multimeter over the 220 Caps (three in a row) and they all give back the same readings (about 191 ohms on 200 meter setting) which I guess is outside of the 220uf rating, strange that all 3 give the same reading though?

I've also checked the power supply outputs, all give the indicated 3.3, 12v etc except when I run it on the 34v output its only reading 32.4v on the multimeter.

Do you think it could be the PSU at fault in this case? The only other big worry is when I do switch the box on with the internal HD attached I can hear it spin up.

Thanks for you help in advance.

MT

 

[cactikid]

when mine went i was left with the red light and starting on display and yes one could hear the hdd spin up.

 

[majortom]

Not getting any "starting" show on the front, just the red light and the HD spinning up. Praying its not the mobo!!

MT

 

[chaser]

Hi Guys,

Looks light the red light of death has got me too this morning. I run my multimeter over the 220 Caps (three in a row) and they all give back the same readings (about 191 ohms on 200 meter setting) which I guess is outside of the 220uf rating, strange that all 3 give the same reading though?

You're confusing different measurements - resistance and capacitance. Measuring the resistance (ohms) of the capacitor won't tell you too much about the function of the capacitor. Usually if you try to measure the resistance of a capacitor, the value will change as the meter charges up the capacitor!

 

[Rob van der Does]

The attached scheme may help the hobbyists under you.

 

[majortom]

Quick update,
Popped down to Maplin and picked up a couple of capacitors, swapped the first one out and all is now good.

Thanks,

MT