box overheating and crashing..

[borderfox]

I;ve had a clone dm500 for the past 18 months. Has worked fine up until this point. However, its now overheating within 10 minutes of startup. The first time this happened, was on a fta channel..and just couldnt switch channel or access any other option via the remote. I rebooted, and then after booting up...just got a black screen ...no functionality at all. Box seemed uber hot.

I've disconnected it now - just wondering if theres a possibility of repair or if its scrap metal??
Anyone have this experience? Any troubleshooting tips?

[Giga]

open box, vacuum clean (dust), check/add ventilator, have the box free standing, if you have a stone floor, put it on the floor (extra cooling), if using CI cams, look for extra cooling (table fan), ...

[paul01609]

maybe invest in a laptop cooler

[jimrare]

I guess that buying another clone is cheaper than repairing it.

[borderfox]

Thanks all for your responses.

I guess that buying another clone is cheaper than repairing it.I wonder can I determine whether its worth trying the additional cooling - or whether its beyond the point of no return? I guess the fact that it at least starts up initially suggests its not totally fried yet....


maybe invest in a laptop cooler Have read about people adding these to boxes. Is this powered by the box itself or is it totally seperate?

if using CI cams, look for extra cooling (table fan),
no CI cams but it was running 24/7 for 18 months..

[Giga]

Thanks all for your responses.
I wonder can I determine whether its worth trying the additional cooling - or whether its beyond the point of no return? I guess the fact that it at least starts up initially suggests its not totally fried yet....

If you have a fan in house, try this one, aim air stream on the box and see if this improves. Have you added electric equipment lately on the same mains circuit? Move this to another circuit or disconnect these (could be electric interference).
If these fail to improve, could be that the box is going to be end of life.

[borderfox]

Thanks all - time is a thief! I didnt get much time to work on it this morning - but i did swap the power supply and it didnt seem to make any difference initially. I also changed from scart to RGB - and then it seemed to be working ok. The box wasnt anywhere near as hot. Maybe its really the power supply as i cant understand how the other change would have made a difference. I will try it out again in the morning - and see for certain what the cause is.