Dreaded red light box not booting

[Mee®kat]

Well it looks like my almost 5 year old workhorse may have finally developed a fault, which is no surprise really as its been well used..unplugged the box the usual way yesteday as i was running another reciever on test and tonight after plugging it back in its stuck on the red light and not booting/i always unplug my box carefully by way of standby/set power switch to 0 and then unplug all leads so i found it strange it was working fine untill i unplugged the box for 2 days but i suppose faults can come along at any time

I cant confirm the exact build numbers of course but it was either 054 or slightly lower, just wondering on the off chance if anyone else has had similar issues with apollo on a duo1.

I have opened the box up to check fan and all leads are secure and at the minute i have disconnected the hdd,box is also not responding to my usb stick with new flash or bootloader.

I realise this appears to be a common fault but i thought i would post the issue anyway and because this is the first time i have encountered a fault on these boxes i am unsure whether to mess around with serial or start investigating the caps.

Any advice would be appreciated chaps

MK

[ronand]

A small note - you should go to deep standby before powering off your receiver.

There is a thread on replacing the capacitor. Its not a terribly difficult repair if it is your problem

[abu baniaz]

I'm pretty sure it is the caps issue. Advice is not to switch it on again until caps are replaced. Switching it on/off is likely to damage the regulators too.

[Mee®kat]

I'm pretty sure it is the caps issue. Advice is not to switch it on again until caps are replaced. Switching it on/off is likely to damage the regulators too.

Yes i read about that not long after i posted...its unplugged now and i will try a new cap tomorrow if i can get 1...easy and cheap to do so worthwhile doing anyway. The only guide i have seen so far mentions cap c807...is there other caps i should replace while i am at it as i see you mention (caps)

Other info i found is code vh41u and the rating of 220 - 330uF 16v or higher


A small note - you should go to deep standby before powering off your receiver.

There is a thread on replacing the capacitor. Its not a terribly difficult repair if it is your problem

I seen the guide that involves snipping the blown cap and soldering a new 1 on which does not look ideal but it obviously is ok to do that,what i will probably do is remove my motherboard and see if my trusty old gascat can desolder the whole cap from the underneath and then i will stick a new 1 in.

Cheers guys

MK

[bluey2]

I just recently replaced the cap and it is so so easy to just snip off and the re-solder new one on, just used a slim electric soldering iron with thinnish wire solder, perfectly adequate, 10 minutes, job done

[Mee®kat]

Hi guys i replaced the c807 cap and i have also tried a psu from my brothers genuine duo but the box is still stuck on this red light...can anyone shed some light on my next move..regulators?

Many thanks in advance

[abu baniaz]

Regulators most probably need replacing.

[Mee®kat]

Regulators most probably need replacing.

Thanks, Do you have a picture of where these are located mate.

Cheers

[abu baniaz]

Got this picture from this thread, just added the highlighting. I'm sure someone will correct if I'm wrong.
http://www.world-of-satellite.com/showthread.php?26743-Dead-Vu-Duo-repair-guide

[Mee®kat]

Got this picture from this thread, just added the highlighting. I'm sure someone will correct if I'm wrong.
http://www.world-of-satellite.com/showthread.php?26743-Dead-Vu-Duo-repair-guide

Thanks abu, i have just read elsewhere that out of the 3 its most likely the (U801) regulator that has failed...i did,nt actually persist switching mine on after the red light appeared on my box but in saying that the box was playing up a few weeks before this happened, seemed to be stuck on starting sometimes and a 2nd reboot kicked it into life,,looks like whatever it is it was starting to fail already.

If it is just that then happy days as my trusty wee gascat will whip that off.

Cheers again

[grazeyone]

Developed this myself, ordered the panasonic cap from the bay and job done box now working again. First time I've soldered anything since last using a solder when I was in secondary school! Surprisingly it wasn't that difficult to do.