Dvd Recorder Stopped Working

[chezzam]

I've got an AWA DR620 DVD Recorder with a 160gb HDD. It is seriously one of the best pieces of electronic equipment I've ever had - maybe not the most superior piece of equipment but definitely the one I get most use out of - so you can imagine my frustration when I turned it on the other day to find it has stopped working! Now we're back into the ratings season on tv there's usually at least 2 shows a night I want to watch and I don't fancy going back to my old VHS!

Occasionally over the last year it has frozen - sometimes when its been switched on but doing nothing and other times when I've been in the process of editing a tvshow. The only way I've been able to get it happening again is to switch the power off then plug it back in again. Each time it happened I thought "I should get that checked under warranty" but then it would work fine again for months so I never got around to it. It has actually been ages since it's done it and of course now it's just out of warranty.

Well now its frozen again, permanently from the looks of it. The main blue power light comes on and the DVD player, which still has a DVD inserted, starts to whir, then nothing. It has no other display panel lights and neither the remote nor the unit's control buttons can get any response. (Previously when it's frozen the display panel has still shown the lit-up symbols on the screen).

I thought at first maybe the HDD was dead, but if thats the case then I would still expect the DVD player to work and the panel lights to come on.

I'm a computer tech and pretty handy fixing things, so I thought if I could get a diagnosis I may be able to source the parts and repair it myself. Anyone got any ideas on what could be wrong? Somebody - anybody - please help!!

[MJA]

I've got an AWA DR620 DVD Recorder with a 160gb HDD. It is seriously one of the best pieces of electronic equipment I've ever had - maybe not the most superior piece of equipment but definitely the one I get most use out of - so you can imagine my frustration when I turned it on the other day to find it has stopped working! Now we're back into the ratings season on tv there's usually at least 2 shows a night I want to watch and I don't fancy going back to my old VHS!

Occasionally over the last year it has frozen - sometimes when its been switched on but doing nothing and other times when I've been in the process of editing a tvshow. The only way I've been able to get it happening again is to switch the power off then plug it back in again. Each time it happened I thought "I should get that checked under warranty" but then it would work fine again for months so I never got around to it. It has actually been ages since it's done it and of course now it's just out of warranty.

Well now its frozen again, permanently from the looks of it. The main blue power light comes on and the DVD player, which still has a DVD inserted, starts to whir, then nothing. It has no other display panel lights and neither the remote nor the unit's control buttons can get any response. (Previously when it's frozen the display panel has still shown the lit-up symbols on the screen).

I thought at first maybe the HDD was dead, but if thats the case then I would still expect the DVD player to work and the panel lights to come on.

I'm a computer tech and pretty handy fixing things, so I thought if I could get a diagnosis I may be able to source the parts and repair it myself. Anyone got any ideas on what could be wrong? Somebody - anybody - please help!!

open the case and look for bad capacitors.it's easy to recap if that's the issue

did u unplug it from the wall?

Badcaps Forums

http://www.badcaps.net/forum/index.php

[chezzam]

Tnx for replying.

Yes it was unplugged from wall. About 10 minutes ago I plugged it back in and it started working. However there was a high-pitched electronic-sounding squeal coming through the tv speakers when I turned it to the chanel tuned to the unit. Within seconds it had switched itself off and now when I plug it back in there's not even a power light. Truly dead!

Am checking for bad capacitors - will post back when I've had a good look.

[lowellriggsiam]

I have an RJ-TECH unit that died on me, bad capicitaors was it, I had something on top of the unit, and probably caused it's demise, In reference for the HDD the unit, like mine, may actually require that the HDD be present, and if it's damaged it may report as not present and that could make the unit shut off, or fail to turn on.

[fzabkar]

Can you upload some detailed photos of the internals?

[Jim.diGris]

I have exactly the same machine and had the same fault. The fault is caused by failed components in the power supply. Mine had a couple of failed components. 1 was a 1000uf 16V capacitor that had a buldged top that I replaced with a new one from jaycar. 2. was a 1000uf 25V that had a buldged base. I replaced this with unfortunately a 16V item as I had no 25V caps. As soon as I get one I'll swap it. 3 was a 1.5 amp fast reacting diode, the part no on the board is FR157 but you can substitute with a BA157, (you can not use a normal IN series diode) the ba157 is equivalent. Again unfortunately I didnt have one so I had to use a BA107 (1A) until I can get a BA157. This doesnt seem to have stopped the player from working. The only fault I havent tracked yet is why the display isnt working, on the pwr sup its supposed to have + and -28v for the display but it is only outputting -28, Ill track that down soon but I suspect the display is cactus. Be very careful if you reassemble the machine that you dont plug the panel connector into a drive connector on the pwr supply as they are the same connector right next to each other but totally different outputs. Be aware that the solder pads and tracks on the pwr sup board lift and damage easily and are not tinned, u have to remove the coasting before u can resolder, a bit of a rub with solder braid does this well but be careful u dont overheat the board and lift the track. replacing these 3 components got my machine up and running except the display which I can live with for now