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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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#1
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Have a Sony Digital8 and it appears the 1394 port has died. I have a 6
foot and 10 foot firewire cables. Never had a problem with the 6-foot cable but the connection on the 10-foot has always been iffy - if it got jostled the right way I lost the connection to the computer. However because of where I needed the cam to be, the 6-foot connection wasn't long enough. Upon close inspection of the ends on both, the height of the contacts didn't seem exactly the same. So I did a little light squeezing of the 10-foot cable's end with needlenose pliers to adjust it a hair. Plugged it into the 1394 port and got nothing no matter what. Then when plugging in the previously dependable 6-foot cable, got nothing from that either. Tried wiggling both at various angles to see if I could establish any connection, get nothing on 2 different computers. So, obviously something's wrong. 1) Any suggestions for remedies I might try on a DIY basis? An chance it could be a mechanical physical contact issue and not an internal fried chip/circuit issue? 2) Any idea what cost for such a repair would likely run? The problem is, without a 1394 connection, the cam is kinda pointless. Yes, it has analog out which works but the whole point of the Digital Cam is to be able to create DV files. 3) Are the 1394 connectors generally fragile or are there brands with ports that are more robust than others? What do you think I might have done to cause this or was it possibly just a coincidence? I didn't poke around the port on the cam at all, just tweaked the end of the one cable a small amount. Thanks for all input. |
#2
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Doc wrote:
Have a Sony Digital8 and it appears the 1394 port has died. I have a 6 foot and 10 foot firewire cables. Never had a problem with the 6-foot cable but the connection on the 10-foot has always been iffy - if it got jostled the right way I lost the connection to the computer. However because of where I needed the cam to be, the 6-foot connection wasn't long enough. Upon close inspection of the ends on both, the height of the contacts didn't seem exactly the same. So I did a little light squeezing of the 10-foot cable's end with needlenose pliers to adjust it a hair. Plugged it into the 1394 port and got nothing no matter what. Then when plugging in the previously dependable 6-foot cable, got nothing from that either. Tried wiggling both at various angles to see if I could establish any connection, get nothing on 2 different computers. So, obviously something's wrong. 1) Any suggestions for remedies I might try on a DIY basis? An chance it could be a mechanical physical contact issue and not an internal fried chip/circuit issue? 2) Any idea what cost for such a repair would likely run? The problem is, without a 1394 connection, the cam is kinda pointless. Yes, it has analog out which works but the whole point of the Digital Cam is to be able to create DV files. 3) Are the 1394 connectors generally fragile or are there brands with ports that are more robust than others? What do you think I might have done to cause this or was it possibly just a coincidence? I didn't poke around the port on the cam at all, just tweaked the end of the one cable a small amount. Thanks for all input. If you connected a 6 pin cable to the camera or PC port while the camera is on their is a risk of blowing the IEEE port on the camera. The 6 pin plug runs an active power lead and any mis-alignment might get the volts onto the wrong pin and poooooffffff! Sony charges like a roaring bull to replace a card. Alternatively it might still be just the cable. Borrow a known good one and try it. |
#3
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
On 11/30/2006, Robert posted this:
Doc wrote: Have a Sony Digital8 and it appears the 1394 port has died. I have a 6 foot and 10 foot firewire cables. Never had a problem with the 6-foot cable but the connection on the 10-foot has always been iffy - if it got jostled the right way I lost the connection to the computer. However because of where I needed the cam to be, the 6-foot connection wasn't long enough. Upon close inspection of the ends on both, the height of the contacts didn't seem exactly the same. So I did a little light squeezing of the 10-foot cable's end with needlenose pliers to adjust it a hair. Plugged it into the 1394 port and got nothing no matter what. Then when plugging in the previously dependable 6-foot cable, got nothing from that either. Tried wiggling both at various angles to see if I could establish any connection, get nothing on 2 different computers. So, obviously something's wrong. 1) Any suggestions for remedies I might try on a DIY basis? An chance it could be a mechanical physical contact issue and not an internal fried chip/circuit issue? 2) Any idea what cost for such a repair would likely run? The problem is, without a 1394 connection, the cam is kinda pointless. Yes, it has analog out which works but the whole point of the Digital Cam is to be able to create DV files. 3) Are the 1394 connectors generally fragile or are there brands with ports that are more robust than others? What do you think I might have done to cause this or was it possibly just a coincidence? I didn't poke around the port on the cam at all, just tweaked the end of the one cable a small amount. Thanks for all input. If you connected a 6 pin cable to the camera or PC port while the camera is on their is a risk of blowing the IEEE port on the camera. The 6 pin plug runs an active power lead and any mis-alignment might get the volts onto the wrong pin and poooooffffff! Sony charges like a roaring bull to replace a card. Alternatively it might still be just the cable. Borrow a known good one and try it. Usually the camera end is 4-pin, and there should never be any power there, absent an internal short at the 6-pin end - which might not even have 6 pins in the shell, for all I know. OK, just looked at one - it does have six pins at the big end. FWIW, the RS-232 spec explicitly states that the interface electronics will be immune to any short-circuit or misconnection of the pins. I have no idea if USB and FireWire have such a provision, but it *would* be nice. -- Gene E. Bloch (Gino) letters617blochg3251 (replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom") |
#4
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Doc wrote:
Have a Sony Digital8 and it appears the 1394 port has died. I have a 6 foot and 10 foot firewire cables. Never had a problem with the 6-foot cable but the connection on the 10-foot has always been iffy - if it got jostled the right way I lost the connection to the computer. However because of where I needed the cam to be, the 6-foot connection wasn't long enough. Upon close inspection of the ends on both, the height of the contacts didn't seem exactly the same. So I did a little light squeezing of the 10-foot cable's end with needlenose pliers to adjust it a hair. Plugged it into the 1394 port and got nothing no matter what. Then when plugging in the previously dependable 6-foot cable, got nothing from that either. Tried wiggling both at various angles to see if I could establish any connection, get nothing on 2 different computers. So, obviously something's wrong. 1) Any suggestions for remedies I might try on a DIY basis? An chance it could be a mechanical physical contact issue and not an internal fried chip/circuit issue? 2) Any idea what cost for such a repair would likely run? The problem is, without a 1394 connection, the cam is kinda pointless. Yes, it has analog out which works but the whole point of the Digital Cam is to be able to create DV files. 3) Are the 1394 connectors generally fragile or are there brands with ports that are more robust than others? What do you think I might have done to cause this or was it possibly just a coincidence? I didn't poke around the port on the cam at all, just tweaked the end of the one cable a small amount. Thanks for all input. If you squeezed the cable a wee bit too hard and closed up one of the female connector pins a trifle too far, inserting the plug may have driven the corresponding pin in the socket backwards far enough to not make contact. If so, you may be able to get to the back of the socket and push the pin forward again, but it will be loosened and may never stay in place. In that case, a new socket would seem to be required. Colin D. -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
#5
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
"Gene E. Bloch" wrote in message ... FWIW, the RS-232 spec explicitly states that the interface electronics will be immune to any short-circuit or misconnection of the pins. I have no idea if USB and FireWire have such a provision, but it *would* be nice. Can you advise what RS-232 is? What relation does this have to Firewire? |
#6
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Feasibility even....
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#7
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Doc wrote:
"Gene E. Bloch" wrote FWIW, the RS-232 spec explicitly states that [...] Can you advise what RS-232 is? What relation does this have to Firewire? Now I'm feeling old... -- znark |
#8
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8camcorder?
On Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:36:28 +0000, Doc wrote:
"Gene E. Bloch" wrote in message ... FWIW, the RS-232 spec explicitly states that the interface electronics will be immune to any short-circuit or misconnection of the pins. I have no idea if USB and FireWire have such a provision, but it *would* be nice. Can you advise what RS-232 is? What relation does this have to Firewire? The standard serial interface, used for modems, printers, mice, and all sorts of other things before USB came along. Has some advantages over USB, like it works fine from one end of a building to the other and you can easily make your own cables, but isn't designed to support hubs with multiple attachments and is relatively slow, especially compared to USB2 Hi-speed. -- --John to email, dial "usenet" and validate (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net) |
#9
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
We lost the Firewire port on two different Canon camcorders, and
discussed this with a guy at our best photo store in the area. He claims on the Canon and many other camcorders the 1394 interface is on a daughterboard, and the wires connecting it to the main board are very fragile. We are not sure if this is the problem or not- the day before we noticed the lack of 1394, we had left the cameras in a very hot car trunk for an extended period of time. He claimed repair on the cheaper Canon would likely be around 200 bucks- the more expensive one (GL2) would be more. Our solution was to buy a 250 buck camcorder to act as a Firewire deck, plus it is another backup camera. We'll take great pains with this one to protect it from both shock and heat. BTW, we also lost the Firewire connection on the motherboard of our main video editing computer. As far as I am concerned, Firewire does not seem to be very robust as far as hardware is concerned :-( Doc wrote: Have a Sony Digital8 and it appears the 1394 port has died. I have a 6 foot and 10 foot firewire cables. Never had a problem with the 6-foot cable but the connection on the 10-foot has always been iffy - if it got jostled the right way I lost the connection to the computer. However because of where I needed the cam to be, the 6-foot connection wasn't long enough. Upon close inspection of the ends on both, the height of the contacts didn't seem exactly the same. So I did a little light squeezing of the 10-foot cable's end with needlenose pliers to adjust it a hair. Plugged it into the 1394 port and got nothing no matter what. Then when plugging in the previously dependable 6-foot cable, got nothing from that either. Tried wiggling both at various angles to see if I could establish any connection, get nothing on 2 different computers. So, obviously something's wrong. 1) Any suggestions for remedies I might try on a DIY basis? An chance it could be a mechanical physical contact issue and not an internal fried chip/circuit issue? 2) Any idea what cost for such a repair would likely run? The problem is, without a 1394 connection, the cam is kinda pointless. Yes, it has analog out which works but the whole point of the Digital Cam is to be able to create DV files. 3) Are the 1394 connectors generally fragile or are there brands with ports that are more robust than others? What do you think I might have done to cause this or was it possibly just a coincidence? I didn't poke around the port on the cam at all, just tweaked the end of the one cable a small amount. Thanks for all input. |
#10
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
On Fri, 1 Dec 2006 12:40:53 +0200, in 'rec.video.desktop',
in article Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?, "Jukka Aho" wrote: Doc wrote: "Gene E. Bloch" wrote FWIW, the RS-232 spec explicitly states that [...] Can you advise what RS-232 is? What relation does this have to Firewire? Now I'm feeling old... LOL. Me, too. -- Frank, Independent Consultant, New York, NY [Please remove 'nojunkmail.' from address to reply via e-mail.] Read Frank's thoughts on HDV at http://www.humanvalues.net/hdv/ |
#11
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
In article . com,
wrote: BTW, we also lost the Firewire connection on the motherboard of our main video editing computer. As far as I am concerned, Firewire does not seem to be very robust as far as hardware is concerned :-( It doesn't seem that way, does it? It's reasonably common to have a component destroyed by a bad cable or bridge board. One big issue is loose specs and less than stellar design of the connector itself. It's surprisingly easy to insert a 6-pin connector backwards, and this will almost always blow something, as the power lines get connected to signal. A bad cable can do the same thing; 4-to-4 pin connections are safe, but 4-to-6 and 6-to-6 cables pose a similar risk. Since the number of devices actually powered from the FireWire connector is quite small, I've taken to using specialty cables which MAY have 6 pin physical connectors at one or both ends, but never have more than 4 pins or lines actually present. I also (though the interface is rated plug-and-play) no longer connect or disconnect when anything is powered up. I've had the experience of a bad FireWire-to-ATA bridge board (in an Imation tape drive) taking out three motherboard FireWire circuits before I caught on. On the plus side, once you get it connected, it works MUCH better than any flavor of USB. |
#12
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
On 12/01/2006, J. Clarke posted this:
On Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:36:28 +0000, Doc wrote: "Gene E. Bloch" wrote in message ... FWIW, the RS-232 spec explicitly states that the interface electronics will be immune to any short-circuit or misconnection of the pins. I have no idea if USB and FireWire have such a provision, but it *would* be nice. Can you advise what RS-232 is? What relation does this have to Firewire? The standard serial interface, used for modems, printers, mice, and all sorts of other things before USB came along. Has some advantages over USB, like it works fine from one end of a building to the other and you can easily make your own cables, but isn't designed to support hubs with multiple attachments and is relatively slow, especially compared to USB2 Hi-speed. Not to mention that it was often a challenge to get RS-232 to work. -- Gene E. Bloch (Gino) letters617blochg3251 (replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom") |
#13
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
On 12/01/2006, Doc posted this:
"Gene E. Bloch" wrote in message ... FWIW, the RS-232 spec explicitly states that the interface electronics will be immune to any short-circuit or misconnection of the pins. I have no idea if USB and FireWire have such a provision, but it *would* be nice. Can you advise what RS-232 is? What relation does this have to Firewire? Others answered the first question. That you had to ask made them feel old, and to tell the truth, it also makes me feel old :-) I thought the second was obvious... OK - I gave an example of a useful property of an older spec and suggested - or at least hoped - that the newer one might, by analogy and good engineering, have the same property. -- Gene E. Bloch (Gino) letters617blochg3251 (replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom") |
#14
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
On 12/01/2006, Doc posted this:
Feasibility even.... :-) -- Gene E. Bloch (Gino) letters617blochg3251 (replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom") |
#15
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
"Frank" wrote in message ... Can you advise what RS-232 is? What relation does this have to Firewire? Now I'm feeling old... Baudot TTY anyone? |
#16
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 00:12:21 GMT, "Homer J Simpson"
wrote: "Frank" wrote in message .. . Can you advise what RS-232 is? What relation does this have to Firewire? Now I'm feeling old... Baudot TTY anyone? No need to feel old. All this is still being used by radio-amateurs around the globe, and also commercial-stations like weather-forecast for marine. 73 de PH5TAE :-) -martin- -- |
#17
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Scott Schuckert wrote:
In article . com, wrote: BTW, we also lost the Firewire connection on the motherboard of our main video editing computer. As far as I am concerned, Firewire does not seem to be very robust as far as hardware is concerned :-( It doesn't seem that way, does it? It's reasonably common to have a component destroyed by a bad cable or bridge board. One big issue is loose specs and less than stellar design of the connector itself. It's surprisingly easy to insert a 6-pin connector backwards, and this will almost always blow something, as the power lines get connected to signal. A bad cable can do the same thing; 4-to-4 pin connections are safe, but 4-to-6 and 6-to-6 cables pose a similar risk. Since the number of devices actually powered from the FireWire connector is quite small, I've taken to using specialty cables which MAY have 6 pin physical connectors at one or both ends, but never have more than 4 pins or lines actually present. I also (though the interface is rated plug-and-play) no longer connect or disconnect when anything is powered up. I've had the experience of a bad FireWire-to-ATA bridge board (in an Imation tape drive) taking out three motherboard FireWire circuits before I caught on. On the plus side, once you get it connected, it works MUCH better than any flavor of USB. apple's firewire is a horror! my maxtor drive with firewire port doesn't recognized at time and I have to turn the drive off - disconnect the cab;e - turn the drive on - reconnect the cable. also, my canon camocorder's firewire port was fired. it was my fault but WHO designed a port that is so fragile? |
#18
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
As a follow-up, I got a close-up look with a magnifier and saw a bent
contact inside the port. I ground down the ends of a pair of pointy tweezers so they'd fit in the channel of the contact and a straight pin which I bent the end of to allow me to push down on the contact and managed to manipulate it enough to get it back in line with the other contacts and am now back in business. I also fiddled with the contacts on the cable end to make sure they're as even as I can make them on an eyeball basis, which is to say, straighter than they were out of the box. As others have mentioned, after having gotten this close look at how it's configured, I'm really surprised how flimsy a design it is. The cable end seems to have way too much ability to wiggle around and inadequate strain relief given how little margin there seems to be for the contacts range of motion. I'm surprised I haven't had problems before this. From now on I'll tape the cable to the body of cam instead of just letting it hang. |
#19
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Doc wrote:
As others have mentioned, after having gotten this close look at how it's configured, I'm really surprised how flimsy a design it is. Sony's goal is not to get you to keep the same piece of equipment forever. |
#20
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
On 12/03/2006, Doc posted this:
As a follow-up, I got a close-up look with a magnifier and saw a bent contact inside the port. I ground down the ends of a pair of pointy tweezers so they'd fit in the channel of the contact and a straight pin which I bent the end of to allow me to push down on the contact and managed to manipulate it enough to get it back in line with the other contacts and am now back in business. I also fiddled with the contacts on the cable end to make sure they're as even as I can make them on an eyeball basis, which is to say, straighter than they were out of the box. As others have mentioned, after having gotten this close look at how it's configured, I'm really surprised how flimsy a design it is. The cable end seems to have way too much ability to wiggle around and inadequate strain relief given how little margin there seems to be for the contacts range of motion. I'm surprised I haven't had problems before this. From now on I'll tape the cable to the body of cam instead of just letting it hang. I assume you meant the camera port. Congratulations on the heroic and successful improvising. It's cool that you were a successful toolmaker! Too bad it was needed - I'd say it's not just surprising, but irresponsible, that it's so flimsy. -- Gene E. Bloch (Gino) letters617blochg3251 (replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom") |
#21
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Doc,
Now that you have the faulty pin working, you might consider adding a Firewire to Firewire adapter like the one shown at: http://www.lindy.com/us/productfolde...0395/index.php By "permanently" installing this adapter, and then possibly even cementing it into the damaged socket, you have transferred any future stress and mechanical wear from the weak and fragile repaired 4 pin connector to a new (and larger) 6 pin connector which should absorb some if not all of the punishment better. The adapter is cheap, adds very little weight or bulk to your camcorder, and may prevent future damage which may otherwise not be easily repaired using your prior method. Smarty "Gene E. Bloch" wrote in message ... On 12/03/2006, Doc posted this: As a follow-up, I got a close-up look with a magnifier and saw a bent contact inside the port. I ground down the ends of a pair of pointy tweezers so they'd fit in the channel of the contact and a straight pin which I bent the end of to allow me to push down on the contact and managed to manipulate it enough to get it back in line with the other contacts and am now back in business. I also fiddled with the contacts on the cable end to make sure they're as even as I can make them on an eyeball basis, which is to say, straighter than they were out of the box. As others have mentioned, after having gotten this close look at how it's configured, I'm really surprised how flimsy a design it is. The cable end seems to have way too much ability to wiggle around and inadequate strain relief given how little margin there seems to be for the contacts range of motion. I'm surprised I haven't had problems before this. From now on I'll tape the cable to the body of cam instead of just letting it hang. I assume you meant the camera port. Congratulations on the heroic and successful improvising. It's cool that you were a successful toolmaker! Too bad it was needed - I'd say it's not just surprising, but irresponsible, that it's so flimsy. -- Gene E. Bloch (Gino) letters617blochg3251 (replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom") |
#22
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Hi!
FWIW, the RS-232 spec explicitly states that the interface electronics will be immune to any short-circuit or misconnection of the pins. I have no idea if USB and FireWire have such a provision, but it *would* be nice. Perhaps there is something, but I had a LaCie D2 external drive that went up in smoke when I connected it to a Firewire port one day. I've also seen current backfeed into a computer when a power-carrying Firewire device was plugged into the computer. It did no damage, but it sure scared me when the computer's fans went into serious overdrive and then shut down. A better Firewire adapter was installed in the computer and resolved that problem. I never did figure out why the LaCie drive smoked on the other computer, but heavy amounts of damage had been done to the Oxford semiconductor FW chipset. William |
#23
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
l e o wrote:
Scott Schuckert wrote: In article . com, wrote: BTW, we also lost the Firewire connection on the motherboard of our main video editing computer. As far as I am concerned, Firewire does not seem to be very robust as far as hardware is concerned :-( It doesn't seem that way, does it? It's reasonably common to have a component destroyed by a bad cable or bridge board. One big issue is loose specs and less than stellar design of the connector itself. It's surprisingly easy to insert a 6-pin connector backwards, and this will almost always blow something, as the power lines get connected to signal. A bad cable can do the same thing; 4-to-4 pin connections are safe, but 4-to-6 and 6-to-6 cables pose a similar risk. Since the number of devices actually powered from the FireWire connector is quite small, I've taken to using specialty cables which MAY have 6 pin physical connectors at one or both ends, but never have more than 4 pins or lines actually present. I also (though the interface is rated plug-and-play) no longer connect or disconnect when anything is powered up. I've had the experience of a bad FireWire-to-ATA bridge board (in an Imation tape drive) taking out three motherboard FireWire circuits before I caught on. On the plus side, once you get it connected, it works MUCH better than any flavor of USB. apple's firewire is a horror! my maxtor drive with firewire port doesn't recognized at time and I have to turn the drive off - disconnect the cab;e - turn the drive on - reconnect the cable. also, my canon camocorder's firewire port was fired. it was my fault but WHO designed a port that is so fragile? Why would you blame Apple??? I found out the hard way the the chipset driving the Firewire port can make or break the whole experience. I don't know what chip set your Maxtor uses but Maxtor chose it and Apple did not provide it. I hear glowing references to the Oxford's interface and declining opinions of all other contenders. Similar for your fried port on your camcorder. There are cheap connectors and expensive connectors - if Canon chose one that is too weak for their consumers' needs then those consumers suffer. Apple can't control crappy implementation but maybe you should buy more robust stuff. -Guy |
#24
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Smarty wrote:
Doc, Now that you have the faulty pin working, you might consider adding a Firewire to Firewire adapter like the one shown at: http://www.lindy.com/us/productfolde...0395/index.php By "permanently" installing this adapter, and then possibly even cementing it into the damaged socket, you have transferred any future stress and mechanical wear from the weak and fragile repaired 4 pin connector to a new (and larger) 6 pin connector which should absorb some if not all of the punishment better. The adapter is cheap, adds very little weight or bulk to your camcorder, and may prevent future damage which may otherwise not be easily repaired using your prior method. Smarty What a great idea - thanks for sharing it. -Guy |
#25
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
Thank you, Guy. I owned an electronics repair business for a while, and this
particular type of repair was able to extend the life of a lot of fragile connectors. The reason they often break in the first place is that the connector has more than adequate **electrical** performance but is **mechanically** under-designed for real-world stresses. Repaired connectors like Doc's are seldom stronger than when they were new, and will thus easily break again unless some other reinforcing method is used. I hope this suggestion may help Doc and possibly others. Smarty "Guy" wrote in message ... Smarty wrote: Doc, Now that you have the faulty pin working, you might consider adding a Firewire to Firewire adapter like the one shown at: http://www.lindy.com/us/productfolde...0395/index.php By "permanently" installing this adapter, and then possibly even cementing it into the damaged socket, you have transferred any future stress and mechanical wear from the weak and fragile repaired 4 pin connector to a new (and larger) 6 pin connector which should absorb some if not all of the punishment better. The adapter is cheap, adds very little weight or bulk to your camcorder, and may prevent future damage which may otherwise not be easily repaired using your prior method. Smarty What a great idea - thanks for sharing it. -Guy |
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Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
On 12/08/2006, William R. Walsh posted this:
Hi! FWIW, the RS-232 spec explicitly states that the interface electronics will be immune to any short-circuit or misconnection of the pins. I have no idea if USB and FireWire have such a provision, but it *would* be nice. Perhaps there is something, but I had a LaCie D2 external drive that went up in smoke when I connected it to a Firewire port one day. I've also seen current backfeed into a computer when a power-carrying Firewire device was plugged into the computer. It did no damage, but it sure scared me when the computer's fans went into serious overdrive and then shut down. A better Firewire adapter was installed in the computer and resolved that problem. I never did figure out why the LaCie drive smoked on the other computer, but heavy amounts of damage had been done to the Oxford semiconductor FW chipset. William Scary. I guess I am morally obligated to try to find out more about the FireWire (and USB) specs to see if they have that requirement. Unfortunately, I probably won't do it :-) -- Gene E. Bloch (Gino) letters617blochg3251 (replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom") |
#27
Posted to rec.video.desktop,sci.electronics.repair,rec.photo.digital
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Feasability of repairing dead 1394 connector on Sony Dig8 camcorder?
In article l%deh.1090514$084.1038506@attbi_s22, "William R. Walsh" m wrote:
Hi! FWIW, the RS-232 spec explicitly states that the interface electronics will be immune to any short-circuit or misconnection of the pins. I have no idea if USB and FireWire have such a provision, but it *would* be nice. Perhaps there is something, but I had a LaCie D2 external drive that went up in smoke when I connected it to a Firewire port one day. I've also seen current backfeed into a computer when a power-carrying Firewire device was plugged into the computer. It did no damage, but it sure scared me when the computer's fans went into serious overdrive and then shut down. A better Firewire adapter was installed in the computer and resolved that problem. I never did figure out why the LaCie drive smoked on the other computer, but heavy amounts of damage had been done to the Oxford semiconductor FW chipset. William CompUSA sold an improperly wired Firewire cable under the store name that had pins reversed. Fried many Firewire devices. |
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