Digital Video Camcorder Repair 101

[maveRick]

My DV Camcorder has been on the blink for a while now (in unison with my nervous twitch), so I decided to teach myself how to repair a DVC.

I can't really give any instructions on "HOW TO REPAIR" a DVC, only "HOW NOT TO REPAIR" a DVC.

The end result:

<center>http://users3.ev1.net/~rickbook/pmofo/DVCREPAIR101.jpg</center>

[Neighbors]

Mr. Book (and all potential electronics repairers);

While reviewing your dissatisfaction with your product, and seeking ways to enhance it's performance, I've noted several things in the picture that may have caused some difficulty, leading to the ultimate demise of your camera.

Work surface: appears to be too low, and the vertical lines created by the wooden 'slats' force the eye to follow them and wander off the edge of the table.
Repair location: the kitchen? Are you mad (as in loopy, crazy)? Everydody knows these things are best worked on in dimly light corners of the back porch...(or garage)
Two points for the magnifying headgear. Even if you don't know what you are doing, you'll look like it with those on. They also allow you to find the little parts you dropped easier.
However, with the phone that close, and you in full-concentration mode, when it rings you WILL lose parts...
Tape measure: ? Not really required here, but the color is mezmerizing...
Cigarettes: While working on electronics? You know smoking is best left up to the cook (and I realize you are confused by being in the kitchen). Well, at least the ashtray can double as a place to put all of the small parts (but you'll have to have a small archaeological dig to find them). BTW, 'real' professionals smoke Camel non-filters...
Uno cards: Are you working or playing? Make up your mind :D...
Hammer: First course of action and the last. If the product doesn't work, give it a 'love tap', and try again. If after hours of repair, and it's still non-0functional, give it lots of 'love taps'...(I pefer dropping things overhand, but that's up to the individual user...)
Vise grips: WTH? I don't see the stack of cracked walnuts here, so what are they for? Opening beer? Nope, I see the bottle opener...Oh, I got it: battery extracter (in the event the hammer doesn't work...)
Magnifying glass: Redundant? You cannot use them in conjunction with the the head gear, or your eyes will be permantly damaged. IF you were outside where you should be, you could use it to burn ants...
Lighter: Too close to a combustable substance...
Model glue: The cap is on. To allow for the full 'enhancing' efffect, remove the nozzle and place the tip up one nostril...
Lastly: Please kids, don't mix drugs (glue) and alcohol (BL). The combo makes you do silly stuff (like dismantle a perfectly good camcorder...)


Work smartly, or just watch the TV...

I'm sorry Mr. Book, but I do believe you voided the warranty :D (and this photo is proof, LOL!)

Nay!
...offering constructive criticism when and where I can...

[Rusman]

Rick, you should have called for a Tech Day (TM) to repair your camcorder.

[maveRick]

Originally posted by Neighbors
Mr. Book (and all potential electronics repairers); While reviewing your dissatisfaction with your product.........

LOL! NOW THAT WAS SOME FUNNY TIPS (and writing)!!

Thanks for taking note of all my f-ups. I'll try to do betterer in the futurer. Unless I don't - then it'll be just one basic f-up like this one!


Russ: I would'a called a tech day - but I was at home, bored, ON A FRIDAY NIGHT!!! ARGH!! I just couldn't resist the urge.


/me wishes I had more will-power to resist certain urges :(

[Neighbors]

If you truly used all of that stuff, you are one creative dood! If not, you are an artist!

The whole situatuion described to me by the picture struck me as VERY funny this morning :D...(...and I had to 'splain why...)

Carry on!

[Blue91]

The UNO cards made me laugh the hardest..... lol

[Bubstang]

WTH? I see no JB Weld, bailing wire or duct tape....and you wonder why is doesn't work :D

[maveRick]

Originally posted by Blue91
The UNO cards made me laugh the hardest..... lol

Fred, actually that's the first clue to something hidden in the photo...;)

Fred gets 1 point.


(how do you spell cherades?")

[Rusman]

LOL RICK! You're one basic fuckup ;)

[Neighbors]

LOL! I told you you were an artist! :D

[Blue91]

Haha, I saw it right before I saw Rus' response. I saw the F'up, then his reply clued me in on the one basic, lol.

Guys, we need to get pRick out of the house on Fri nights I think! He has too much time on his hands! lol

[Rusman]

LOL Fred!

Ya know, I sure hope his car skillz are much better than his small electronics repair skillz!

[maveRick]

Sorry Nay, my bad.

I posted Fred's score in a hurry (needed to hurry up to meet up with Nancy who was an hour and half late meeting me anyway).

I didn't take the time to see that YOU, sir, had typed "Uno" first.

The judges have decided to give you Fred's point (ding sound goes here)


You also mentioned other 'letters':Tape measure, Magnifying glass - part of the "F", lighter and model glue - both part of the 'k" .

You also said "Cigarettes", however, NOT the brand name - "Judges?" pause..."We're gonna give you that one too." ding!

That's 5 points: That and four dollars will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.



But the winner is.....RUSTY!! (applause sign lights up)

"Tell him what he's won Jay"

Announcer: "Well, Rick, Rusty will be visiting your home where he'll take part in a glorius fun filled day of ....CRAP-STACKING! (crowd 'ooh's and ah's'). That's right, he'll be thrown in the garage and locked there until he's stacked every last nut, bolt and rivet into various un-assorted piles."

spoken lowly and quickly -"contestantmustprovideowntransportationalcoholicber verageslatexglovesbandaidstetnisshotandanyotherite mthatcostsanything"

"That's the end of today's show! We'll see you next time on (crowd in unison) "Rick- Fucks- with- PoMoFo's- Hat-Rack"!

"Thank you and good night everybody!"

(show's theme song to "Shaft" fades out and into commercial.)

[maveRick]

Originally posted by Rusman
LOL Fred!

Ya know, I sure hope his car skillz are much better than his small electronics repair skillz!


uhh...that'd be a 'negatory good buddy, come on back, over?'

All I know how to do is tear shit up and pay out the patoot to have it put back together!

[Rusman]

Originally posted by maveRick
But the winner is.....RUSTY!! (applause sign lights up)
"
Wow! I've never won anything in my life!

Originally posted by maveRick

"Tell him what he's won Jay"

Announcer: "Well, Rick, Rusty will be visiting your home where he'll take part in a glorius fun filled day of ....CRAP-STACKING! (crowd 'ooh's and ah's'). That's right, he'll be thrown in the garage and locked there until he's stacked every last nut, bolt and rivet into various un-assorted piles."

spoken lowly and quickly -"contestantmustprovideowntransportationalcoholicber verageslatexglovesbandaidstetnisshotandanyotherite mthatcostsanything"
Somehow I feel I'm not the real winner here. :hmm:

[maveRick]

UPDATE: July 21st.

Guess what?

The sumbitch works now!

I was recieving an error "E04" (web search indicated current flow problem).

After checking out the 'battries', resetting the camera back to default settings, etc., I decided to go into the monster ("I don't need no steenking service repair center") as you can tell by the pic above.

Being the brainiac that I am ("riiiiiight"), I thought there might be a capacitor that was holding a small charge - as I couldn't 'totally' reset the camera.

Anyway, I shorted (shunted) all the components on the pc board in hopes of discharging 'something'. 'Guess I got lucky.

Bottom line, it works now!

[Timebomb]

You're a lucky SOB! All I'd have to do is look at it the wrong way and I'd never get it back together... Way to go pRick!!!! :thumb:

[white87306]

That's too cool rick.:cool:

[Bubstang]

so what are ya gonna do when the cap gets charged back up?:confused:

If it happens again, you should try discharging all components one at a time. Start with C1, then reassemble, test; C2, reassemble, test; and so on. Then when you find it, you could write a tech note and post for all those other poor folks that are way less of a brainiac than you.

Just think, another chance to contribute. /me needs to wipe tear

[Rusman]

Did Rick really fix it, or was it just "operator error" all along? :)

[maveRick]

Originally posted by Bubstang
so what are ya gonna do when the cap gets charged back up?:confused:

If it happens again, you should try discharging all components one at a time. Start with C1, then reassemble, test; C2, reassemble, test; and so on. Then when you find it, you could write a tech note and post for all those other poor folks that are way less of a brainiac than you.

Just think, another chance to contribute. /me needs to wipe tear

LOL Bubba. - I told someone else the story and he said I prolly pushed down on a 'bad' solder which in turn, made the camera start working again (sounds likely).

Either that or I just have the Midas touch. (not!)


re: "Just think, another chance to contribute /me wipes a tear"

'shut up you cry baby!" :D

/me sheds a tear for even jokingly lashing out at my friend Bubba. Please forgive me...sniff..sniff.. I gotta go now....sniff...

[maveRick]

Originally posted by Rusman
Did Rick really fix it, or was it just "operator error" all along? :)

My Dearest Rusty,

shut up.

Your Friend and Mine,

Rick








;)

[Rusman]

:blue:

[Bubstang]

its ok pRick, I'll be all right, I just need my space right now...:ashamed:

[Neighbors]

uh hmmm; excuse me. Not to be a niggler, but "Jokes, Links, SmackTalk, but NO personal flames!!"...

Mr. Book, your last comments can be misconstrued as a 'flame'; please refrain from flaming, or we'll have to flame you, and we don't want to resort to that. Why, because we all LOVE you (well, most of us do :D).

Back to the war, boys!

Nay!

Warning! The above message (from me) is intended as a joke; for amusement or heckling purposes only; nothing more...carry on!

[Bubstang]

Yeah pRick, you heartless xxxxxx

Your friend and mine,
The Bubster:angel:

[maveRick]

but..but..but... I wuz only kidding! (see the :D thing?)

I LUVV ever-bawdy here and wanna have ya'ss chuldrens.

I just realized Chris, your just pissed because you didnt' solve the picture puzzle :D:D:D:D:D:D: (see all the smiles? - not in a nanny-nanny-boo-boo way either).


now shut up.



pRick

:bigasssheepishgrin:

[Bubstang]

Rus, I'd be worried. Rick scared me with the comment about "stacking nuts".

Laters,
Bubba