Powtek doesn't start up

[lazer]

Hi

My Powtek DVB FTAM002 last night decided to start playing up firstly it started freezing like picture and sound on screen would freeze and it wouldt respond to any buttons being pressed on the remote or the front panel of the box??

Im thinking it might need the software redone does anyone know were i can get the firmware for this box so i can reflash it? as now everytime i turn it on just a black screen comes up and 4 0000 zeros just sit on the LCD display on the box and does nuthin

If anyone else has any ideas on how to fix this would be interested to know

Thanks
Lazer

[Jacko]

I had a similar problem last year. I replaced about three capacitors on the power supply & it has been ok since. If I find the bit of paper I wrote it all down on I will let you know. ;)

[bassett]

What happens when you disconnect the power supply, leave for a few minutes, or half a day and re-plug in. This really is a simple test for testing the "caps'' in the power supply.
Normaly when a power supply fails, that's it, you get nack-all, So it could well be a software problem. But unfortunatly, Chinese receivers, and I take it, it's chinese, simply don't supply software, it's even doubtful they write software, they simply seem to clone software from manifacturers, that do all the costly research , as in the @metabox system [85 different clones to date ] should they counter the cloning of software, most of the chinese producers will be out of business.
In fact there are counter measures to combate this happening.
But that does not help you, About all you can do, is try and return the receiver, under warrenty, if you have any. and hope they come good, Normaly they just throw thedead ones in the bin, and replace it. BUT if you start messing with the software, and they find out, al warrenty is forfitted.

[Jacko]

I forgot to mention that mine died altogether. I had no waranty so I fixed it. Most of these cheap boxs have underated caps in the power supply.I have had to fix the Humax twice,the Sat Crusier once & the powertech once.I now keep a few caps around as these things always happen on a Sunday or Public Holiday.

[lazer]

Hi thanks for the replys

Yeh myn has no warranty bought it off this forums a while ago was working perfect up until last nite ohh well i don't know much about this electronics stuff so wouldt know were to start about replacing these caps nor do i own a soldering iron LOL will proberly end up getting rid of it if i cant find no one to fix it

[sax0607]

Lazer ,I am sorry to here that its stopped working , I can't even provide any help as I had never even had the lid off it !! , always fired up fine for me , maybe ocean might be able to assist ?
sax

[lazer]

Hi Sax

Nah its not ur fault man its was working fine for months if i can find someone to fix it would be good as i like it its a decent box to have :)

[VK4BKP]

Lazer see if you can contact Ocean. Not sure where he is at the moment as he's been in and out of hospital.

[lazer]

Ok VK i will send him a PM and see how we go :)

Thanks

[Ocean]

Unplug the receiver, remove the lid....write down the values of the electrolytic capacitors in the power supply...PM your address and I will send you the capacitors. I can't guarantee replacing the caps will fix it but it is worth a try.

If you can't use a soldering iron you should be able to find someone local who can. I don't get a lot of spare time of late, but may be able to find time if you want to send it to Sth. Australia via parcel post.

[lazer]

Ok thanks Ocean will look into it and get back to u :)

[simmo]

Mine actually died some time ago, started off by remocon being non functional.
Havent even pulled the lid off!!
If I get some time this weekend, I'll take a look at it and see if anything looks suss and will help you out. (you could always buy a Fortec you know tho!!!)

[lazer]

I got a Fortec Lifetime Ultra and a Manhattan ST120 the Powtek was the 3rd Blind scan reciever of my collection i like the blind scanners so easy to use :D

[lazer]

Unplug the receiver, remove the lid....write down the values of the electrolytic capacitors in the power supply...PM your address and I will send you the capacitors .

sorry if this sounds stupid but what do a electrolytic capacitors look like is it one of those black cyclinder type things?

[Ocean]

They can be....they should read something like - for example the main reservoir capacitor - 400V and 47uF.

They can be other colours !

[wtyt2]

Don't capacitors hold a charge even after you have switched off? If you touch it you might wet your pants. :)

[Ocean]

Yes, the main 400V cap can bite you if the supply has stopped completely and the cap doesn't get discharged. I use a 240V 60W globe to discharge these biteys.

Most people learn quickly and always discharge this capacitor...I get bitten from time to time....I don't think I have stopped breathing yet.

The problem is not of lethality, rather the chance of blowing up other devices when using solder-wick or equivalent means to remove parts nearby.

Mains can be fun too, I once got a nasty boot and the needle-nose pliers flew from my hand and stuck into the plaster ceiling of the workshop....still not as bad as the effect of 800VDC laced with 100W of RF from the anode cap of an HF transmitter tube, my fingerprints never grew back on that finger !

Years ago I was repairing a fancy (pommie I think) HiFi amplifier which had an unusual fluorescent green front panel - with the lid and sides off this beastie I grabbed the front panel to invert the thing to investigate a fault - the whole front panel was live with 340VDC or so - this effect caused various expletives to emanate from me....quite a fright that one !

It's probably a good idea to discharge the cap, or risk having to learn these expletives !

[tytower]

I see a pictire of Young Einstein with singed Eyebrows --Im sure Ocean is just a young chappie old before his time:D :eek:

[bassett]

The problem with Cheap "caps' is they dry out and will not hold a charge.

[simmo]

26Kv @ 15K bites a little bit too.....(an' y'all wonder why I'm so silly!!;))