Hi, my DVD player recently stopped working. My knowledge of electronics is a bit old and out-of-date, but I thought it would maybe be repairable rather than pay an extortionate fee at a repair place (just to look at it, no less) since I do have some basic knowledge of electronics.

Basically, when it's plugged in and turned on, nothing happens except a big yellow thing starts making a persistent high-pitched ticking sound, slightly more than one per second. It's the thing you can see in the middle of the photographs below (since without a description you'd be hard-put to help me!).

At this link you can see photographs of what I just described. It's the big yellow thing (sadly, I have no idea what that is called) with the black surround and the serial number on top: http://www.filecore.net/mince/dvd/

I'm wondering if this sound is indicative of a specific fault (with this component?) and if so, if anybody would have an idea of how to repair it or even where to start...?

Thanks!

EDIT: Incidentally, the brand is Medion, I believe it's Danish. Although that shouldn't affect the basic electronickyness of the problem...

filecore writes:

Hi, my DVD player recently stopped working. My knowledge of electronics
is a bit old and out-of-date, but I thought it would maybe be
repairable rather than pay an extortionate fee at a repair place (just
to look at it, no less) since I do have some basic knowledge of
electronics.

Basically, when it's plugged in and turned on, nothing happens except a
big yellow thing starts making a persistent high-pitched ticking sound,
slightly more than one per second. It's the thing you can see in the
middle of the photographs below (since without a description you'd be
hard-put to help me!).

At this link you can see photographs of what I just described. It's the
big yellow thing (sadly, I have no idea what that is called) with the
black surround and the serial number on top:
http://www.filecore.net/mince/dvd/

I'm wondering if this sound is indicative of a specific fault (with
this component?) and if so, if anybody would have an idea of how to
repair it or even where to start...?


Thanks!

EDIT: Incidentally, the brand is Medion, I believe it's Danish.
Although that shouldn't affect the basic electronickyness of the
problem...

I'm assuming you're referring to the transformer, part of the switchmode
power supply. The behavior is often indicative of a fault like a short
or overload but could mean a defective power supply as well. The sound
is caused by the power supply repeatedly trying to start up and failing.

The fault is not likely in that part.

Since it really doesn't sound like you have the experience to repair this,
it would be best to take it to a professional.

WARNING: There are potentially lethal voltages in that power supply.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name is included in the subject line. Or, you can
contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

"filecore" wrote in message
...

Hi, my DVD player recently stopped working. My knowledge of electronics
is a bit old and out-of-date, but I thought it would maybe be
repairable rather than pay an extortionate fee at a repair place (just
to look at it, no less) since I do have some basic knowledge of
electronics.

Basically, when it's plugged in and turned on, nothing happens except a
big yellow thing starts making a persistent high-pitched ticking sound,
slightly more than one per second. It's the thing you can see in the
middle of the photographs below (since without a description you'd be
hard-put to help me!).

At this link you can see photographs of what I just described. It's the
big yellow thing (sadly, I have no idea what that is called) with the
black surround and the serial number on top:
http://www.filecore.net/mince/dvd/

I'm wondering if this sound is indicative of a specific fault (with
this component?) and if so, if anybody would have an idea of how to
repair it or even where to start...?

Thanks!

EDIT: Incidentally, the brand is Medion, I believe it's Danish.
Although that shouldn't affect the basic electronickyness of the
problem...


--
filecore

I agree with Sam with regard to taking it to a qualified repairer. Switch
mode power supplies are VERY dangerous - lethal even - to non experienced
people. However, that said, in my experience, the problem that you are
experiencing often is power supply based, and on budget machines like this,
is often due to a short circuit secondary rectifier. From the photos, the
diodes that you are looking at are D21, 22, 23, 24, & 25. These are all
Schottky types, and must only be replaced with like for like, or equally
rated ringers. Note when checking them, that this type of diode will read
VERY low resistance in one direction, which may lead you to believe that it
is faulty, if you are used to measuring conventional silicon diodes.

This is as far as I would recommend you to go, without experience.

Arfa