Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

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Shane French

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Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

PostSun Sep 08, 2019 2:55 am

I have 6 Teranex mini converters (a combination of HDMI->SDI and SDI->HDMI versions). They're in a mobile production truck.

In the past year I have replaced all 6. Now I'm back on the truck and 2 more are down.

That's 8 bad in past year.

Spacing/cooling adequate (they're in two sets of the little 3-up mount, with 1U space between).

They're operated via POE from UniFi 48 switch.

There's a LOT of equipment in this truck, and none of it fails except for these converters.

What gives? Should I just find something else?
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Xtreemtec

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Re: Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

PostMon Sep 09, 2019 4:04 pm

That is kind of weird. We have multiple units, SDI HDMI HDMI SDI OPTICAL HDMI etc.. Have them for 3 years now.. No issues at all, only fans that get louder..

But we power them from mains, instead off PoE. Do they work with mains after they fail over PoE? Or did the power supply die?
Daniel Wittenaar .:: Xtreemtec Media Productions ::. -= www.xtreemtec.nl =-
4K OBV Trailer, ATEM TVS HD, 4M/E Broadcast Studio 4K, Constelation 8K, Hyperdeck Studio 12G, Ursa Broadcast 4K, 4K fiber converters with Sony Control
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Shane French

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Re: Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 3:19 am

They stop working on AC power as well. Oddly, if plugged into POE, the switch ports they're connected to still show as as something is connected (no activity though).

They do not pass video signals though, and they're not reachable via IP/config software. Additionally, the front screens (we have the addon faceplates) go black as well.
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Xtreemtec

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Re: Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 9:41 am

So it seems the power supply dies when you use it with PoE for an extended periode of time.

Just for test, Start running 1 or 2 new ones on mains instead of PoE and see if they survive. Mine do for couple of years now.
Daniel Wittenaar .:: Xtreemtec Media Productions ::. -= www.xtreemtec.nl =-
4K OBV Trailer, ATEM TVS HD, 4M/E Broadcast Studio 4K, Constelation 8K, Hyperdeck Studio 12G, Ursa Broadcast 4K, 4K fiber converters with Sony Control
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Andy Coulthurst

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Re: Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

PostSun Jun 11, 2023 5:13 am

Adding to this - I’m currently repairing 15 teranex mini. They are all suffering from psu faults on the mains psu side. From what I can see the cooling duct forces air through the fpga heatsink and then over the POE psu , the mains psu doesn’t appear to get any airflow.

I’m not surprised that either PSU section fails whether using POE or mains.

Units affected are
SDI to HDMI 12G ( 6 )
HDMI to SDI 12G ( 6 )
Web presenter ( original ) ( 2 )
Hyperdeck Studio HD mini ( 1 )

Either the units are completely dead , or ‘ticking’
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Xtreemtec

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Re: Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

PostSun Jun 11, 2023 8:52 am

And how are you repairing them? Or you send them all to BMD for repair?
Daniel Wittenaar .:: Xtreemtec Media Productions ::. -= www.xtreemtec.nl =-
4K OBV Trailer, ATEM TVS HD, 4M/E Broadcast Studio 4K, Constelation 8K, Hyperdeck Studio 12G, Ursa Broadcast 4K, 4K fiber converters with Sony Control
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Andy Coulthurst

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Re: Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

PostSun Jun 11, 2023 11:51 am

There are 3 capacitors which fail in the mains to 12v smps board.
100uF 25V 105C startup cap ( if this has deteriorated you’ll get no startup , or ticking )
1000uF 16V 105C - usually dried out / vented / bulging
1000uF 25V 105C - same , dried out and bulging.

You have to dismantle the unit , then remove the smps board ( can be tricky - need a decent soldering iron for this ) consists of 5 connections , 2 of which are connected to the ground plane.

Once removed - replace those 3 caps.
I have some longer life capacitors on order to see if it helps , also replacing 100uF cap with a 130C rated one, it’s right next to the smps switcher IC heatsink.
IMG_2249.jpeg
IMG_2249.jpeg (663.07 KiB) Viewed 1739 times


Assembly is the reverse of disassembly.

Don’t get me started on the annoying habit of almost any BM kit to fail at the FPGA BGA joints :-(
I wish we could all go back to leaded solder for BGA.

IMG_2250.jpeg
IMG_2250.jpeg (738.4 KiB) Viewed 1739 times
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Xtreemtec

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Re: Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

PostMon Jun 12, 2023 8:19 am

Yeah leadfree soldering is really a problem.. We see this also in some of our products that we tend to want to repair with lead holding tin. :(
Daniel Wittenaar .:: Xtreemtec Media Productions ::. -= www.xtreemtec.nl =-
4K OBV Trailer, ATEM TVS HD, 4M/E Broadcast Studio 4K, Constelation 8K, Hyperdeck Studio 12G, Ursa Broadcast 4K, 4K fiber converters with Sony Control
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nico.schmiedbauer

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Re: Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

PostWed Feb 28, 2024 8:27 pm

Hey, I just stumbled over this thread. Was anyone able to reflow the FPGAs already? I am looking for a temperatue curve to reflow the Lead free solder properly.
Kind regards
Nico
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Videobegin

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Re: Teranex Mini converters failing at alarming rate

PostWed Feb 28, 2024 9:47 pm

usually 240 to 250 degrees Celsius for a Pb-free ?

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