Panasonic DMR-E75V fault - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

G4CMY_Tony · 11th Feb 2019, 3:02 pm

Although this probably doesn't really count as true vintage equipment, I was hoping one of the learned people on here might have come across this before.

the DMR-E75V is a combined VHS and DVD player / recorder. I've had it for many years and currently use it mainly for digitising VHS tapes either to my computer or direct to DVD.

A while ago it developed an intermittent fault when it would power off when brought out of standby and would only power back on when unplugged and plugged back in a few times

The fault has now developed so that it will not power on at all when plugged in.

I have seen several of these machines for sale for spares or repair with a fault described as "will not power on" so I am guessing it might be a common problem.

I suspect a power supply fault but am unable to find any service details about this model. I can find a manual for the DMR-E75VP but that seems to be a very different machine with a HDD.

If anyone has knowledge of this I would be very grateful for any gems of wisdom. Even a circuit diagram would be useful.

Maarten · 11th Feb 2019, 4:07 pm

Possibly, Elektrotanya has a circuit. Apart from electrolytics, if it uses an STR-G switcher IC, that would be suspect as well.

unixmanuk · 11th Feb 2019, 4:54 pm

Sounds very much like capacitor plague (leaking electrolytics). Look for bulging radial mounted capacitors with traces of dried brown electrolyte on the top surfaces.
I've lost count of the number of devices over the past few years seen with this fault. My own DMR-EZ45V developed problems, and this was to blame. You can get complete capacitor repair kits for Panasonic recorders on the internet.

G4CMY_Tony · 11th Feb 2019, 6:07 pm

Thank you for your replies.

Yes - there is at least one electrolytic with brown deposits and another which is beginning to bulge so that is very likely the problem.

I did not know that replacement capacitor kits were available - I will look out for those.

I haven't yet tried to remove the power supply board as I was hoping to get hold of a servicing manual to undo things in the best order (it is nicely "knitted" together) but I will get the replacement capacitors and take it from there.

Thank you once again.

HamishBoxer · 11th Feb 2019, 6:14 pm

They are great fun to strip down and watch any ribbon cables.There will be several out of spec caps and maybe a repair kit available on eBay.

If not then one of the Panasonic kit suppliers will very often make you one up.

G4CMY_Tony · 11th Feb 2019, 6:23 pm

Thank you - yes, I'm looking forward to repairing it but its such a nice machine (when it's working!) that I don't want to risk doing unnecessary damage to it.

It is the flimsy ribbon cables and the other board to board plugs that I'm most nervous about.

kevinaston1 · 11th Feb 2019, 6:30 pm

Hi Tony,

Yes. Dried out caps on the power supply. However, I remember there are two somewhere near the front of the main board which dry out; you cannot see them until the whole of the unit is stripped down.

My service manual is around 5MB, so I cannot post it here.

Kevin

G4CMY_Tony · 11th Feb 2019, 6:46 pm

Thanks, Kevin - PM sent

G4CMY_Tony · 13th Feb 2019, 9:03 am

I replaced the suspect capacitors and it is as good as new!

Thanks once again for the helpful comments.

mark pirate · 13th Feb 2019, 9:39 am

I had problems with my Panasonic, just one replacement cap on the PSU and has been working flawlessly ever since. see here :https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=149912

Mark

G4CMY_Tony · 13th Feb 2019, 3:20 pm

It was certainly an interesting exercise to get the board out but it all went back together again with nothing left over

I only replaced two capacitors in the end - each one 1500uF, 16V which I replaced with 25V versions. All the other one's seem fine and the machine now works as well as it ever did.

HamishBoxer · 13th Feb 2019, 4:02 pm

Good machines and good move as I have done in the past upping the capacitor spec a bit.

Maarten · 13th Feb 2019, 5:26 pm

Working voltage isn't the most important spec here as they are likely to be on a 12V or lower rail. Impedance and rated life are the most important. That said, a 25V electrolytic will often have a lower impedance than the 16V one since it has a somewhat larger active area. Within the same capacitor series, impedance is often given as a function of physical size, the larger capacitor having a lower impedance.

G4CMY_Tony · 14th Feb 2019, 10:51 am

Hi Maarten

Thank you for the word of wisdom.

I am always impressed by both the breadth and depth of knowledge of the members of this excellent forum.

11th Feb 2019, 3:02 pm	#1
G4CMY_Tony Triode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Stonehouse, Gloustershire, UK Posts: 46	Panasonic DMR-E75V fault Although this probably doesn't really count as true vintage equipment, I was hoping one of the learned people on here might have come across this before. the DMR-E75V is a combined VHS and DVD player / recorder. I've had it for many years and currently use it mainly for digitising VHS tapes either to my computer or direct to DVD. A while ago it developed an intermittent fault when it would power off when brought out of standby and would only power back on when unplugged and plugged back in a few times The fault has now developed so that it will not power on at all when plugged in. I have seen several of these machines for sale for spares or repair with a fault described as "will not power on" so I am guessing it might be a common problem. I suspect a power supply fault but am unable to find any service details about this model. I can find a manual for the DMR-E75VP but that seems to be a very different machine with a HDD. If anyone has knowledge of this I would be very grateful for any gems of wisdom. Even a circuit diagram would be useful.

11th Feb 2019, 4:07 pm	#2
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault Possibly, Elektrotanya has a circuit. Apart from electrolytics, if it uses an STR-G switcher IC, that would be suspect as well.

11th Feb 2019, 4:54 pm	#3
unixmanuk Pentode Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Worcester, Worcs. UK. Posts: 112	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault Sounds very much like capacitor plague (leaking electrolytics). Look for bulging radial mounted capacitors with traces of dried brown electrolyte on the top surfaces. I've lost count of the number of devices over the past few years seen with this fault. My own DMR-EZ45V developed problems, and this was to blame. You can get complete capacitor repair kits for Panasonic recorders on the internet. __________________ John

11th Feb 2019, 6:07 pm	#4
G4CMY_Tony Triode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Stonehouse, Gloustershire, UK Posts: 46	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault Thank you for your replies. Yes - there is at least one electrolytic with brown deposits and another which is beginning to bulge so that is very likely the problem. I did not know that replacement capacitor kits were available - I will look out for those. I haven't yet tried to remove the power supply board as I was hoping to get hold of a servicing manual to undo things in the best order (it is nicely "knitted" together) but I will get the replacement capacitors and take it from there. Thank you once again.

11th Feb 2019, 6:14 pm	#5
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault They are great fun to strip down and watch any ribbon cables.There will be several out of spec caps and maybe a repair kit available on eBay. If not then one of the Panasonic kit suppliers will very often make you one up. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

11th Feb 2019, 6:23 pm	#6
G4CMY_Tony Triode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Stonehouse, Gloustershire, UK Posts: 46	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault Thank you - yes, I'm looking forward to repairing it but its such a nice machine (when it's working!) that I don't want to risk doing unnecessary damage to it. It is the flimsy ribbon cables and the other board to board plugs that I'm most nervous about.

11th Feb 2019, 6:30 pm	#7
kevinaston1 Hexode Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Featherstone, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 386	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault Hi Tony, Yes. Dried out caps on the power supply. However, I remember there are two somewhere near the front of the main board which dry out; you cannot see them until the whole of the unit is stripped down. My service manual is around 5MB, so I cannot post it here. Kevin

11th Feb 2019, 6:46 pm	#8
G4CMY_Tony Triode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Stonehouse, Gloustershire, UK Posts: 46	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault Thanks, Kevin - PM sent

13th Feb 2019, 9:03 am	#9
G4CMY_Tony Triode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Stonehouse, Gloustershire, UK Posts: 46	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault I replaced the suspect capacitors and it is as good as new! Thanks once again for the helpful comments.

13th Feb 2019, 9:39 am	#10
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault I had problems with my Panasonic, just one replacement cap on the PSU and has been working flawlessly ever since. see here :https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=149912 Mark

13th Feb 2019, 3:20 pm	#11
G4CMY_Tony Triode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Stonehouse, Gloustershire, UK Posts: 46	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault It was certainly an interesting exercise to get the board out but it all went back together again with nothing left over I only replaced two capacitors in the end - each one 1500uF, 16V which I replaced with 25V versions. All the other one's seem fine and the machine now works as well as it ever did.

13th Feb 2019, 4:02 pm	#12
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault Good machines and good move as I have done in the past upping the capacitor spec a bit. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

13th Feb 2019, 5:26 pm	#13
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault Working voltage isn't the most important spec here as they are likely to be on a 12V or lower rail. Impedance and rated life are the most important. That said, a 25V electrolytic will often have a lower impedance than the 16V one since it has a somewhat larger active area. Within the same capacitor series, impedance is often given as a function of physical size, the larger capacitor having a lower impedance.

14th Feb 2019, 10:51 am	#14
G4CMY_Tony Triode Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Stonehouse, Gloustershire, UK Posts: 46	Re: Panasonic DMR-E75V fault Hi Maarten Thank you for the word of wisdom. I am always impressed by both the breadth and depth of knowledge of the members of this excellent forum.