My Dad's Internet Radio Boot Loops After Lightning Strike to Router???

Summary

The video shows the repair of an expensive John Lewis internet radio that was malfunctioning after a lightning strike. The radio would boot loop and make a high-pitched noise. After some troubleshooting, the issue appeared to be faulty output capacitors in the power supply. Replacing them seems to have fixed the boot looping problem, though the cause of the noise remains a mystery. Overall, it provides a good lesson in debugging intermittent electronic faults and the importance of those small capacitors.

Takeaways

• 📰 The video focuses on troubleshooting a John Lewis Internet radio that experienced issues following a lightning strike, highlighting the resilience and challenges of repairing modern electronics.
• 🔧 Initial repair years ago was simple, involving soldering a loose joint, demonstrating that some electronic issues can be resolved with basic fixes.
• 🚨 Post-lightning, the radio experienced boot looping and connectivity issues, suggesting that surges can cause complex problems in electronic devices.
• 📱 The use of Wi-Fi over Ethernet as a workaround for network issues showcases flexibility in solving connectivity problems but also introduces new variables in troubleshooting.
• 💻 Exploration of potential causes, including capacitor failure and impact of lightning through indirect means (e.g., scaffolding, telephone wires), illustrates the detective work involved in electronics repair.
• 🔋 Testing with a bench power supply and investigating capacitor health underscore the importance of methodical testing in diagnosing electronic device issues.
• 🛠 Replacement of suspected faulty capacitors with ones of incorrect voltage rating but correct capacitance highlights the role of experimentation in repairs.
• 🔌 Discovery that the radio works at lower voltage thresholds suggests that certain problems can be mitigated or bypassed through unconventional methods.
• 📲 The persistent hum detected during CD playback and its absence in other modes points to specific component issues, possibly related to grounding or interference.
• 🔢 The final resolution remains inconclusive, with the repair being effective yet not fully understood, reflecting the often uncertain nature of diagnosing and fixing electronic problems.
• 📺 The video concludes with the radio functioning correctly after capacitor replacement, though the exact cause of the original problem (boot looping) and the hum remains somewhat speculative.

Q & A

What device is being repaired in the video?

An internet radio made by John Lewis.

What was the initial fault with the radio?

There was an issue with a solder joint where the mains power enters, which was fixed in a previous repair. More recently, it had issues connecting via WiFi which was also fixed.

What happened after a lightning storm that caused new issues?

After a lightning storm, the radio started boot looping - turning on and off repeatedly. This happened after the storm caused issues with the internet connection.

What voltage does the radio's power supply output?

The radio runs on 15V DC from its internal switch mode power supply.

What components were initially suspected as the fault?

The output capacitors on the power supply were initially suspected, as they can often fail over time.

Were the original output capacitors actually faulty?

No, when tested the original output capacitors measured as working correctly. However, replacing them seemed to fix the boot looping issue.

What other fault does the radio have?

There is a high-pitched whining noise, specifically when playing CDs. The source of this could not be found.

How was temperature related to the boot looping fault?

When cooled right down, the radio would start boot looping again. This pointed to an issue related to temperature or components getting warm.

How long did the repair last before further issues?

Over a week later, after extensive use by the video creator's father, the radio was still working normally with no further boot looping.

What components will be replaced going forwards?

The temporary lower voltage output capacitors will be replaced by correct higher voltage Panasonic capacitors.