Dear Forum,
Trying to repair a Powernode N180 with power failure. This is an early generation (second?) of the Bluesound Powernode.
The problem manifests itself by the infamous “red Play/Pause” button. This version has a combined PSU/pre amplifier board.
I have replaced most (large) electrolytic capacitors in the PSU, as these were “bulged”, completely dried out and no capacitance at all.
After the repair and switch on, strangely a small capacitor blew up on the Hypex NC102 power amplifier board. After that all elco’s on the NC102 were also replaced.
At present the Powernode is mostly working again: staring up normally, can be seen from the BluSound app, music can be streamed and headphone output working.
Only the NC102 power is not working. It appeared that +/- 42V power is missing.
It is very hard to debug this failure, as traces on the PSU board cannot be traced on the PSU board. Probably an active element in the switched power supply has failed.
Can someone help me with a schematic diagram of the Bluesound Powernode N180?
(if copyright issues prohibit this, please send me a DM).
Many thanks in advance,
Martin Deisting
The Netherlands (proud Home of Hypex!)
Trying to repair a Powernode N180 with power failure. This is an early generation (second?) of the Bluesound Powernode.
The problem manifests itself by the infamous “red Play/Pause” button. This version has a combined PSU/pre amplifier board.
I have replaced most (large) electrolytic capacitors in the PSU, as these were “bulged”, completely dried out and no capacitance at all.
After the repair and switch on, strangely a small capacitor blew up on the Hypex NC102 power amplifier board. After that all elco’s on the NC102 were also replaced.
At present the Powernode is mostly working again: staring up normally, can be seen from the BluSound app, music can be streamed and headphone output working.
Only the NC102 power is not working. It appeared that +/- 42V power is missing.
It is very hard to debug this failure, as traces on the PSU board cannot be traced on the PSU board. Probably an active element in the switched power supply has failed.
Can someone help me with a schematic diagram of the Bluesound Powernode N180?
(if copyright issues prohibit this, please send me a DM).
Many thanks in advance,
Martin Deisting
The Netherlands (proud Home of Hypex!)
i have the same problem with my powernodes ( version with hdmi on board). The powersupply for the hypex modules 42v is not working anymore. i replaced the switching ic , checked all electrolytics, diodes, and semiconductor, thermalfuse in the transformer, but could not solve the problem without schematic. electronic scrap after 5 years?
regards
timo
regards
timo
The missing 42V in my Powernode was caused by a faulty condition in the Hypex module. This module switches off the 42V power when DC is detected on the speaker output. This was caused by a faulty output power FET. The Dutch Bluesound rep. supplied a replacement Hypex board and this solved the problem.
Repairing the Hypex board is difficult because this is densely populated surface mount board.
Repairing the Hypex board is difficult because this is densely populated surface mount board.
thanks for your reply,
i my case the 42V supply is faulty even without the hypex modules, the lower supply voltages at the linear regulators are correct, so streaming is working , only the speaker output is death.
i my case the 42V supply is faulty even without the hypex modules, the lower supply voltages at the linear regulators are correct, so streaming is working , only the speaker output is death.
The third time this month that I hear of a defective Hypex module in Bluesound stuff! maybe all bought around the same time and with series design imperfection? This when I had a defective N150 on the bench. Total goner with multiple design errors and overheating parts (a MOSFET in the SMPS had desoldered itself). N100 is repairable, have repaired a few of those and even added SPDIF outputs to them. With external DAC these are still usable.
Crappy stuff with electrolytic caps from the wet market in Wuhan. One has to go to great lengths to find such bad quality. Good software and app. Excellent marketing. It is quite an achievement when owners defend the brand of their defective stuff.
Crappy stuff with electrolytic caps from the wet market in Wuhan. One has to go to great lengths to find such bad quality. Good software and app. Excellent marketing. It is quite an achievement when owners defend the brand of their defective stuff.
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Hi Murphy,
That was exactly the situation with my Powernode.
I replaced all electrolytic condensors in the power supply. Then the Powernode started again, streaming part working, line outs working. Only the UCD102 was not working. I replaced the el. condensors on the UCD102, still no sound and no 42V on the PCB.
I noticed that the 42V on the UCD102 connector was shortly switched on and immediately switched off again. This is a security feature of the UCD102: when is detects DC voltage on the speaker outputs, it switches off the 42V part of the Powernode power supply.
Please see attached document re. UCD102. It is pin 28 on the connector.
I had to replace the UCD102 board. It is very hard to repair this board yourself, because almost all components are surface mounted and the print is easily damaged. The Bluesound representative in NL was so kind to supply me with a new board. Installing the board is not difficult and after replacement the Powernode is working again.
The UCD102 in the Powernode is a OEM that Hypex produces for Bluesound. Hyped sells this exclusively to Bluesound and not to other customers.
As far as i can see the common UCD102 and the Bluesound OEM UCD102 are identical, with the exception of the connector (90 degrees turned). In theory this connector could be replaced, but again the PCB itself is rather fragile.
The local Bluesound representative in NL is:
Audio Service BV
Edisonweg 10
6662 NW Elst (Gld)
Holland
Hope this is helpful.
Martin
PS - the NAD D3020 also has UCD102