CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 2649 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Got this Sony Vaio home theater computer system, came with 2 of the 200 disc DVD changers, but the computer does not power up at all. I removed the power supply and opened it up, checked the fuse, and the fuse is good.

I am unable to test the motherboard of the computer because it has an 18 pin connection instead of the standard 20 pin connections found on PC power supplies.

Only replacement I found was on ebay for $166 shipped, but the PSU looks relatively simple, so I'm wondering if anyone here has worked on one of these power supplies and knows a solution?

The power supply is a DPS-290AB

Tinman · Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:34 pm Post subject:

Most of the time it's a dead capacitor. Look at all the caps, do any bulge? Those are bad for sure, but also usually there are a few very small capacitors that just go open. One is the "kick start" cap that actually does just that.

An ESR meter will usually tell you right away what to replace. MOST of the time it's just a few capacitors if the fuse is ok. The power supply just won't "start". Look at small value. Like 4.7uF, or 10uF usually as a kick start. If you get it to start, however, replace all the capacitors if you plan to use this a few more years.

Marc