Any way to repair a DCT6208? (E609 error)

[DCTGoddess]

The DCTs are formatted at the factory, w/ a 'starter' version of the firmware. It gets updated & the software gets loaded when the box gets the 'hit' from the cable co. I also heard somewhere, that the HDD had an atypical arrangement of devisions.

[rickamlin]

I was thinking about the reply posted regarding the replacement of 630 mf 6.3v caps with 1000 mf 6.3v caps. Don't caps fail because the insulating paper inside fails, and allows a short. Wouldn't a better replacement be a 630 mf 10v, or 25v cap. This would not change the capacitance in the circuit but would beef up the insulating properties and help guard against failure.

[WildThing]

Originally Posted by rickamlin

I was thinking about the reply posted regarding the replacement of 630 mf 6.3v caps with 1000 mf 6.3v caps. Don't caps fail because the insulating paper inside fails, and allows a short. Wouldn't a better replacement be a 630 mf 10v, or 25v cap. This would not change the capacitance in the circuit but would beef up the insulating properties and help guard against failure.

Hummm. Not sure. That's my friend who decided this. I tought that we must keep the 6.3v

WildThing

[greg]

Nope, the voltage rating on a capacitor is the maximum voltage you can use it for. going higher produces no effect. changing the MicroFarad rating on the other hand could change the circuit somewhat. I'd suggest sticking with 630mF if replacing a 630, unless it's for power filtering (which you can't be sure of).

[sgc69]

A Note to Rickamlin's Second Last Post
-----------------------------
Info for anyone that wants to know? "DCT6208" tried ghosting drive with no luck? Invalid Source Disk
But just installed new drive unpartitioned and works without any work

Original Drive ST380012ACE New Drive ST380011A

I worked for me if anyone has bad harddrive issue or dead box due to this

Shane

[easyamp]

This maybe a little off topic even though I found this thread while trying to fix my dead box with an e609 code.

There are 4 things that kill capacitors.

1. exceeding the max plate voltage (not working voltage).
2. overheating from external source ie. other componets.
3. reversed polarity (obvioulsy not the case here).
4. excessive ripple current.

The capitance of a capacitor is directly related to plate voltage as well as it's capacitance.

The formula w=v2*c/2

w=storage energy in joules
v=working voltage
c=capacitance

shows that increasing either voltage or capacitance increase's the peak ripple current (the main killer) that a capacitor can handle.

So yes, rickamlin, increasing the working voltage would help as well as increasing the capacitance in one off the four cap killers.

Also the rated 6.3v is a working volatge not max. Generally you can add as much 20% to this number and find the cap's peak plate voltage or electrolyte breakdown voltage.

I found that after my box was unplgged from the cable and wall that it would work again but only for about 10 sec after reconnecting the cable not power??

I stuck it in my fridge for a half hour or so, so far to see if it's a heat issue I'll let you know.I also rent so who cares if I kill it from condensation, it doesn't work now anyway.

Cheers

[JoeTaylor]

Hi Everyone,

Im in the Jacksonville, FL area. Have the same problem with the DCT6200 and the error codes. We have Comcast here and the service guy is coming out to "fix" my unit, which means swap it out, as we rent them here.

I saw the same error codes, searched Google and found this board.

Capacitors

As for capacitors, the ones in the photo are "wet" capacitors, IE they are in a metal capsule and the dielectric between the layers of the capacitor is an organic liquid, petroleum or silicone based. What happens is this dielectric leaks out of the tin (its mounted with the seal on the bottom - in the picture). Once the liquid starts leaking, the capacitor fails.

Had a similar situation with an Acura Legend, Bose surround sound. The board with the 4 amplifiers, half of the capacitors failed due to leakage, IE cheaply made capacitors. The fluid was very corrosive/acidic and caused the circuit board to fail. Also, most dielectric fluids in capacitors are know carcinogens.

Just a heads up from an electrical engineer. If you are going to replace them, buy whats called "mil spec" (military specification) capacitors of the same value of micro Farads, voltage equal to or higher than the ones in there. Mil Spec capacitors work over a broader temperature range and seals on them will not fail.

Funny how a 10 cent capacitor can mess things up.

Very Truly Yours,
Joe Taylor

[WildThing]

Originally Posted by JoeTaylor

Hi Everyone,

Im in the Jacksonville, FL area. Have the same problem with the DCT6200 and the error codes. We have Comcast here and the service guy is coming out to "fix" my unit, which means swap it out, as we rent them here.

I saw the same error codes, searched Google and found this board.

Capacitors

As for capacitors, the ones in the photo are "wet" capacitors, IE they are in a metal capsule and the dielectric between the layers of the capacitor is an organic liquid, petroleum or silicone based. What happens is this dielectric leaks out of the tin (its mounted with the seal on the bottom - in the picture). Once the liquid starts leaking, the capacitor fails.

Had a similar situation with an Acura Legend, Bose surround sound. The board with the 4 amplifiers, half of the capacitors failed due to leakage, IE cheaply made capacitors. The fluid was very corrosive/acidic and caused the circuit board to fail. Also, most dielectric fluids in capacitors are know carcinogens.

Just a heads up from an electrical engineer. If you are going to replace them, buy whats called "mil spec" (military specification) capacitors of the same value of micro Farads, voltage equal to or higher than the ones in there. Mil Spec capacitors work over a broader temperature range and seals on them will not fail.

Funny how a 10 cent capacitor can mess things up.

Very Truly Yours,
Joe Taylor

Hi

Thanks for this useful information. I don't think that my capacitors were replaced by mil spec but I'll know it for the next time (hope not but... we never know).

Yanick

[sgc69]

Replaced all 4 Caps with new 6.3v 680uF, Reciever booted with eb09 hunt fr3 then ' dl waited for 30min then HD Spun up then everything working!.

Thanks Again!
Shane

[WildThing]

Originally Posted by sgc69

Replaced all 4 Caps with new 6.3v 680uF, Reciever booted with eb09 hunt fr3 then ' dl waited for 30min then HD Spun up then everything working!.

Thanks Again!
Shane

Glad to hear that!

[zipix]

I have the same problem with my Mot 6412/2305. After it boots it locks on FR3, then it downloads, and after it's done it shows Eb 09. I wonder if it's the same problem? Is the layout of the mainboard the same as 6208?

[sgc69]

Not sure if it's the same but i'm sure the CAPS will show (view) BAD if you were to take a look. If you own the box? I took side cutters to the grooves in the tamperproof screws on my to open up. then replaced with normal philips after i was done.

[zipix]

Nope, different layout of the mainboard for the 6412, and no popped caps. Plus no 630 microF, 6.3V caps. Seems like most of them are 10V.
Back to the drawing board...

[big_hitter44]

Hey greg,
I have seen a number of times where a manufacturer cheaps-out and uses a capacitor rated too low for the voltage rail. The 6.3V capacitors on this board "may" be used on the 3.3V voltage rail.
While it seems logical that a 6.3V maximum rated capacitor should work on a 3.3V rail in actual fact a safe design is to use capacitors that are 2x the nominal voltage.
When I have seen electrolytic capacitors popped like this it is generally because the voltage rating was inadequate. A 10V capacitor would be a better choice if the voltage across that capacitor is 3.3V.

[sceott]

Originally Posted by zipix

I have the same problem with my Mot 6412/2305. After it boots it locks on FR3, then it downloads, and after it's done it shows Eb 09. I wonder if it's the same problem? Is the layout of the mainboard the same as 6208?

I have the wame problem with a 6412/2000. I've opened it and briefly inspected the capacitors and could not notice any obviously broken components - does anyone know if the capacitors would show signs of distress (leaking, burn marks, etc) or if they would appear as normal if they are faulty? I don't know enough about electronics to tell a faulty capacitor from a standard one unless it's obvious. I could replace the capacitors haphazardly to determine if that's the problem, but I would probably spend a full day doing that.. Maybe follow the tracelines on the mainboard from the EEPROM to the capacitors, because that sounds like the problem?

Just out of curiosity, do you get any audio/video signal out to the TV while your unit downloads and programs? I thought it was weird that mine sent absolutely nothing to the TV, but maybe that's standard.