My New Sony Got Zapped! Fixable?

[Lopburi99]

Hello,

When I returned to Thailand last month from the USA I bought along my brand new Sony CD/AM/FM player and a small voltage converter. My fiancee was so excited she attempted to play her favority CD while I was sleeping off my jet lag (a grueling 22+ hour from Detroit - took me a full week to recover). Although before going to sleep I had tried to explain to her use of the converter was essential, she obviously didn't understand my feeble attempt to communicate this issue. You guessed it, ZAP, POP, POOF! She hadn't used the converter and plugged this 110v Sony directly into the wall outlet. She feels terrible - I said don't worry it's no big deal. But before I just pitch the device, does anybody think it could be repaired? I don't see a fuse, so my uninformed opinion is that it was FRIED big-time, far beyond a simple repair (but I hope I am wrong)! What do you think? Thanks.

Edited September 7, 2008 by Lopburi99

[Beardog]

Hello,

When I returned to Thailand last month from the USA I bought along my brand new Sony CD/AM/FM player and a small voltage converter. My fiancee was so excited she attempted to play her favority CD while I was sleeping off my jet lag (a grueling 22+ hour from Detroit - took me a full week to recover). Although before going to sleep I had tried to explain to her use of the converter was essential, she obviously didn't understand my feeble attempt to communicate this issue. You guessed it, ZAP, POP, POOF! She hadn't used the converter and plugged this 110v Sony directly into the wall outlet. She feels terrible - I said don't worry it's no big deal. But before I just pitch the device, does anybody think it could be repaired? I don't see a fuse, so my uninformed opinion is that it was FRIED big-time, far beyond a simple repair (but I hope I am wrong)! What do you think? Thanks.

If you put this post in do it yourself, Crossy might be able to clue you in a she is good with components. Wish I had the answer.

Good luck!

[Tywais]

It's possible there could be a fuse on the circuit board itself inside. However, if it smoked or it smells like smoke, then the fix could be more substantial. Did you try to plug it in using the adapter afterwards and see if it does anything? With any luck only the surge suppressors (MOVs) blew out.

[Cuban]

What is the exact model number ?

Depending on how the unit's power supply is designed will dictate what bit blew out - with Sony they are likely to have the luxury safety components like fuses fitted - so that will be a quick fix. (No smell of burning if the fuse popped.)

Next mostly likely component to fail would be the transformer - might take a while to find the right place to fit a replacement - but too early to bin the whole unit just yet.

If there is a smell of smoke/burnt electrics when you sniff up against the unit's vents or within the battery compartment if it has one - then I would suggest not plugging it into anything.

Some consumer electronics are designed for world-wide use, but require the options being set with minor changes with the hardware electonic components - not a task the average user could do. If this were an option on your equipment it will be detailed in the Sony service guide (see a dealer) or traced out by a skilled repair techie. A quick/rough way to find out would be search for that exact model being sold in different parts of the world, US vs Europe. Generally this stuff comes off the same production line these days and regional setting can be achived after market. (watch out for radios from some parts of Europe (Norway was one) and Japan as they use different parts of the FM broadcast band)

With switch-mode power supplies such changes can be performed on the fly which is why many (all?) later laptop power supplies can work with 100-240 Volts without any adaptor at all.

Audio products generally avoid these 'clever' switch mode power supplies as they are electrically noisy, something you wish to avoid when you seek good sound quaility.

HTH

[Crossy]

Oops Been a while since we've had one of these.

Does it have a battery compartment? If so does it work if batteries are fitted? If it operates we have a good inkling that there is only relatively minor damage

It can do no harm to drop it down to your local Sony service chap who may be able to source a 220V power supply for it (or fix the 110V PSU), a lot depends how the innards are arranged.

Edited September 12, 2008 by Crossy

[dingdongrb]

I agree with Cuban, the first thing is to provide a model number so one could see if a schematic can be had online. Someone with a DVM and experience could probably browse through the device and understand the exact configuration of the internal power supply. Likewise one could open it up and look for burnt components.

Most likely culprits (some have been suggested). Also could be multiple defective components.:

• Transformer
  
• Internal fuse(s)
  
• MOV(s) (Metal Oxide Varistor)
  
• Recfitiying diodes (or full bridge component)
  
• Current limiting series resistor
  
• ????
  

Do you still have the owners manual? Sometimes good devices (mfgs) will put a schematic of the product within the Owner/Users manual.

[adammike]

If you look in the battery compartment it may have a reset button you stick a point of a pen in and press

like the other guys say if you smell burning its fubar.

[Lopburi99]

What is the exact model number ?

Depending on how the unit's power supply is designed will dictate what bit blew out - with Sony they are likely to have the luxury safety components like fuses fitted - so that will be a quick fix. (No smell of burning if the fuse popped.)

Next mostly likely component to fail would be the transformer - might take a while to find the right place to fit a replacement - but too early to bin the whole unit just yet.

If there is a smell of smoke/burnt electrics when you sniff up against the unit's vents or within the battery compartment if it has one - then I would suggest not plugging it into anything.

Some consumer electronics are designed for world-wide use, but require the options being set with minor changes with the hardware electonic components - not a task the average user could do. If this were an option on your equipment it will be detailed in the Sony service guide (see a dealer) or traced out by a skilled repair techie. A quick/rough way to find out would be search for that exact model being sold in different parts of the world, US vs Europe. Generally this stuff comes off the same production line these days and regional setting can be achived after market. (watch out for radios from some parts of Europe (Norway was one) and Japan as they use different parts of the FM broadcast band)

With switch-mode power supplies such changes can be performed on the fly which is why many (all?) later laptop power supplies can work with 100-240 Volts without any adaptor at all.

Audio products generally avoid these 'clever' switch mode power supplies as they are electrically noisy, something you wish to avoid when you seek good sound quaility.

HTH

Hello Cuban and others,

Thanks for the reply. It is model # ICF-CD815, having no batteries. Beardog thought maybe I could fix it myself so I took the cover off. No burnt smell or charred looks. I couldn't find anything that looks like a fuse unfortunately.

The home page for the CD815 is: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-doc...CD815&LOC=3 and there is a photo of it there.

The user's manual is on the Sony site at: http://www.docs.sony.com/release/ICFCD815.pdf

Haven't been able to find the schematic online, so I will send an email to Sony tech support in case they have the schematic in a PDF file they can send me.

I will probably have to take it in for service to look at. The good news is most of you have suggested the problem may not be fatal if no burnt smell. This is not an expensive unit, but if I can repair it or have it repaired, it like to. Otherwise it is a brand new unit.

Edited September 12, 2008 by Lopburi99

[0Mix1up]

i would say its done

220 into a 110 unit is a recipe for disaster,

if its not an expensive unit, it would be a throw away

imo

[dumball]

Hello,

When I returned to Thailand last month from the USA I bought along my brand new Sony CD/AM/FM player and a small voltage converter. My fiancee was so excited she attempted to play her favority CD while I was sleeping off my jet lag (a grueling 22+ hour from Detroit - took me a full week to recover). Although before going to sleep I had tried to explain to her use of the converter was essential, she obviously didn't understand my feeble attempt to communicate this issue. You guessed it, ZAP, POP, POOF! She hadn't used the converter and plugged this 110v Sony directly into the wall outlet. She feels terrible - I said don't worry it's no big deal. But before I just pitch the device, does anybody think it could be repaired? I don't see a fuse, so my uninformed opinion is that it was FRIED big-time, far beyond a simple repair (but I hope I am wrong)! What do you think? Thanks.

Well in MHO , you deserve all you have received , knowing Thai lady excitement and ineptitude for most things electronic , YOU should have plugged it into the voltage adaptor YOURSELF before you retired . We are all such experts at fixing OTHER PEOPLES PROBLEMS , may i suggest you take it to a dealer who knows what he is doing , you may just strike lucky and find he actualy knows more than all of us on VT put together , opening the device just to take a look see could cause more problems than you originally had , just my humble 2 cents worth .

[citizen33]

Hello,

When I returned to Thailand last month from the USA I bought along my brand new Sony CD/AM/FM player and a small voltage converter. My fiancee was so excited she attempted to play her favority CD while I was sleeping off my jet lag (a grueling 22+ hour from Detroit - took me a full week to recover). Although before going to sleep I had tried to explain to her use of the converter was essential, she obviously didn't understand my feeble attempt to communicate this issue. You guessed it, ZAP, POP, POOF! She hadn't used the converter and plugged this 110v Sony directly into the wall outlet. She feels terrible - I said don't worry it's no big deal. But before I just pitch the device, does anybody think it could be repaired? I don't see a fuse, so my uninformed opinion is that it was FRIED big-time, far beyond a simple repair (but I hope I am wrong)! What do you think? Thanks.

Well in MHO , you deserve all you have received , knowing Thai lady excitement and ineptitude for most things electronic , YOU should have plugged it into the voltage adaptor YOURSELF before you retired . We are all such experts at fixing OTHER PEOPLES PROBLEMS , may i suggest you take it to a dealer who knows what he is doing , you may just strike lucky and find he actualy knows more than all of us on VT put together , opening the device just to take a look see could cause more problems than you originally had , just my humble 2 cents worth .

If it is convenient, a trip to Ban Mor (Bahn Maw) near China Town might solve your problem. This is because this area has many spares suppliers as well as some electronics workshops. It is one of the best places in the world for hard-to-find components and should be okay for Sony. I do not know anything about this model, but usually the voltage regulator IC or the power supply diodes or capacitors are what fail. This should be well within the capabilities of many local repairers if they can get the components,

[dingdongrb]

[

If it is convenient, a trip to Ban Mor (Bahn Maw) near China Town might solve your problem. This is because this area has many spares suppliers as well as some electronics workshops. It is one of the best places in the world for hard-to-find components and should be okay for Sony. I do not know anything about this model, but usually the voltage regulator IC or the power supply diodes or capacitors are what fail. This should be well within the capabilities of many local repairers if they can get the components,

Is that a regular capacitor or a flux capacitor?

[dumball]

[

If it is convenient, a trip to Ban Mor (Bahn Maw) near China Town might solve your problem. This is because this area has many spares suppliers as well as some electronics workshops. It is one of the best places in the world for hard-to-find components and should be okay for Sony. I do not know anything about this model, but usually the voltage regulator IC or the power supply diodes or capacitors are what fail. This should be well within the capabilities of many local repairers if they can get the components,

Is that a regular capacitor or a flux capacitor?

Who of us would know even if we knew what we were doing , without the patient on the table , how can one give a reasonable diagnosis ?

[Lopburi99]

[

If it is convenient, a trip to Ban Mor (Bahn Maw) near China Town might solve your problem. This is because this area has many spares suppliers as well as some electronics workshops. It is one of the best places in the world for hard-to-find components and should be okay for Sony. I do not know anything about this model, but usually the voltage regulator IC or the power supply diodes or capacitors are what fail. This should be well within the capabilities of many local repairers if they can get the components,

Is that a regular capacitor or a flux capacitor?

Who of us would know even if we knew what we were doing , without the patient on the table , how can one give a reasonable diagnosis ?

"dumball" I've had a number of polite and helpful people generously taking their time to help out on this topic. Please disturb yourself no further.

[LooseCannon]

Let's face it, for an item that's worth $30-$40, how much time, effort & money are you willing to invest in it to get it repaired?

If you can drop it off at your local TV repair man at the end of your soi give it a go, but if you have to travel half way over town, leave it, return to pick it up, find out it's not repairable or going to cost a couple hundred baht plus, you have to ask yourself is it worth it?

[dingdongrb]

Let's face it, for an item that's worth $30-$40, how much time, effort & money are you willing to invest in it to get it repaired?

If you can drop it off at your local TV repair man at the end of your soi give it a go, but if you have to travel half way over town, leave it, return to pick it up, find out it's not repairable or going to cost a couple hundred baht plus, you have to ask yourself is it worth it?

Lets see 200 baht (approx $7 USD) for repairs

A trip across town on a scooter a few times, lets say another 300 baht (again approx $10 USD)

Hmmmm, doing the math, I'd spend 17-20 USD to get my 30-40 USD unit fixed.... Then again depending on how old the unit is and how much I was willing to part with it.

But to each their own...

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Let's face it, for an item that's worth $30-$40, how much time, effort & money are you willing to invest in it to get it repaired?

If you can drop it off at your local TV repair man at the end of your soi give it a go, but if you have to travel half way over town, leave it, return to pick it up, find out it's not repairable or going to cost a couple hundred baht plus, you have to ask yourself is it worth it?

Nope. It definitely is not.

[Cuban]

....capacitors are what fail. This should be well within the capabilities of many local repairers if they can get the components,

If it were the electrolytic capacitors within the PSU circuit that had gone I would expect that there would be some residue that the OP would have seen when he opened it up. Generally electrolytic capacitors fail because they have been stored too long and have dried out, typical with electronic equipment that has been put away in the garage or attic for a long period in a warm dry enviroment then bought back into use. Or they suffer over voltage and boil/explode as per this video link.

Is that a regular capacitor or a flux capacitor?

You would need to check the rating of the capacitor itself, printed on the side such as these typical rating details. For the temporal version of the Sony "Dream Machine" as the OPs clock radio is marketed as, the PSU unit would need to be rated beyond 1.21 Gigawatts.* Flux capacitors at this rating will be hard to come by for the next 7 years as this guy has found out. Yes, only 7 short years from now to the future world portrayed in that film - I don't think we will get that far that quickly. Opps back to the matter in hand....

We are all such experts at fixing OTHER PEOPLES PROBLEMS , may i suggest you take it to a dealer who knows what he is doing , you may just strike lucky and find he actualy knows more than all of us on VT put together , opening the device just to take a look see could cause more problems than you originally had , just my humble 2 cents worth. Who of us would know even if we knew what we were doing , without the patient on the table , how can one give a reasonable diagnosis?

Thankfully TV seems well endowed with many experts in many fields, and I'm sure that you yourself have some skill set or experiance to share with the rest of us, maybe you just don't know what that is yet, until that day comes...

In this particular situation those of us that have an understanding of electrickery can take a reasonable guess based on knowledge and exepriance about what will happen in given a situation. The OP clearly defined the problem - the effect is likely to be component(s) failure in a particular part of the equipment's circuitry; namely the power supply. Power supplies are normally simple pieces of design as there are standard set ups used across many makes and models of equipment, consider it like a car. There will be an engine, axels, gearbox and electrical system - the details will be different between makes but a Toyota engine will look like an Ford engine and carry out the same task - turn liquid fuel into rotatory motion.

So it is with the power supply, incoming supply (design of the unit expects 110 Volts AC) this might go through an internal fuse and then be fed into a small step-down transformer. The output voltage of the transformer will be something like 6-12 Volts AC - depending on the chipset used for the clock and CD player circuitry. The audio power output of this particular device is only 0.7 Watts so there will not need for any fancy audio amplication going on that might have suggested a higher internal voltage. After the transformer will be a half or full wave rectifer diode-bridge to turn the waggly AC into bumpy DC which is calmed down with those famous electrolytic capacitors that techies like blowing up and posting on-line. If the unit did have a battery back-up, which after reading the on-line reviews does seem to be it's biggest design omission as a clock radio unit, the power supply might have included what is known as an 'idiot diode" that protects the rest of the circuitry from possible reverse voltages of incorrectly fitted batteries - or you could run the batteries via the bridge if you wanted to be fancy.

So those of us that are aware of all of this going on within about 5 milliseconds (a quarter of a cycle) of the power cord being plugged into the wall and the electrical stress encountered by those components as the incoming voltage about twice the expected Voltage... (Assuming that at that moment in time the Thai supply was +9% on top of it's nominal 220 Volts which is still within their spec. for domestic single phase supply.) ...can take a reasonable stab at the effects and what will pop first.

Now the OP has said there is no smoke/burn marks or smell, it supports that theory that the transformer has gone or indeed a fuse. This might not be obvious as some fuses appear to be other electronic components like resistors etc. Why, because they are cheaper to build into the equipment like that using belt-fed insertion equipment than human friendly fuse looking fuses mounted in small metal clips like you were looking for.

Indeed if the patient were on the table in front of me, it would probably be fixed by now, I could put a test meter on a few points and take a better guess of the damage and repair cost/time.

...you may just strike lucky and find he actualy knows more than all of us on VT put together ,

I would suggest one would have to be very lucky in that regard with most of the domestic electronic repair shops in Thailand that cover washing machines through to computers without any formal training - and I don't mean that as a good thing.

...how can one give a reasonable diagnosis ?

Personally I am certified by Sony Professional for some of their broadcast equipment and also some of their domestic kit too also Panasonic, etc.

Sony is exeptionally good at it's after sales repair and service support, with the correct service data you can (and I have) ordered the smallest item (single screw) to repair their equipment.

.....problem may not be fatal if no burnt smell. This is not an expensive unit, but if I can repair it or have it repaired,

Although these are only about 1,400 Baht new, I doubt you will find another in Thailand (there is one on Thai eBay) and from it's review it looks like a nice thing to have - worth the 400-500 Baht repair estimate in my mind. I don't think this unit was designed to be sold outside of The USA. If the main electronics aren't fried - a replacement transformer will probably resolve the problem.

ICF-CD815 feature set:

• CD player with CD-R/RW MP3 playback and digital AM/FM tuner
  
• Audio line-in for MP3 players with included cable
  
• Large easy-to-read 1.4" green LED
  
• Dual alarm with extendable snooze
  
• Easy-to-use large buttons
  
• Advanced temporal control feature with Flux Capacitor (Optional extra)
  
• Auto 'New Thread' feature for Thai Visa users.
  

HTH.

* Yes, yes in the film it is pronunced Jijowatt - but that is because Gigowatt was not in common usage at the time it slipped through as a script mistake - they meant Gigawatt

{ I think this thread is up there with the stuck bolt on the running machine thread to be monitored for developments, let your GF know half the expats in Thailand are now asking after the clock/radio's well being.}

[dumball]

[

If it is convenient, a trip to Ban Mor (Bahn Maw) near China Town might solve your problem. This is because this area has many spares suppliers as well as some electronics workshops. It is one of the best places in the world for hard-to-find components and should be okay for Sony. I do not know anything about this model, but usually the voltage regulator IC or the power supply diodes or capacitors are what fail. This should be well within the capabilities of many local repairers if they can get the components,

Is that a regular capacitor or a flux capacitor?

Who of us would know even if we knew what we were doing , without the patient on the table , how can one give a reasonable diagnosis ?

"dumball" I've had a number of polite and helpful people generously taking their time to help out on this topic. Please disturb yourself no further.

You are quite correct , one of my 'OFF' days i guess , my apologies to one and all , realy did not mean to disparage any one, wrong place , wrong time .

[dingdongrb]

Cuban,

My hat is off to you for actually using Wiki to understand my sarcastic terminology of the words 'flux capacitor' although I would really like to know if you had indeed heard of it before sending off to Wiki. Being in the electronics industry for over 30 years I have started to use that gizmo in most of my replies regarding electronic repair since seeing the infamous movie 'Back to the Future'. For most, they seem to just reply with a 'blank stare'.

Needless to say that yes you are correct, without having our hands on the fried CD player/clock radio we are all making technical guesses or assumptions on what components have gone bad. Whether it be from theory or past experiences, it is only guesses until one actually fixes the unit. My motto for many years at repairing anything from being tube type TVs, phonographs, VCSEL optical transceivers, PCs, HV power supplies, or Ampex 32 track audio recorders as well as helical type C format video tape recorders, it is always the last thing that you replace that fixes the unit.

And a technician's motto is: 'The deader the better'.... As intermittent problems are the toughest to solve.

[Robski]

Make your girlfriend buy you a new one.

[dingdongrb]

Make your girlfriend buy you a new one.

Better yet, a little extra time 'down under'....

[citizen33]

Cuban,

My hat is off to you for actually using Wiki to understand my sarcastic terminology of the words 'flux capacitor' although I would really like to know if you had indeed heard of it before sending off to Wiki. Being in the electronics industry for over 30 years I have started to use that gizmo in most of my replies regarding electronic repair since seeing the infamous movie 'Back to the Future'. For most, they seem to just reply with a 'blank stare'.

Needless to say that yes you are correct, without having our hands on the fried CD player/clock radio we are all making technical guesses or assumptions on what components have gone bad. Whether it be from theory or past experiences, it is only guesses until one actually fixes the unit. My motto for many years at repairing anything from being tube type TVs, phonographs, VCSEL optical transceivers, PCs, HV power supplies, or Ampex 32 track audio recorders as well as helical type C format video tape recorders, it is always the last thing that you replace that fixes the unit.

And a technician's motto is: 'The deader the better'.... As intermittent problems are the toughest to solve.

I wonder why sarcasm was called for in the first place! My post to which you responded was a suggestion about a good place to go for a repair/parts availability rather than a diagnosis. Ever been to Ban Mor? What I was trying to indicate is that the OP could very well need an integrated component in the power supply (yes Cuban is right about the bits, but they may not be packaged in standard form) or a transformer, which isn't easy to obtain. The BS about flux/regular is wide of the mark anyway and doesn't even work as a joke.

Edited September 13, 2008 by citizen33

[dingdongrb]

Cuban,

My hat is off to you for actually using Wiki to understand my sarcastic terminology of the words 'flux capacitor' although I would really like to know if you had indeed heard of it before sending off to Wiki. Being in the electronics industry for over 30 years I have started to use that gizmo in most of my replies regarding electronic repair since seeing the infamous movie 'Back to the Future'. For most, they seem to just reply with a 'blank stare'.

Needless to say that yes you are correct, without having our hands on the fried CD player/clock radio we are all making technical guesses or assumptions on what components have gone bad. Whether it be from theory or past experiences, it is only guesses until one actually fixes the unit. My motto for many years at repairing anything from being tube type TVs, phonographs, VCSEL optical transceivers, PCs, HV power supplies, or Ampex 32 track audio recorders as well as helical type C format video tape recorders, it is always the last thing that you replace that fixes the unit.

And a technician's motto is: 'The deader the better'.... As intermittent problems are the toughest to solve.

I wonder why sarcasm was called for in the first place! My post to which you responded was a suggestion about a good place to go for a repair/parts availability rather than a diagnosis. Ever been to Ban Mor? What I was trying to indicate is that the OP could very well need an integrated component in the power supply (yes Cuban is right about the bits, but they may not be packaged in standard form) or a transformer, which isn't easy to obtain. The BS about flux/regular is wide of the mark anyway and doesn't even work as a joke.

Sorry if I hurt your 'feelers' but it was apparent that you had no idea what a capacitor is/does, hence you did not pick on the the humor I had placed. You had no idea it was even a sarcastic reply until I told you so.

Don't you have others you would like to try bashing as well for placing some humor and sarcasms on TV? I sure it is warranted (by your standards) though-out.

[citizen33]

Cuban,

My hat is off to you for actually using Wiki to understand my sarcastic terminology of the words 'flux capacitor' although I would really like to know if you had indeed heard of it before sending off to Wiki. Being in the electronics industry for over 30 years I have started to use that gizmo in most of my replies regarding electronic repair since seeing the infamous movie 'Back to the Future'. For most, they seem to just reply with a 'blank stare'.

Needless to say that yes you are correct, without having our hands on the fried CD player/clock radio we are all making technical guesses or assumptions on what components have gone bad. Whether it be from theory or past experiences, it is only guesses until one actually fixes the unit. My motto for many years at repairing anything from being tube type TVs, phonographs, VCSEL optical transceivers, PCs, HV power supplies, or Ampex 32 track audio recorders as well as helical type C format video tape recorders, it is always the last thing that you replace that fixes the unit.

And a technician's motto is: 'The deader the better'.... As intermittent problems are the toughest to solve.

I wonder why sarcasm was called for in the first place! My post to which you responded was a suggestion about a good place

to go for a repair/parts availability rather than a diagnosis. Ever been to Ban Mor? What I was trying to indicate is that the OP could very well need an integrated component in the power supply (yes Cuban is right about the bits, but they may not be packaged in standard form) or a transformer, which isn't easy to obtain. The BS about flux/regular is wide of the mark anyway and doesn't even work as a joke.

Sorry if I hurt your 'feelers' but it was apparent that you had no idea what a capacitor is/does, hence you did not pick on the the humor I had placed. You had no idea it was even a sarcastic reply until I told you so.

Don't you have others you would like to try bashing as well for placing some humor and sarcasms on TV? I sure it is warranted (by your standards) though-out.

So, just a straightforward reply, why did you feel the need to be sarcastic in this context?

[dingdongrb]

Cuban,

My hat is off to you for actually using Wiki to understand my sarcastic terminology of the words 'flux capacitor' although I would really like to know if you had indeed heard of it before sending off to Wiki. Being in the electronics industry for over 30 years I have started to use that gizmo in most of my replies regarding electronic repair since seeing the infamous movie 'Back to the Future'. For most, they seem to just reply with a 'blank stare'.

Needless to say that yes you are correct, without having our hands on the fried CD player/clock radio we are all making technical guesses or assumptions on what components have gone bad. Whether it be from theory or past experiences, it is only guesses until one actually fixes the unit. My motto for many years at repairing anything from being tube type TVs, phonographs, VCSEL optical transceivers, PCs, HV power supplies, or Ampex 32 track audio recorders as well as helical type C format video tape recorders, it is always the last thing that you replace that fixes the unit.

And a technician's motto is: 'The deader the better'.... As intermittent problems are the toughest to solve.

I wonder why sarcasm was called for in the first place! My post to which you responded was a suggestion about a good place

to go for a repair/parts availability rather than a diagnosis. Ever been to Ban Mor? What I was trying to indicate is that the OP could very well need an integrated component in the power supply (yes Cuban is right about the bits, but they may not be packaged in standard form) or a transformer, which isn't easy to obtain. The BS about flux/regular is wide of the mark anyway and doesn't even work as a joke.

Sorry if I hurt your 'feelers' but it was apparent that you had no idea what a capacitor is/does, hence you did not pick on the the humor I had placed. You had no idea it was even a sarcastic reply until I told you so.

Don't you have others you would like to try bashing as well for placing some humor and sarcasms on TV? I sure it is warranted (by your standards) though-out.

So, just a straightforward reply, why did you feel the need to be sarcastic in this context?

Actually I was curious if any of the 'so called' electronics experts even heard of the 'flux capacitor'. Cuban was the only one that caught on to it and replied and as my post questioned, did he know about it before or after doing a Wiki search.

Please refresh yourself on your post. It not only suggested where one might go, but from your expertise it also suggested some components that might be at fault. True? Since you mentioned 'capacitor', I questioned what kind of capacitor. <deleted> is your problem?

[Lopburi99]

Cuban,

My hat is off to you for actually using Wiki to understand my sarcastic terminology of the words 'flux capacitor' although I would really like to know if you had indeed heard of it before sending off to Wiki. Being in the electronics industry for over 30 years I have started to use that gizmo in most of my replies regarding electronic repair since seeing the infamous movie 'Back to the Future'. For most, they seem to just reply with a 'blank stare'.

Needless to say that yes you are correct, without having our hands on the fried CD player/clock radio we are all making technical guesses or assumptions on what components have gone bad. Whether it be from theory or past experiences, it is only guesses until one actually fixes the unit. My motto for many years at repairing anything from being tube type TVs, phonographs, VCSEL optical transceivers, PCs, HV power supplies, or Ampex 32 track audio recorders as well as helical type C format video tape recorders, it is always the last thing that you replace that fixes the unit.

And a technician's motto is: 'The deader the better'.... As intermittent problems are the toughest to solve.

As a 40+ year computer developer guy, I have always LOVED isolating and correcting programming bugs (Lord knows intermittent problems are nasty, nasty). I sure wish I had the background many of you have so I could delve into this device's innards, identify the problem, and fix it myself. For me, THE FUN IS IN THE CHASE! ...and I can see others share my view.

I think I'll probably take it in somewhere for checkout and repair just so I can inform you all of the specific damage/resolution, even if that costs more than a new unit (money was never the issue anyway). A lot of interest has been expressed here so I want to nail down this issue to offer to everybody whatever information this puzzle may contain.

[dingdongrb]

Cuban,

My hat is off to you for actually using Wiki to understand my sarcastic terminology of the words 'flux capacitor' although I would really like to know if you had indeed heard of it before sending off to Wiki. Being in the electronics industry for over 30 years I have started to use that gizmo in most of my replies regarding electronic repair since seeing the infamous movie 'Back to the Future'. For most, they seem to just reply with a 'blank stare'.

Needless to say that yes you are correct, without having our hands on the fried CD player/clock radio we are all making technical guesses or assumptions on what components have gone bad. Whether it be from theory or past experiences, it is only guesses until one actually fixes the unit. My motto for many years at repairing anything from being tube type TVs, phonographs, VCSEL optical transceivers, PCs, HV power supplies, or Ampex 32 track audio recorders as well as helical type C format video tape recorders, it is always the last thing that you replace that fixes the unit.

And a technician's motto is: 'The deader the better'.... As intermittent problems are the toughest to solve.

As a 40+ year computer developer guy, I have always LOVED isolating and correcting programming bugs (Lord knows intermittent problems are nasty, nasty). I sure wish I had the background many of you have so I could delve into this device's innards, identify the problem, and fix it myself. For me, THE FUN IS IN THE CHASE! ...and I can see others share my view.

I think I'll probably take it in somewhere for checkout and repair just so I can inform you all of the specific damage/resolution, even if that costs more than a new unit (money was never the issue anyway). A lot of interest has been expressed here so I want to nail down this issue to offer to everybody whatever information this puzzle may contain.

Hey Lop, please do let us know what the problem was if you go and decide to get it fixed as I am sure others are as curious as I am...

BTW, I'm still sure it's the 'flux capacitor'....

[Lopburi99]

Cuban,

My hat is off to you for actually using Wiki to understand my sarcastic terminology of the words 'flux capacitor' although I would really like to know if you had indeed heard of it before sending off to Wiki. Being in the electronics industry for over 30 years I have started to use that gizmo in most of my replies regarding electronic repair since seeing the infamous movie 'Back to the Future'. For most, they seem to just reply with a 'blank stare'.

Needless to say that yes you are correct, without having our hands on the fried CD player/clock radio we are all making technical guesses or assumptions on what components have gone bad. Whether it be from theory or past experiences, it is only guesses until one actually fixes the unit. My motto for many years at repairing anything from being tube type TVs, phonographs, VCSEL optical transceivers, PCs, HV power supplies, or Ampex 32 track audio recorders as well as helical type C format video tape recorders, it is always the last thing that you replace that fixes the unit.

And a technician's motto is: 'The deader the better'.... As intermittent problems are the toughest to solve.

As a 40+ year computer developer guy, I have always LOVED isolating and correcting programming bugs (Lord knows intermittent problems are nasty, nasty). I sure wish I had the background many of you have so I could delve into this device's innards, identify the problem, and fix it myself. For me, THE FUN IS IN THE CHASE! ...and I can see others share my view.

I think I'll probably take it in somewhere for checkout and repair just so I can inform you all of the specific damage/resolution, even if that costs more than a new unit (money was never the issue anyway). A lot of interest has been expressed here so I want to nail down this issue to offer to everybody whatever information this puzzle may contain.

Hey Lop, please do let us know what the problem was if you go and decide to get it fixed as I am sure others are as curious as I am...

BTW, I'm still sure it's the 'flux capacitor'....

Will do .. promise! Thanks everybody

[Cuban]

BTW, I'm still sure it's the 'flux capacitor'....

It seems others have missed the humor that has leaked into this thread. *

ICF-CD815 feature set:

CD player with CD-R/RW MP3 playback and digital AM/FM tuner

Audio line-in for MP3 players with included cable

Large easy-to-read 1.4" green LED

Dual alarm with extendable snooze

Easy-to-use large buttons

Advanced temporal control feature with Flux Capacitor (Optional extra)

Auto 'New Thread' feature for Thai Visa users.

I don't think the unit under repair is the temporal version so the FC is not in question.

My hat is off to you for actually using Wiki to understand my sarcastic terminology of the words 'flux capacitor' although I would really like to know if you had indeed heard of it before sending off to Wiki.

Choody Bleek! Not heard of a Flux Capacitor, I was repairing time shift electronic control systems back in 2023 when you will look back on these old internet days and laugh at the almost forgotten memories. Anyway, I though I told you about that next week? (I added the links to aid other people's understanding the context of our shared joke.)

Yes, I am very aware of the connection with the various BTTF movies and it's use as a gag amoung technical people, my personal favorite is 'data fairies' - but that's for another time. And yes you do get a strange look depending on how straight to tell them the BS.

Needless to say that yes you are correct, without having our hands on the fried CD player/clock radio we are all making technical guesses or assumptions on what components have gone bad.

Which is what the OP was seeking when he posted here? So we are all on the right path, even those that suggest USD 40 worth of 'dead' comsumer eletronics is not worth repairing - I think it depends on the situation - the guy shipped it x,000 Kms from the US to be here - it died after a few seconds (or less) - pity to bin it if there is a good chance it can be transformed into the only direct 220v powered ICF-CD815 on the planet! But cheap goods do have a limit on the repair value - if the CD reader were damaged I would probably not attempt a repair. But the spec. of the device looks like it is worth some time, I like the fact it plays MP3 disks.

And a technician's motto is: 'The deader the better'.... As intermittent problems are the toughest to solve.

Unless you hit them!

* 10 points to the first person to spot the other one.