MDD Power Supply - Repair / Refurbs

[FdB]

Evidently there’s someone in Austin Texas offering refurbs / repair services for MDD Power Supply(s). Got this info from eBay and have attempted to get direct contact info. (Not that I need a PSU yet, knock on polycarbonate.) But for those that may need this, the contact/seller on eBay is: baltimora2000 OR acxelectronics.

Refurb prices are $99.00 and repairs on your own PSU is $74.99. I think there’s a $20.00 rebate / core charge for those that purchase the already refurbed units.

Now, given that there are quite a few MDD owners here… I thought that maybe I might be able to negotiate a slight discount for members, IF a direct connection can be made with this source. But then again, maybe this source wouldn’t like such a possible increase in business?

Anyone know this source or has used this service before? Who here may be close to Austin? Or, is this “someone” already a member here. (PM me, in any case.)

So, in answer to the question as to whether or not these failed PSU’s can be recovered… that answer is yes.

I personally can recognize and replace blown/ puffed capacitors myself, yet it may be more than worth it beyond capacitors to have this overall refurbishing done by someone who’s considerably more familiar with and adept at this complete process.

(5) 5-star glowing reviews and has been “at it” for quite a few years.

Underlying notion here is: why spend a hundred bucks on a used PSU that has just as many year's use on them, as opposed to buying a PSU that has been "gone through" and refurbished?

However, if someone has a fried PSU to send to me, I'd be willing to "crack one open" and have a go at it. (My 2 MDD PSU's are still working for now and I'm not interested in taking them out and/or apart.) Still think this Austin source warrants further examination.

[nanopico]

Evidently there’s someone in Austin Texas offering refurbs / repair services for MDD Power Supply(s). Got this info from eBay and have attempted to get direct contact info. (Not that I need a PSU yet, knock on polycarbonate.) But for those that may need this, the contact/seller on eBay is: baltimora2000 OR acxelectronics.

Refurb prices are $99.00 and repairs on your own PSU is $74.99. I think there’s a $20.00 rebate / core charge for those that purchase the already refurbed units.

Now, given that there are quite a few MDD owners here… I thought that maybe I might be able to negotiate a slight discount for members, IF a direct connection can be made with this source. But then again, maybe this source wouldn’t like such a possible increase in business?

Anyone know this source or has used this service before? Who here may be close to Austin? Or, is this “someone” already a member here. (PM me, in any case.)

So, in answer to the question as to whether or not these failed PSU’s can be recovered… that answer is yes.

I personally can recognize and replace blown/ puffed capacitors myself, yet it may be more than worth it beyond capacitors to have this overall refurbishing done by someone who’s considerably more familiar with and adept at this complete process.

(5) 5-star glowing reviews and has been “at it” for quite a few years.

Underlying notion here is: why spend a hundred bucks on a used PSU that has just as many year's use on them, as opposed to buying a PSU that has been "gone through" and refurbished?

However, if someone has a fried PSU to send to me, I'd be willing to "crack one open" and have a go at it. (My 2 MDD PSU's are still working for now and I'm not interested in taking them out and/or apart.) Still think this Austin source warrants further examination.

I have a fried/blown/bad power supply if you seriously want to give this a try.

[FdB]

Sure Nano, send it on down. Just heard back from that someone in Austin and I am awaiting his response before providing further info. So, if you'd like to wait, do so. If not, send it. And, if you've had it open already, send me a pic of the interior please.

[MacOS Plus]

  I have two dead ones, but it wouldn't make financial sense to ship them from Canada and back again unfortunately.

[FdB]

Let's see if I have any success with the one that Nano may send to me first. I've yet to hear back from Austin Texas. I initially proposed a slight discount for members of the forum. Awaiting that response.

If simply replacing blown capacitors and other minor/simple items alone can give life back to the failed PSU's... that would be great. However, if this works only in some instances... then the full-blown refurbish/replace route might need be taken. Of course I'll post success/failure results when available. Still, I'd like interior pictures of the PSU before any may arrive here. If too difficult to access, well waiting until the first one's opened here will then be necessary.

And I've already plenty of MDD's (sans PSU's), to test them in for function.

[GaryN]

Am I out to lunch here or are you saying that you've never seen the inside of one of these monstrosities?
You have a special treat in store for you.

5 different vdc outs, 360watts total and all components packed into 10" x 5" x 2.5"…including fans, heat sinks transformers, a 1000 or so small parts and mmmm FUN!
You'll appreciate what I'm saying when you get to actually open one up.
It's really hard to get a decent pic because of the packing density of the components - and I've got lots of photo gear. I'll give it a go tomorrow.

[nanopico]

Sure Nano, send it on down. Just heard back from that someone in Austin and I am awaiting his response before providing further info. So, if you'd like to wait, do so. If not, send it. And, if you've had it open already, send me a pic of the interior please.

I'll send it down. It might take me a few days to get it out, but I'll send it.  I'll let you know when it's on it's way.
Right now it's completely apart as I had intended to attempt to repair it, but I'm playing catch-up on too many things in life. I'd rather someone else learn from it than have it sit around.
So being that it is apart I can get pic's of it. But as already stated,

Am I out to lunch here or are you saying that you've never seen the inside of one of these monstrosities?
You have a special treat in store for you.

5 different vdc outs, 360watts total and all components packed into 10" x 5" x 2.5"…including fans, heat sinks transformers, a 1000 or so small parts and mmmm FUN!
You'll appreciate what I'm saying when you get to actually open one up.
It's really hard to get a decent pic because of the packing density of the components - and I've got lots of photo gear. I'll give it a go tomorrow.

this thing is packed tight. 

[FdB]

Affirmative. I've never seen the insides of one of these "monstrosities" (until last night)... yet I remain unafraid. I did a "little" research last night and perhaps somewhat like my old Field Supervisor, that we always collectively commented on (concerning some new process)... "He'd seen it on TV". From what I did view (many photos included), it isn't something that I'd wish to undertake a steady diet of. Yet, I've a good friend who's business is building professional control panels (from the very very small to extremely large), commercial projects worldwide. I'll seek his assistance and guidance in this task, as needed.

However the much better news concerning the possible "Austin" source is that I heard back from Andy Cuffe (acuffe@gmail.com), [if any may wish to contact him directly], and while he's traveling at the moment, he plans to visit the forum to see what I'm all on about and he went so far as to state that he could be offering members here a price reduction for his services. (Yes, I am relieved as I really did not want to begin my own little cottage industry delving into the guts of aged, cooked power supply units.) Hope no one minds that I asked him to join us here. Seems like a very decent guy and quite possibly a very welcome addition (especially considering his abilities).

I've an "errand day" on tap for today, but I'll get back to all this soon... or maybe Andy will visit and introduce himself, time permitting. He explained to me exactly what I had previously suspected were the reasons and possible remedies for these aged, toasted power supplies. Good news to me, considering that I'd like to see my MDD's live another 14 years.

In other news... attempted bulk price reduction negotiations with Dave Nanian (Shirt Pocket Software - SuperDuper), were not as productive. And while I realize that I could've quite simply used the SuperDuper software without paying (not how I roll), the registration "full price"... I went ahead and bought it anyway. Dave was (and has been), very good about it all as I continued to repeatedly weasel and approach the matter in varying ways, attempting to get him to budge on a possible MacOS9Lives! group discount. No dice. But, some fairly humorous exchanges between us.

Dave, I'll still be waiting for my unoffered T-shirt, mug and mouse pad, even if you didn't grant me my well-deserved senior citizen discount.

I gotta go. Have a bit of fun out there today y'all.

Moof!

 

[FdB]

Oh, and thanks Gary for the photo offer. Looks like that won't be necessary. I do appreciate the offer.

[IIO]

Refurb prices are $99.00 and repairs on your own PSU is $74.99.

that is a good offer - but otoh, yesterday i got a QS 2002 for 12 euros off ebay and some other MDDs went for 20-25.

the average price for a MDD machine is about USD 150 here in europe. but if you find one for say less than 80 euo you get a (used) PSU replacement for some 20 euro.

or you use that new computer and save a lot time repairing the old one.

[GaryN]

Last week I scored a complete working MDD for $25 that I bought just for the PSU and I even got a USB2 card and a SCSI card as a free bonus.
That doesn't happen very often any more.

What you've got to remember is that these "bargains" are used, and you have no way of knowing exactly how used.
So they're a crap shoot. Maybe good for a week, maybe good for 10 years.
Also, they're starting to get scarce. I live in the SF Bay Area and a few years ago I could have filled my whole garage with QSs and MDDs for 500 bucks!

Those days are gone.

So, be glad, be very glad there's a guy rebuilding those PSUs for a reasonable price.
Wish him success and good health for a long time, because you're liable to need him someday…

[IIO]

yeah that is clear, that is second hand stuff and it might not last long. a generic third party solution will become more and more important. otoh, right now it can be the cheaper and eaiser solution.

[FdB]

Taking into consideration that many of the MDD PSUs were manufactured by Samsung (like similar PSUs in our flat panel TVs), Samsung and others use less-than-quality capacitors (SAMXON, etcetera), which do fail over time compared to better quality capacitors. If you’re fairly handy with a soldering iron you can replace these blown, (normally puffed and swollen), capacitors with new and better capacitors, very inexpensively. Capacitors shown in attached image cost me about $7.00 to replace in one of my multi-featured TVs (note HD for on-board DVR). I couldn’t just let it die.

Granted, the MDD PSUs are cramped and much more difficult to access, yet with patience and some ability, a less-expensive route to resurrecting dead PSUs is possible. Andy Cuffe (acuffe@gmail.com), tests and replaces far more than just bad caps to repair and refurb these dead PSUs and at a very reasonable price, when you consider his entire-board check and repair. And he’s said that he can do this for less than his previously quoted price on fleabay, if you contact him directly. AND, he offers a warranty.

Tell him MacOS9Lives sent you, or that you’re a member of the forum.

Me? I’m personally willing to try the less-expensive, capacitor replace route first. (Hard head.) Andy has stated that these “cap” failures are possibly the number one cause for dead PSUs. Of course, I’m not going to extensively test and replace other board components… and thusly I may find that cap replacement alone isn’t enough to completely repair a PSU. But I’m too cheap (tight, frugal), to just send a PSU to Andy, first. Which means I may need to once again remove the PSU that I’ve re-capped and re-installed… and then send it to Andy anyway.

So yes, buying a PSU from an MDD that has not been completely tested and refurbed, may provide a short-lived solution to a problem that we all may eventually have, as all these machines turn 14 or 15 years old… if they’ve made it that far since originally being “born”.

AND, $25.00 for a complete, working MDD is a great deal… yet likely to become a very rare find indeed, as time marches on.

You may have noticed that I haven’t been nagging Nanopico to send me one of his toasted PSUs, as we’ve previously discussed… simply because I haven’t had the time to attempt any recapping lately, anyway. Maybe later.

[FdB]

“Where never is heard, a discouraging word…”

As falling temperatures and ye olde threat of snew (as opposed to old snow), begins again across the great midwestern plains, I’ve finally surrendered and fired up the ol’ furnace. ’Tis now that thoughts of indoor activities bubble up within the brain mire and old computer projects resurface, yet again.

I couldn’t locate the thread “what did you buy for your Mac today”.

A: I bought them all another MDD to keep ‘em all company. ELEVEN BUCKS!

With a suspect power supply (as it reportedly will not power up)… nobody else had bid on this thing last night. This morning, with less than an hour-and-a-half remaining, someone bested my generous initial offer of $1.00. So, with no other choice, I cautiously had to increase my bid to $11.00… as the time slowly-clicked painfully by!

Now, Nanopico and I have recently discussed the old “send me your failed PSU” scenario and while his PSU has yet to arrive, when it does… perhaps it shall have some company in the previously aforementioned surgical-like endeavor. Or Andy down in Austin will get some business.

Hopefully, I shall not become entrapped in the quagmire of: sounds-like-a-spark, looks-like-a-spark, feels-like-a-spark or tastes-like-a-spark possibilities of attempted long-distance diagnosis.

Don’t touch that dial.

https://lifehacksdiy.com Just for fun.

Did you know that the melting point of glue-gun glue is between 250º to 380º Fahrenheit and that it’s not generally a conductor of electricity?

Remember, I cleaned the surfaces of my 1.42 GHz MDD heatsink with 0000 steel wool. (Don’t try that at home.) Joking. It’s still fully functional and it’s still Coooooler.

“…and the skies are not cloudy all day…”

[oldtimer]

Anyone know this source or has used this service before?

(5) 5-star glowing reviews and has been “at it” for quite a few years.

Sorry for the late reply (new member here).

Yes, he refurbished the PSU from my 1.25DP MDD a few years ago. It has worked perfectly ever since.

He got my 5 star ebay rating. Fast, reliable, service as described, no pains or gotchas.

I should contact him to see if he could/would refurbish a PSU from a G4 500DP gigabit ethernet PowerMac. Mine died a couple of weeks ago.

[FdB]

First off… a very warm welcome, old-timer.

(It’s 9˚F here and I’m NOT going outdoors today. Hope it’s warmer and more comfortable wherever you may be.)

And “late-schmate”… it’s great to finally hear first-hand news concerning Andy’s services from a satisfied customer. In all of my communication with him he’s always struck me as a very decent stand-up guy. AND, after my own initial D-I-Y PSU recap adventure… what he charges is both inexpensive, and provides optimium quality/service… thusly well worth it.

Welcome and thanks again!

[oldtimer]

Thanks for the welcome, Fury.

Below zero F here overnight and this morning. I hate Winter! 

Yep, Andy was great to deal with. Highly recommended.

Everyone here should appreciate your heads up. If you have an MDD Mac, it's highly likely that your power supply will eventually die.

[mrhappy]

Seems like 'OS9Lives' will be steering a lot of business to our new friend Andy!! Great resource to have to keep OS9 alive and well!!

[FdB]

oldtimer (und everyone else too)

Just heard from Andy and he provided the following info:
"I also refurbish power supplies for the Quicksilver, Digital Audio, and Gigabit G4s.  Surprisingly, I've been doing a lot more of those lately than MDDs."

That's Andy Cuffe, acuffe@gmail.com

Don't forget to mention MacOS9Lives.com when contacting him concerning your PSU repair/refurb.

[oldtimer]

Just heard from Andy and he provided the following info:
"I also refurbish power supplies for the Quicksilver, Digital Audio, and Gigabit G4s.  Surprisingly, I've been doing a lot more of those lately than MDDs."

Fury that's good news for me, and my Gigabit Ethernet G4, and for may others I'm sure.

Thanks for your research and follow-up on this for the people here at MacOS9Lives.com, and any other Mac users who might happen to find this message thread through a Google search. Good work!

[Unknown_k]

I think it take some more time before people are willing to pay $100 to refurb a broken MDD power supply when they can buy complete units for that amount. I have 3 dead MDD PS in my garage waiting for the day that it will be worth fixing rather then replacing them (I have 3 working MDD machines).

[GaryN]

I think it take some more time before people are willing to pay $100 to refurb a broken MDD power supply when they can buy complete units for that amount. I have 3 dead MDD PS in my garage waiting for the day that it will be worth fixing rather then replacing them (I have 3 working MDD machines).

This is true as far as it goes. By that, I mean the difference is that when you buy a used MDD, you have NO idea where it's been or how hard / long it's been used. Your "new" replacement PSU may last years or weeks - it's a crapshoot. A newly refurbed PSU, on the other hand, is likely to last quite a while.

The other advantage, of course, is that you also get other parts to keep on the shelf as well, although after you've collected 2 or 3 extra motherboards and other stuff that is NOT prone to breakdowns, you're at the point where you're just running a junkyard.

…sez me…another hoarder with multiple MDDs, Cinema Displays, PowerBooks and a thousand or so miscellaneous small parts laying around…

[macStuff]

speaking of temperature..
its been in the negative -20s here where i live the last few days
my windshield washer fluid froze... lucky it didnt rupture the line