D-Control PSU question

[Mundox]

Hi all. In my studio I have a Digidesign D-Control
Recently, the LEDs on the main unit stopped working, no lights. But unit works as normal.
So I ordered a replacement PSU which is this https://power.sager.com/snp-z10b-3979628.html

Long story short, when I replaced the PSU, the lights didn't come on. I thought it must be DOA..
But what I figured out after couple of hours of head scratching that the new PSU works only if the heatsink is not connected to the chassis.
(there is a Z shaped metal bit that screws on top of the existing heatsink on the PSU to connect to the chassis of the D-Control)

This seems peculiar to me as the PSU is identical to the old one. Could there be some other failure in the other circuit boards that caused this to begin with?
Right now my only plan is to find something (what?) to isolate the Z shaped metal bit from the chassis and still have some kind of heat dissipation.
But I'd love to find out why all of a sudden this is happening.

Thanks for any insight!
Cheers

 

[totoxraymond]

It is possible that your new psu's heat sink is not at 0v.

You can buy some isolation sheets for that purpose.

Examples at farnell:
https://fr.farnell.com/c/refroidiss...x-d-interface-thermique/isolateurs-thermiques
Those D-Control and D-Command are diying all around these times. It's a shame they can't last any longer, but Avid wants to sell s6...


Hope i could help,

Thomas

 

[abbey road d enfer]

Without a schemo, all we can conjure is speculation...

 

[pucho812]

Speculation but are you certain the PSU was faulty? There me be another part or parts that failed causing the leds to not power but the unit work.

 

[Mundox]

Speculation but are you certain the PSU was faulty? There me be another part or parts that failed causing the leds to not power but the unit work.

Yeah, definitely. It has 2 separate PSUs, one to drive the logic and one for LEDs only. It's a known issue with these boards, it has been replaced multiple times already.

 

[Mundox]

It is possible that your new psu's heat sink is not at 0v.

That was my initial thought but looking at both PSUs, that's hard to imagine as they are identical...

 

[Mundox]

So, I figured out the issue. On the old model they used isolators to connect the regulators to the heatsink bracket on the PCB. The new ones don't have isolators. Quite the design flaw if you ask me. I used silicon isolators and plastic sleeves for the screws to mount it on the chassis without connection. All is good!

 

[martthie_08]

old thread I know, but what's everybody doing for replacement power supplies for Icons these days, especially in EU?

I've contacted a couple of the German Skynet distributors and these are not stocked by anyone. I could get them to re-manufacture a batch of these but the minimum order is 20 pieces.

My trusty D-Command has gone completely dark a couple days ago so I suspect its the Logic psu. Original part was Starlink SNP-9544 - which is a +5V/ +15V / -15V supply.

On the D-Command only +/-15V are used so I've been thinking of replacing it with a generic switch mode from RS. There's enough room in the "desk" and I don't mind drilling a couple new holes for pcb mounts.

 

[martthie_08]

this is what I'm looking at to replace the Skynet SNP-9544:
https://de.rs-online.com/web/p/schaltnetzteile/7066228

I'm really trying to avoid having to import original replacement parts from the US, UK or Australia..

 

[martthie_08]

So none of the German companies that (used to) carry Skynet had any remaining stock.
I am going to have a go at replacing the original psu.

It was impossible to find a datasheet for the 9544 model, but industrialpartner.com lists it as:

Skynet SNP-9544. 40 W | 90-264V AC universal input | 5V/3A, 15V/1.5A, -15V/0.3A outputs

So the above listed Tracopower psu should be a good replacement:

Tracopower 60533, 55W | 100 – 240 VAC universal input | +5V/6A, +15V/2.4A, –15V/0.5A outputs