Hello,
I'm asking for some help getting a 2006 PhotoVu PV1960 Digital Picture Frame up and running again. I'm pretty much a newb with electronics, but am not afraid to tinker when provided with good direction or instruction. I've provided as much information as I can in hopes of answering a lot of the initial questions and have attached some photos. I can provide more specific photos if requested.
BACKGROUND:
PhotoVu manufactured high-end ($1500) digital picture frames from 2004 until they ceased production in 2010. Their web site (PhotoVu.com) is still up and running and provides downloads for repair manuals and their last software update. Their G1 frames consisted of a 19" IPS LCD (178º view) mated to an VIA EPIA ML6000 fan-less, mini-ITX motherboard, beautifully wrapped in the customer's choice of various hardwood frame and matt boards. Networked, either hard-wired or USB wireless stick, each frame has it's own IP address and on-board software for running the frame. The frame's software integrates with whatever photo management software you are running on your home computer (iPhoto, Photoshop Elements, etc.) and the ability to change various options for the frame (schedule, photo display timing, transition, background, etc) and adding photos to the frame's playlist is as simple as typing in the frame's IP address in your browser and making the changes. The PhotoVu frame also accepts and displays photos directly from USB flash drives and USB hard drives if you don't want to network it and use the integrated photo management software.
I purchased one of their first G1 frames (PV1910) in 2004 and ten year later, it still hangs on my living room wall and displays one of over 15,000 digital photos, every ten minutes, daily between 5am and 10pm.
A good friend of mine bought a later G1 version (PV1960) in 2006 and it worked until just after PhotoVu ceased operations in 2010. One morning the frame failed to power up and with no knowledge or place to have it repaired it was placed in his closet until last week, when he decided to give it to me for parts. Since none of the major components are available anymore, I thought having some spares would be a good idea.
WHAT I DID SO FAR:
I took the frame apart (WTF? drilling out 18 rivets holding the LCD faceplate to the rear enclosure) and lifted up the LCD panel and faceplate. I immediately noticed there were two external black AC power adapter bricks along with the motherboard mounted within the rear enclosure. Connecting the frame's grounded plug to a wall outlet resulted in only one of the power adapter's green LED lighting up. The other power adapter had a faint glow to the LED and a clicking sound could be heard. The power light on the motherboard lit up, but the power light for the LCD panel card did not. The bad power adapter was connected to the LCD panel. The good power adapter to the motherboard. After removing the bad power adapter, I located an exact replacement #AD-1250B (INPUT - 100-240VAC 0.8A 50-60Hg, OUTPUT - 12V - 4.17A) and put that in, hoping for a "too-easy-to-be-true" solution to the frame's problem. I did crack open the plastic case of the bad power adapter and there was a light brown liquid that had leaked from a large capacitor and dried over much of the insides.
With the new power adapter installed, the blue power light for the LCD came on, but it was continuously flashing and the LCD screen was still black. I did check the screen in a dark room with a flashlight and could see no image. While I was googling "flashing blue power light on 19" LCD" and reading various online comments about capacitors that eventually led me to this forum, the LCD powered up (after about 20 minutes). The frame's software also loaded and the frame's first default photo displayed. I inserted a USB flash drive with a few photos into one of the USB ports and those photos began to display as a slideshow too.
There is a small push-button switch on the exterior of the enclosure that gives access to an on-screen, 10-option menu for things like powering the frame down, turning the display off, restart, reset to factory defaults, software update, etc). This switch was working as I was able to turn the display off and on and also power down the frame. Powering down the frame with the button resulted in the LCD light changing from bright blue to a bright orange-red. I was also able to immediately power the frame on again with this button.
BUT ALAS… after 10 minutes of use the LCD went black again and the bright blue power light turned to a dimmer red & blue light. Figuring it might be bad capacitors on the video board (although none of them are domed, but one has a very slight yellow stain on the vent X and another as a slight yellow tinge where the capacitor's outer jacket touches the vent top) , I ordered a full set of replacements. I have not installed the new capacitors yet.
I own a 40 Watt soldering iron, electrical solder, solder sucker, and a Digital Capacitance Meter. I also have access to a Multimeter.
CURRENT SYMPTOMS:
After the frame as been off for a while (cools down?), I can plug the frame in to a wall outlet and the LCD power light will come on and continuously flash blue for about 20 minutes and then the LCD powers up, the frame's software loads and the first photo displays (but not the rest of the photos in the slideshow). I can then immediately unplug, then plug in the power cord again and this time the LCD will immediately power up (solid blue light), the software loads and it will run/display the complete photo slide show until it eventually shuts off after 10 minutes. The LCD stays on for only 10 minutes and then goes black and the power light turns from a bright blue to a less bright red & blue. The external push button switch does nothing at this time. If I unplug and then plug in the power cord again (immediately after the LCD goes black), the LCD power light glows a bright orange-red. The external push button switch does nothing at this time also. A quick peek inside the frame's enclosure shows that the LED light on both power adapters are on (bright green) and the power light located on the motherboard is also on.
All the capacitors are Fujicon, Those on the video board are all 16V 105ºC RM, in the following quanties/sizes (1) 470uf, (2) 220 uf, (2) 100 uf, and (4) 10 uf. The only capacitor on the inverter board is a 220uf 25V 105ºC RM.
What should I do next? Should I replace all the capacitors on the video board (and the one on the inverter board) and then see what happens? I don't think it is an issue with the motherboard, but then again, who am I to even suggest that. I think there's a good chance that this could eventually be a fully working frame again, but anything beyond replacing the capacitors, would most likely be above my head. I'm open to any suggestions or options that might lead to getting this baby revived. Thanks in advance for any help and take care!
Jim
I'm asking for some help getting a 2006 PhotoVu PV1960 Digital Picture Frame up and running again. I'm pretty much a newb with electronics, but am not afraid to tinker when provided with good direction or instruction. I've provided as much information as I can in hopes of answering a lot of the initial questions and have attached some photos. I can provide more specific photos if requested.
BACKGROUND:
PhotoVu manufactured high-end ($1500) digital picture frames from 2004 until they ceased production in 2010. Their web site (PhotoVu.com) is still up and running and provides downloads for repair manuals and their last software update. Their G1 frames consisted of a 19" IPS LCD (178º view) mated to an VIA EPIA ML6000 fan-less, mini-ITX motherboard, beautifully wrapped in the customer's choice of various hardwood frame and matt boards. Networked, either hard-wired or USB wireless stick, each frame has it's own IP address and on-board software for running the frame. The frame's software integrates with whatever photo management software you are running on your home computer (iPhoto, Photoshop Elements, etc.) and the ability to change various options for the frame (schedule, photo display timing, transition, background, etc) and adding photos to the frame's playlist is as simple as typing in the frame's IP address in your browser and making the changes. The PhotoVu frame also accepts and displays photos directly from USB flash drives and USB hard drives if you don't want to network it and use the integrated photo management software.
I purchased one of their first G1 frames (PV1910) in 2004 and ten year later, it still hangs on my living room wall and displays one of over 15,000 digital photos, every ten minutes, daily between 5am and 10pm.
A good friend of mine bought a later G1 version (PV1960) in 2006 and it worked until just after PhotoVu ceased operations in 2010. One morning the frame failed to power up and with no knowledge or place to have it repaired it was placed in his closet until last week, when he decided to give it to me for parts. Since none of the major components are available anymore, I thought having some spares would be a good idea.
WHAT I DID SO FAR:
I took the frame apart (WTF? drilling out 18 rivets holding the LCD faceplate to the rear enclosure) and lifted up the LCD panel and faceplate. I immediately noticed there were two external black AC power adapter bricks along with the motherboard mounted within the rear enclosure. Connecting the frame's grounded plug to a wall outlet resulted in only one of the power adapter's green LED lighting up. The other power adapter had a faint glow to the LED and a clicking sound could be heard. The power light on the motherboard lit up, but the power light for the LCD panel card did not. The bad power adapter was connected to the LCD panel. The good power adapter to the motherboard. After removing the bad power adapter, I located an exact replacement #AD-1250B (INPUT - 100-240VAC 0.8A 50-60Hg, OUTPUT - 12V - 4.17A) and put that in, hoping for a "too-easy-to-be-true" solution to the frame's problem. I did crack open the plastic case of the bad power adapter and there was a light brown liquid that had leaked from a large capacitor and dried over much of the insides.
With the new power adapter installed, the blue power light for the LCD came on, but it was continuously flashing and the LCD screen was still black. I did check the screen in a dark room with a flashlight and could see no image. While I was googling "flashing blue power light on 19" LCD" and reading various online comments about capacitors that eventually led me to this forum, the LCD powered up (after about 20 minutes). The frame's software also loaded and the frame's first default photo displayed. I inserted a USB flash drive with a few photos into one of the USB ports and those photos began to display as a slideshow too.
There is a small push-button switch on the exterior of the enclosure that gives access to an on-screen, 10-option menu for things like powering the frame down, turning the display off, restart, reset to factory defaults, software update, etc). This switch was working as I was able to turn the display off and on and also power down the frame. Powering down the frame with the button resulted in the LCD light changing from bright blue to a bright orange-red. I was also able to immediately power the frame on again with this button.
BUT ALAS… after 10 minutes of use the LCD went black again and the bright blue power light turned to a dimmer red & blue light. Figuring it might be bad capacitors on the video board (although none of them are domed, but one has a very slight yellow stain on the vent X and another as a slight yellow tinge where the capacitor's outer jacket touches the vent top) , I ordered a full set of replacements. I have not installed the new capacitors yet.
I own a 40 Watt soldering iron, electrical solder, solder sucker, and a Digital Capacitance Meter. I also have access to a Multimeter.
CURRENT SYMPTOMS:
After the frame as been off for a while (cools down?), I can plug the frame in to a wall outlet and the LCD power light will come on and continuously flash blue for about 20 minutes and then the LCD powers up, the frame's software loads and the first photo displays (but not the rest of the photos in the slideshow). I can then immediately unplug, then plug in the power cord again and this time the LCD will immediately power up (solid blue light), the software loads and it will run/display the complete photo slide show until it eventually shuts off after 10 minutes. The LCD stays on for only 10 minutes and then goes black and the power light turns from a bright blue to a less bright red & blue. The external push button switch does nothing at this time. If I unplug and then plug in the power cord again (immediately after the LCD goes black), the LCD power light glows a bright orange-red. The external push button switch does nothing at this time also. A quick peek inside the frame's enclosure shows that the LED light on both power adapters are on (bright green) and the power light located on the motherboard is also on.
All the capacitors are Fujicon, Those on the video board are all 16V 105ºC RM, in the following quanties/sizes (1) 470uf, (2) 220 uf, (2) 100 uf, and (4) 10 uf. The only capacitor on the inverter board is a 220uf 25V 105ºC RM.
What should I do next? Should I replace all the capacitors on the video board (and the one on the inverter board) and then see what happens? I don't think it is an issue with the motherboard, but then again, who am I to even suggest that. I think there's a good chance that this could eventually be a fully working frame again, but anything beyond replacing the capacitors, would most likely be above my head. I'm open to any suggestions or options that might lead to getting this baby revived. Thanks in advance for any help and take care!
Jim
Attached Files
Comment