JVC DR-MH30 "Loading" Error - Power problem?

[Anaksanamune]

Another DR-MH30 problem...

I have a background in electronics (design work) and computing, but no consumer repair experience, so I am hoping for some direction.

Recently we bought a new faulty freezer, that tripped the house fuse box several times before being sent back.
This power interruption seems to have killed off my DR-MH30, and I am stuck with the fabled Loading screen.

Not really sure where to start looking. Only clues are...

I have 3 16v 470uF caps that are slightly bulging and have brown crust on the tops, although I assume these are an older problem (should they be replaced?).

For the first 5 seconds once the power has been connected there is a loud repeated clicking noise that started with the breakdown (sounds like a relay), this clicking stops once the fan kicks in (and I assume the system has loaded).
Sometimes when plugged in the DVD / HDD lights will briefly flash on and then nothing at all else will happen at all.

Note: I live in the UK and this in the PAL version.

Any advise on what (and where) to start testing would be helpful, as well as general ideas etc about what could be causing the problem.

Thanks
Anak

[kpmedia]

Hi Anak, welcome to the site.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anaksanamune

I have 3 16v 470uF caps that are slightly bulging and have brown crust on the tops, although I assume these are an older problem (should they be replaced?).

Yes, start by doing this. It's a low-cost fix, if you have any skills with a soldering iron. (I most assuredly do not, but I know enough friends and family that are skilled enough to perform caps replacements on my behalf.)

Quote:

For the first 5 seconds once the power has been connected there is a loud repeated clicking noise that started with the breakdown (sounds like a relay), this clicking stops once the fan kicks in (and I assume the system has loaded).

Open the unit and listen for a specific location, the origin of the sound. Is it the hard drive? (I hope not, for your sake.)

Quote:

Sometimes when plugged in the DVD / HDD lights will briefly flash on and then nothing at all else will happen at all.

This points to the caps.

Keep us updated on what you find, regarding the clicking noise, after opening the unit.

[Anaksanamune]

Thanks for the fast reply.

The clicking is not the hard drive, it seems fine. Although from what I gather it can be a nightmare if it goes. So is there a way to back it up while it works? and is it worth it?

I can't pinpoint the noise exactly.
Its close to where the power goes into the device. I'm not sure how familiar you guys would be as it is a 230-240V supply here so the circuitry may be different.
Anyway, there is what looks like two small transformers and something (maybe a thyristor) mounted to a heat sink. One of these or something close by is where the sound is coming from.

[lordsmurf]

I'm not aware of any way to backup the hard drive.

I have a JVC disc ISO that's supposed to repair a PAL hard drive (special disc that formats a blank replacement drive), but I don't seem to be able to find it. I'm afraid it's been dumped into the shared unsorted research folder for digitalFAQ.com, meaning it's a needle in a hay stack right now. That research is scheduled to be sorted in the spring (2012), so it will be posted when sorted and located.

Might sound be emanating from a capacitor? Given the higher current, the noise could be quite loud.