Goodmans Freesat GFSAT200HD Bricked

guyrws · 14-11-2013, 12:05

Hi,

Before I chuck out my long serving Goodmans Freesat GFSAT200HD.
Does anyone know of a cure for this problem please?

The box just ceased to work. The blue power light comes on but the box will not switch on, via the handset or the power button. Any ideas?

Cheers, Guy.

Nigel Goodwin · 14-11-2013, 12:18

I've not seen any Harvard HD ones (we didn't consider them reliable enough to sell), but presumably they use the same cheap crappy capacitors in the PSU that fail on the SD boxes?. These can sometimes be repaired by replacing the faulty (high ESR) capacitors, but on other occasions they cause more serious damage writing the boxes off.

Deacon1972 · 14-11-2013, 12:22

Sounds like a faulty power supply, needs a replacement transformer.

http://www.fixya.com/support/t182671...ans_gfsat200hd

If you can get the PSU fault confirmed you might be able to fix cheaply with this replacement.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodmans-GFS.../dp/B0073XEFM6

guyrws · 14-11-2013, 12:54

I've replaced the PSU.
But I asked myself: if the power supply is faulty, why is the standby light on?

chrisjr · 14-11-2013, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by guyrws

I've replaced the PSU.
But I asked myself: if the power supply is faulty, why is the standby light on?

An LED doesn't take much power to work. It could operate if the PSU was outputting a lower than normal voltage or had a problem delivering enough current to operate the box normally.

I've had bits of kit like that. Plug the PSU in and the power light comes on but nothing works. Then you measure the output of the PSU and find that instead of 12V, say, it's only producing 4V. Enough to turn the power LED on but not enough to do anything else.

It's also possible that the box derives other voltage supplies from the main voltage provided by the PSU. If one of those dies then that will stop the box functioning even though the PSU is perfectly healthy.

guyrws · 15-11-2013, 12:40

I have 2 PSUs the original and a replacement that I purchased of Amozon.
I have tested both with a multimeter and both show 12v output.
When I try to test the ampage, as soon as I connect the terminals the green power light on the PSU goes out and the ampage display varies rapidly. This occurs with both new and old PSU.
Here's a YouTube link to a 22 second clip of what occurs when testing the PSU:
http://youtu.be/ae_qr7Pg6GM

Nigel Goodwin · 15-11-2013, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by guyrws

I have 2 PSUs the original and a replacement that I purchased of Amozon.
I have tested both with a multimeter and both show 12v output.
When I try to test the ampage, as soon as I connect the terminals the green power light on the PSU goes out and the ampage display varies rapidly. This occurs with both new and old PSU.

Like I mentioned above, it's most likely duff cheap capacitors.

chrisjr · 15-11-2013, 12:55

I hope that is not a clip of you testing the current out of the PSU! If so then not in the least bit surprised the PSU protests. You are putting a very close to short circuit across the poor thing so no wonder it shuts itself down.

guyrws · 15-11-2013, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

I hope that is not a clip of you testing the current out of the PSU! If so then not in the least bit surprised the PSU protests. You are putting a very close to short circuit across the poor thing so no wonder it shuts itself down.

No short circuit, close buy none.

chrisbartley · 15-11-2013, 21:39

You've got the meter on A - so its acting as the short !

You can't measure current ( or 'ampage') like that !

To measure current the meter has to be in series with the load

chrisjr · 15-11-2013, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by guyrws

No short circuit, close buy none.

In current mode the multimeter places a very low resistance between the +ve and -ve terminals of the meter. It then measures the voltage drop across that resistance as the current flows through it (basic ohms law).

By switching the meter to current mode and putting the terminals across the PSU you are putting that very low resistance across the PSU. That will cause it to try and supply far more current than it is designed to. That in turn will either destroy the PSU or cause it to shut down in self defence.

To measure the current correctly you need to insert the meter in series with the +ve supply wire. The +ve meter terminal goes to the end nearest the PSU and the -ve terminal to the load. Current flows from the PSU through the meter into the load then through the load and back out to the PSU down the -ve lead.

14-11-2013, 12:05	#1
guyrws Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gt Missenden, England Posts: 23	Goodmans Freesat GFSAT200HD Bricked Hi, Before I chuck out my long serving Goodmans Freesat GFSAT200HD. Does anyone know of a cure for this problem please? The box just ceased to work. The blue power light comes on but the box will not switch on, via the handset or the power button. Any ideas? Cheers, Guy.

14-11-2013, 12:18	#2
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	I've not seen any Harvard HD ones (we didn't consider them reliable enough to sell), but presumably they use the same cheap crappy capacitors in the PSU that fail on the SD boxes?. These can sometimes be repaired by replacing the faulty (high ESR) capacitors, but on other occasions they cause more serious damage writing the boxes off.

14-11-2013, 12:22	#3
Deacon1972 Guest Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8,103	Sounds like a faulty power supply, needs a replacement transformer. http://www.fixya.com/support/t182671...ans_gfsat200hd If you can get the PSU fault confirmed you might be able to fix cheaply with this replacement. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodmans-GFS.../dp/B0073XEFM6

14-11-2013, 12:54	#4
guyrws Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gt Missenden, England Posts: 23	I've replaced the PSU. But I asked myself: if the power supply is faulty, why is the standby light on?

14-11-2013, 14:19	#5
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by guyrws I've replaced the PSU. But I asked myself: if the power supply is faulty, why is the standby light on? An LED doesn't take much power to work. It could operate if the PSU was outputting a lower than normal voltage or had a problem delivering enough current to operate the box normally. I've had bits of kit like that. Plug the PSU in and the power light comes on but nothing works. Then you measure the output of the PSU and find that instead of 12V, say, it's only producing 4V. Enough to turn the power LED on but not enough to do anything else. It's also possible that the box derives other voltage supplies from the main voltage provided by the PSU. If one of those dies then that will stop the box functioning even though the PSU is perfectly healthy.

15-11-2013, 12:40	#6
guyrws Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gt Missenden, England Posts: 23	I have 2 PSUs the original and a replacement that I purchased of Amozon. I have tested both with a multimeter and both show 12v output. When I try to test the ampage, as soon as I connect the terminals the green power light on the PSU goes out and the ampage display varies rapidly. This occurs with both new and old PSU. Here's a YouTube link to a 22 second clip of what occurs when testing the PSU: http://youtu.be/ae_qr7Pg6GM

15-11-2013, 12:52	#7
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by guyrws I have 2 PSUs the original and a replacement that I purchased of Amozon. I have tested both with a multimeter and both show 12v output. When I try to test the ampage, as soon as I connect the terminals the green power light on the PSU goes out and the ampage display varies rapidly. This occurs with both new and old PSU. Like I mentioned above, it's most likely duff cheap capacitors.

15-11-2013, 12:55	#8
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	I hope that is not a clip of you testing the current out of the PSU! If so then not in the least bit surprised the PSU protests. You are putting a very close to short circuit across the poor thing so no wonder it shuts itself down.

15-11-2013, 21:25	#9
guyrws Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gt Missenden, England Posts: 23	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr I hope that is not a clip of you testing the current out of the PSU! If so then not in the least bit surprised the PSU protests. You are putting a very close to short circuit across the poor thing so no wonder it shuts itself down. No short circuit, close buy none.

15-11-2013, 21:39	#10
chrisbartley Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: berks Posts: 1,643	You've got the meter on A - so its acting as the short ! You can't measure current ( or 'ampage') like that ! To measure current the meter has to be in series with the load

15-11-2013, 22:22	#11
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by guyrws No short circuit, close buy none. In current mode the multimeter places a very low resistance between the +ve and -ve terminals of the meter. It then measures the voltage drop across that resistance as the current flows through it (basic ohms law). By switching the meter to current mode and putting the terminals across the PSU you are putting that very low resistance across the PSU. That will cause it to try and supply far more current than it is designed to. That in turn will either destroy the PSU or cause it to shut down in self defence. To measure the current correctly you need to insert the meter in series with the +ve supply wire. The +ve meter terminal goes to the end nearest the PSU and the -ve terminal to the load. Current flows from the PSU through the meter into the load then through the load and back out to the PSU down the -ve lead.

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Goodmans Freesat GFSAT200HD Bricked