I have a Hitachi 6-head VCR which has a loose / faulty connection inside. The power simply cuts out altogether, occasionally at first now all the time. Does anyone know how to pull them apart and what to look for?

Hayley, June 2006

There is a switch-mode power supply inside your VCR that distributes the various voltages to the main boards. This is likely defective via a few possible causes:

1. Bad solder connections
2. Leaking filter caps
3. Other components overheating

Unfortunately, none of this is serviceable by a DIY'er, unless you have some electronic repair experience and / or training.

Drop me a line at http://www.electricalrepairlinks.com if you would like some additional info - I have pictures of some SMPS's I have fixed in the past -

Regards,

Tim

Tim, July 2006