Not sure if this is the right place but I certainly will appreciate any input anyone can give me.

I have a Homedics back massager that I purchased at Walmart for $100. I refuse to just throw it away and purchase a new one (as our manufacturers want us to do).

It has, I think, some sort of short or something that's preventing it from working correctly. It only starts sometimes and quickly stops.

I want to fix it myself, if possible.

I think it could use a replacement wire from the transformer to the unit (the OEM wire seems too thin and it may already be damaged inside).

Thing is, the transformer does not have screws to open it and I don't know how to so I can put it back together.

Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?

(iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)

Thank you for reading this.

On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 12:39:17 PM UTC-5, wrote:

Thing is, the transformer does not have screws to open it and I don't know how to so I can put it back together.

Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?

(iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)

Thank you for reading this.

Do you have any sort of schematic for this device? And how old is it?

Here is the issue: Those sealed transformers (some are even injection-molded around the core) are not designed to be serviced, and getting access to the connections is risky. You might try cutting it open with either a Dremel-type tool (very risky) or a hot knife tool (smelly) or some other means to get to the wires - and use super-glue to replace what you remove.

Do you have any means to apply power to the moving parts from another source? Do you have a VOM to do some basic diagnosis of the transformer or moving parts? Do you see your time as worth more than $0.75 per hour? Note also that the moment you cut into anything, you void the UL/CE/CA rating which is significant only if something is really wrong.... *ZAP*, or a fire or similar.

This is a soft way of suggesting that unless the repair is obvious and involves little time or treasure, exchange massages with your significant other, and eschew the mechanics. These little toys are not designed for the long term. Relationships, on the other hand, can always use a bit of massaging! Certainly that has been my positive and pleasurable experience.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

wrote in message
...

Not sure if this is the right place but I certainly will appreciate any
input anyone can give me.

I have a Homedics back massager that I purchased at Walmart for $100. I
refuse to just throw it away and purchase a new one (as our manufacturers
want us to do).

It has, I think, some sort of short or something that's preventing it from
working correctly. It only starts sometimes and quickly stops.

I want to fix it myself, if possible.

I think it could use a replacement wire from the transformer to the unit
(the OEM wire seems too thin and it may already be damaged inside).

Thing is, the transformer does not have screws to open it and I don't know
how to so I can put it back together.

Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?

(iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)

Thank you for reading this.

I have same brand but it doesn't use external Tx, mains cable goes into
bottom left corner of back, mains plug is moulded on type. Had a look to
see if it would be easily worked at, the back cover has zippers which don't
open in the normal way so I left it alone.I also have Homedics massage
cushion which does have separate 12V DC PSU........Kenny

First test the output of the transformer with a meter !

I'm quite sure the transformer is not guilty.


a écrit :
Not sure if this is the right place but I certainly will appreciate any input anyone can give me.

I have a Homedics back massager that I purchased at Walmart for $100. I refuse to just throw it away and purchase a new one (as our manufacturers want us to do).

It has, I think, some sort of short or something that's preventing it from working correctly. It only starts sometimes and quickly stops.

I want to fix it myself, if possible.

I think it could use a replacement wire from the transformer to the unit (the OEM wire seems too thin and it may already be damaged inside).

Thing is, the transformer does not have screws to open it and I don't know how to so I can put it back together.

Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?

(iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)

Thank you for reading this.

On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 12:39:17 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Not sure if this is the right place but I certainly will appreciate any input anyone can give me.

I have a Homedics back massager that I purchased at Walmart for $100. I refuse to just throw it away and purchase a new one (as our manufacturers want us to do).

It has, I think, some sort of short or something that's preventing it from working correctly. It only starts sometimes and quickly stops.

I want to fix it myself, if possible.

I think it could use a replacement wire from the transformer to the unit (the OEM wire seems too thin and it may already be damaged inside).

Thing is, the transformer does not have screws to open it and I don't know how to so I can put it back together.

Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?

(iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)

Thank you for reading this.

If it has a bad wire, it would most likely fail right where it exists the power supply or right where it terminates at the plug (assuming it has one). If the wire goes directly into the device, try gently flexing right at the messager or back at the transformer.

On 02/22/2017 02:37 AM, wrote:

Like a microwave oven, you don't need a ground fault at all to die off
of one of those.

I suspect that Sitre Magana is going to die from a microwave oven, just
from all the calories he gets out of them.

wrote in message
...
Not sure if this is the right place but I certainly will appreciate any
input anyone can give me.

I have a Homedics back massager that I purchased at Walmart for $100. I
refuse to just throw it away and purchase a new one (as our manufacturers
want us to do).


You're acting like $100 is like a month's rent or a car payment. What does
$100 get you these days? Sitre Magana can spend that in a week just stuffing
his fat ****ing face.

It has, I think, some sort of short or something that's preventing it from
working correctly. It only starts sometimes and quickly stops.

I want to fix it myself, if possible.

I think it could use a replacement wire from the transformer to the unit
(the OEM wire seems too thin and it may already be damaged inside).

Thing is, the transformer does not have screws to open it and I don't know
how to so I can put it back together.

I usually get them open with either a hammer or by throwing them on the
concrete. Which ever way works for you.

Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?

(iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)

Thank you for reading this.

"You're acting like $100 is like a month's rent or a car payment. What does
$100 get you these days? "

Some people are tired of our landfills geting stuffed with cheap imported junk that cannot be repaired, and then we will eventually have to deal with the environmental aspects of it. Some are actually tired of sending money overseas. I know I am, and have stopped. In fact I buy almost nothing new. Food of course.

People need those 4K TVs and new cars, I couldn't even drive a new car. I get in a car I expect to see PRNDSL or 1-3|2-4 or whatever, I want the lights to come on immediately when I open a door and to go off immediately when I close it. I will lock and unlock my own doors thank you.

I also don't need their suposed 500 watts surround system that is more like half that, if that much, and has one subwoofer and a bunch of balsa wood speakers.

There is a small but growing contingent of the population who are simply sick of the rat race to get the biggest TV and the new car with variable valve timing and direct cylinder injection. I don't need a 4K TV because my eyes don't see that good, on a PC I'll put a 19 inch monitor on 800 X 600.

Y'all yuppie type go ahead and make the Chinese richer. It is really helping them, all fifty of them. The rest have about gotten to the point where they can afford a few things but you are helping their government mainly, and we really aren't all that sure about them.

We NEED to learn to fix **** again. We NEED to learn to build **** again. Tis Trump gratness is a bunch of **** because he never worked a day in his life. I like the idea behind it but he is not the best choicee to try to implement it. The one thing though is that we cannot keep on importng all this ****.

If you got that school taughten disease you migth retort with all our exports, and for example food, we export more. By tonnage. Not dollar value. We export wheat, try living on wheat. And now finally we had some months of being a net exporter of oil, but realize that alot of the refining is done overseas. Even if Keynes was right aout his ****ed up model of an economy, no country, no matter what, can continue to consume more than it prodices forever. Countries pointed to by socialists and wannabes like Norway for example, have natural resources that are shared with the People. It reduces their tax burden for their social programs. In one country, I forgot which, they generate so much electricity that you do not get a bill from the elctric company every month, you get a check. In the US they would never share like that. Looks like about twenty people get that money.

Even a toaster. I remember about VCRs having to tell people "This is not a toaster". Well now they are as disposable. But are they ? Are they really ? Can we just throw them in a dumpster and forget about them and all the tapes made on our camcorders from the 1980s n **** ?

i take the view that repairers are in a war with manufacturers. When I was hot and heavy as a pro I didn't want to give much help except to people who seemed like pros because that was our living. But now I am more willing.

I just say to these people to learn respect for electricity. When in doubt keep one hand away, in your pocket in fact. When you have something powered by a wallwart you are a bit less unsafe, though a good screwup could still cause a fire. You are just a bit less likely to get a shock due to a ground fault. There are plenty of other ways to die. Like a microwave oven, you don't need a ground fault at all to die off of one of those. In fact most hobbyists should stay our of them.

But they won't. They didn't before and they won't in the future. And some of them are like "Hold my beer". I don't like to see good people die, and they probably were good because they were trying to do something useful, but some are going to get zapped. It is like the gun issue, some will die, too bad.

But, still the price of a unit or replacement is of issue when you are a pro. My time was billed at about a hundred bucks an hour. At that rate of course the replacement cost is important. But then every once in a while you'll get someone who really likes their TV. And VCRs too, ?I have had people say "I don't care I could buy a new one for that, I finally figured out how to program this MF ! FIX IT". And don't even get me started on old stereo equipment.

Another thing with me was 30 year old cars. I owuld fix them literally until they fell apart. I am from a car family, and I never wanted a new car. I won't just buy it because that is what is for sale.

A hundred dollars ? If I had the work I could have made a hundred dollars in the time it took to type this.

On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 12:39:17 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Not sure if this is the right place but I certainly will appreciate any input anyone can give me.

I have a Homedics back massager that I purchased at Walmart for $100. I refuse to just throw it away and purchase a new one (as our manufacturers want us to do).

It has, I think, some sort of short or something that's preventing it from working correctly. It only starts sometimes and quickly stops.

I want to fix it myself, if possible.

I think it could use a replacement wire from the transformer to the unit (the OEM wire seems too thin and it may already be damaged inside).

Thing is, the transformer does not have screws to open it and I don't know how to so I can put it back together.

Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?

(iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)

Thank you for reading this.

Thanks to everyone. It seems this brand has a rep for bad relays inside the unit. Like was said below, the unit has unusual zippers and does not open easily. I hope it's not your situation but for me $100 just doesn't come that easily. The company does not respond to e-mails and kept me on hold for nearly 45 minutes when I called and I had to hang up.

I will not buy Homedics products.

On 02/22/2017 05:59 PM, wrote:
On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 12:39:17 PM UTC-5, wrote:
I will not buy Homedics products.

SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW? PLAY WITH YOUR OWN **** LIKE SITRE
MAGANA LIKES TO?