Akai APC 40 Problem

TrustedApple

Hi guys got a AKAI apc40 for xmess from the US

Ok the 1st thing i done i got the UK power plug from my local Akai seller before i turned it on for the 1st time

I was told by AKAI there will be no problem using a UK plug on it

Now i turned it on for the 1st time and it tripped my switches in my house and there is no power what so ever going into the mixer.

Just wonder what might be the problem and the best way to fix it ?

Thanks

Ste-

America used a lower voltage system than us.
You may have needed a step down converter.
Hope you haven't blown it by using a plug too powerful for it.

does it say 110 ~ 240 on the back near the plug ?

TrustedApple

The us plug and the uk plug had the same Voltage on the back of the plug.

Akai them selfs said there would have been no problem to use the uk plug on it as there made for transporting they told me

Ste-

Taken from http://www.akaipro.com/apc40

Is the APC40 dual voltage (without the need for a transformer) for playing abroad?
The APC40 comes with a switching power adapter that switches from 100V-240V. If you buy it in the U.S. and go to Europe, you will need prong adapters for European outlets and vice versa.


Maybe I stand corrected.

ironclaw

Ste- wrote: »

Taken from http://www.akaipro.com/apc40

Is the APC40 dual voltage (without the need for a transformer) for playing abroad?
The APC40 comes with a switching power adapter that switches from 100V-240V. If you buy it in the U.S. and go to Europe, you will need prong adapters for European outlets and vice versa.


Maybe I stand corrected.

The APC needs 12V DC @ 2 amps to run. A US only plug will just melt if you plug it in here. Either way, it shouldn't trip the house. That said 2amps is a good bit to put on a circuit if you have a lot of stuff plugged into it already i.e. More studio gear, TV etc.

OP, post up whats written on the plug adapter. It should list an input and output voltage, and is it a UK plug adapter i.e 3 prongs or a EU plug e.g Two round prongs.

The output voltage should be listed as 12V at 2 amps. The input should be 110V to 230V.

My guess is you were given a 5V @ 2 amp adapter (Otherwise known as the USB standard). Or a 12V adapter @ 1 amp. They are far more common and won't power the unit. The load / adapter dying may trip the house.

TrustedApple

ironclaw wrote: »

The APC needs 12V DC @ 2 amps to run. A US only plug will just melt if you plug it in here. Either way, it shouldn't trip the house. That said 2amps is a good bit to put on a circuit if you have a lot of stuff plugged into it already i.e. More studio gear, TV etc.

OP, post up whats written on the plug adapter. It should list an input and output voltage, and is it a UK plug adapter i.e 3 prongs or a EU plug e.g Two round prongs.

The output voltage should be listed as 12V at 2 amps. The input should be 110V to 230V.

My guess is you were given a 5V @ 2 amp adapter (Otherwise known as the USB standard). Or a 12V adapter @ 1 amp. They are far more common and won't power the unit. The load / adapter dying may trip the house.

Just took a photo of both plugs there for yous to have a look at and to me there the same plug
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A-bfzmfCIAEVHNr.jpg:large


There the same to me just diff plug heads.

So what can be the problem ?

was.deevey

The New Powersupply you bought is probably DOA, bring it back to the local Akai shop and either get a refund or new unit.

You should have no issues with a 2 pin > 3 pin adaptor instead of waiting for them to issue a new one though.

BTW I'm using a USA 2 pin > English 3 pin adaptor on mine right now.


Of course it "might" be a short in the APC itself which in turn fried the adaptor and tripped your electricity.

Did it trip as soon as you plugged the adaptor in or when you physically pressed in the power switch on?

TrustedApple

was.deevey wrote: »

The New Powersupply you bought is probably DOA, bring it back to the local Akai shop and either get a refund or new unit.

You should have no issues with a 2 pin > 3 pin adaptor instead of waiting for them to issue a new one though.

BTW I'm using a USA 2 pin > English 3 pin adaptor on mine right now.


Of course it "might" be a short in the APC itself which in turn fried the adaptor and tripped your electricity.

Did it trip as soon as you plugged the adaptor in or when you physically pressed in the power switch on?

It trip the min i pressed the switch the power switch on the back on

Like the plug worked in the shop on APC20 so i dont think its the plug where is the best place in the south east of ireland to get this thing looked at ?

ironclaw

Yeah those plugs should do it. On a side note, they are 'just' about capable of driving the unit. Generally you should allow 10% on the amp side of things e.g. A unit requiring 2 amps should have a plug capable of delivering 2.1 amps. Because when the unit initially turns on the load can be slightly greater. Its especially prevalent in motors e.g. portable hard drives

Its very strange however. My troubleshoot advice would be what was.deevey said. Get a US to UK adapter, and use the plug it came with. It its still trips, its the APC unit itself. If it doesn't trip, its the new UK plug.

Finally if its still tripping, I'd try it on a completely different circuit in the house. Sounds stupid but the ring its on may just have a lot of load on it. The best one to use would be the kitchen as its normally on a separate ring to every other socket.

If both plugs trip it, and you've tried it in an entire separate circuit, its definitely the APC.

was.deevey

Yeah those plugs should do it. On a side note, they are 'just' about capable of driving the unit. Generally you should allow 10% on the amp side of things e.g. A unit requiring 2 amps should have a plug capable of delivering 2.1 amps.

I'm sure that Akai factored that in TBH or this issue would be happening all over the place

However on another note the PSU from an Asus EEE (12v 3amp) works perfectly if the power jack is replaced with the correct size and can normally be had cheaper than Akai ones.

If its an Akai problem, I'd either take it to the Akai Dealer you mentioned or Contact Akai Pro Directly - they are really cool to deal with on the phone.

Was it a brand new or Secondhand / Refurb ?

TrustedApple

was.deevey wrote: »

I'm sure that Akai factored that in TBH or this issue would be happening all over the place

However on another note the PSU from an Asus EEE (12v 3amp) works perfectly if the power jack is replaced with the correct size and can normally be had cheaper than Akai ones.

If its an Akai problem, I'd either take it to the Akai Dealer you mentioned or Contact Akai Pro Directly - they are really cool to deal with on the phone.

Was it a brand new or Secondhand / Refurb ?

It was used in the kitchen in the 1st place on 3 diff points of power and 1st time i plugged it in it trip. Then in the other two plugs not happend when i was turning it on and off from the APC40

Brand new got sent from the US as i was a lot cheaper only 230 euros now i am seeing why it was cheaper. But i have emailed the dealer in the US with the problem there blaming me for the problem and there emails i have goting from them i got make heads of tails of them:/

was.deevey

Try the other power adaptor before blaming the US dealer, the plug he sent might be fine and its just the new local plug you got that has something loose inside.

If thats still not working call Akai Pro Direct with your story - there's no registration required and I believe the warranty is global.

"Please keep in mind that product registration is not related to your warranty. Your warranty begins from the purchase date. If you require service, you will be asked to provide a copy of your sales receipt. So, rather than product registration, your receipt is the important document which you should keep to ensure eligibility for warranty service."

So assuming you have the receipt you should be fine.

TrustedApple

was.deevey wrote: »

Try the other power adaptor before blaming the US dealer, the plug he sent might be fine and its just the new local plug you got that has something loose inside.

If thats still not working call Akai Pro Direct with your story - there's no registration required and I believe the warranty is global.

"Please keep in mind that product registration is not related to your warranty. Your warranty begins from the purchase date. If you require service, you will be asked to provide a copy of your sales receipt. So, rather than product registration, your receipt is the important document which you should keep to ensure eligibility for warranty service."

So assuming you have the receipt you should be fine.

Tried both plugs still notting

Also was on to Akai with the problem they told me i am not covered as i did not buy the mixer in the EU only US cover

ironclaw

samapple789 wrote: »

Also was on to Akai with the problem they told me i am not covered as i did not buy the mixer in the EU only US cover

Thats quite possible. Pioneer are the same. They only cover in the country its bought in. Its kinda to stop people buying stuff in certain locales and using it else where. Doesn't really make sense to me because they still get their money. However it is part of the risk you take buying abroad i.e. Outside Europe

Given that both plugs trip your house, its sounds like a short / ground fault in the APC. Was it bought new? The only way to rule the APC out would be to try the plugs in a different house / shop. If they still trip, which going by the above they probably will, its the APC for sure.

was.deevey

Also was on to Akai with the problem they told me i am not covered as i did not buy the mixer in the EU only US cover

Did you pay via paypal by any chance ? you might be able to claim on the paypal protection for either repair or replacement.

TrustedApple

Going to ask where in ireland does repairs on the Akai APC 40 ?

ironclaw

samapple789 wrote: »

Going to ask where in ireland does repairs on the Akai APC 40 ?

Is it still tripping?

Where are you based in the country? Best place I could recommend is DJBox.ie They are based in Tallaght. Straight up lads who won't mess you around. If they can't fix it directly (Which most places can't) They'll at least tell you where might. They are on facebook and answer questions pretty sharpish.

I would still think your best route is a return / refund from the seller if you bought from a shop. Might cost abit to post the return but thats the risk buying abroad. I got stung before on a set of decks plus two importation tax invoices.

TrustedApple

ironclaw wrote: »

Is it still tripping?

Where are you based in the country? Best place I could recommend is DJBox.ie They are based in Tallaght. Straight up lads who won't mess you around. If they can't fix it directly (Which most places can't) They'll at least tell you where might. They are on facebook and answer questions pretty sharpish.

I would still think your best route is a return / refund from the seller if you bought from a shop. Might cost abit to post the return but thats the risk buying abroad. I got stung before on a set of decks plus two importation tax invoices.

The seller is refusing to replace and i lost my claim on paypal as well so will have to do a charge back on my card hope i get something back there

Thanks for that will send them a massage now just hope they can do something

Its not tripping anymore it just does not power on now

TrustedApple

Upload a Photo there on the problem after it was opened of by DJBOX.ie how are looking for €170 euros to replace that part

Am i right to believe that no way one small part with labour costs €170 euros ?

ironclaw

samapple789 wrote: »

Upload a Photo there on the problem after it was opened of by DJBOX.ie how are looking for €170 euros to replace that part

Am i right to believe that no way one small part with labour costs €170 euros ?

Jezz! Blew the pants out of it. I'm an electronics engineer by trade so I see this the whole time. Its taken quite a hit and that board is toast. My guess is the original wall plug was faulty. Few have surge protection etc and it looks like thats whats happened. Appears the switch caught it or caused a short. In fact, I'd bet the push switch is the problem.

€170 is about right. An electronics board costs peanuts to make, but by the time the manufacturers put their stamp on it and resell it to the repair shops, its probably costing around €50-70. Add to that the labour of opening the device in the first place, troubleshooting and ordering the part. Then fit the part and test.

You could try source a board yourself and fit it, but your taking the risk of having it blow again. At least getting fitted by a shop they'll test it and make sure its working again. Also if its a warranty issue etc they'll be able to sort it out alot faster with Akai.

If you really wanted, you could try replace the push switch by de-soldering. Not a huge job but its assumes the rest of the board is ok (Which is VERY unlikely) If you were lucky, a push switch like that costs about 30c.

TrustedApple

ironclaw wrote: »

Jezz! Blew the pants out of it. I'm an electronics engineer by trade so I see this the whole time. Its taken quite a hit and that board is toast. My guess is the original wall plug was faulty. Few have surge protection etc and it looks like thats whats happened. Appears the switch caught it or caused a short. In fact, I'd bet the push switch is the problem.

€170 is about right. An electronics board costs peanuts to make, but by the time the manufacturers put their stamp on it and resell it to the repair shops, its probably costing around €50-70. Add to that the labour of opening the device in the first place, troubleshooting and ordering the part. Then fit the part and test.

You could try source a board yourself and fit it, but your taking the risk of having it blow again. At least getting fitted by a shop they'll test it and make sure its working again. Also if its a warranty issue etc they'll be able to sort it out alot faster with Akai.

If you really wanted, you could try replace the push switch by de-soldering. Not a huge job but its assumes the rest of the board is ok (Which is VERY unlikely) If you were lucky, a push switch like that costs about 30c.

Like its nuts how badly it took it when you think about it but i wouldn't think a plug into the wall would have done so much damage

Its 170 + 60 for opening it so €230 euros in total to fix it witch i just think is nuts

Found where i can get the board myself costs about €60 thinking of going that route as i have built a computer so i dont think this will be any more harder then that.

Really no idea what to do about it :rolleyes:

ironclaw

samapple789 wrote: »

Like its nuts how badly it took it when you think about it but i wouldn't think a plug into the wall would have done so much damage

Its 170 + 60 for opening it so €230 euros in total to fix it witch i just think is nuts

Found where i can get the board myself costs about €60 thinking of going that route as i have built a computer so i dont think this will be any more harder then that.

Really no idea what to do about it :rolleyes:

My guess is the push switch was gammy. When you closed it i.e. Turned it on It caused a short. Because the wall plug has no surge protection etc it just caused a major chain event and blew it. Would explain why both plugs worked but the machine kept tripping.

You could change the board yourself, but you'd lose any come back later down the line if it ever went faulty. Its €60 quick fix versus maybe some warranty the shop would give you if it went faulty again.

was.deevey

I reckon it'd be worth trying to buy a few of the scorched parts (caps/resistors/regulator) and try removing the switch from the circuit altogether (never really saw the need for one on the APC) -

As a DIY project it seems salvageable given a few hours with an Iron and the right guy, but as a shop repair probably not worthwhile seeing as you could pick up one second hand for nearly the same price. If you have a friend who's decent at soldering. The components/tracks are not too tightly packed together on that section (unlike the rest of the board which are pretty closely packed).

Unlucky Dude.