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Dell SX260 Micro PC dead.

Hi All,

I have my friends Dell SX260 micro PC here and I brought it home last night as it seems very dead. I just popped in to them because they had moved it for decorating the room and when they went to turn it back on there was nothing (so I thought / hoped it might just be a loose power lead / fuse etc). ;-(

I've done all the normal basic PC checks (removed / reseated RAM , CPU, HDD, Power lead etc etc) but it remains dead.

The PSU is one of those external bricks (like a laptop) and I believe only outputs 2 x 12V but seems to have some sort of remote 'on' / interlock meaning you can't test it's output without being plugged into the PC?

If I had another box I could do some substitution.

I'm hoping someone might point me to a common fault (with the PSU or PC) and so I could fix it but failing that I'll see if I can find a suitable std motherboard / case / psu and transfer all the good bits over (after testing them elsewhere of course).

Any thoughts please?

All the best ..

T i m

Reply to
T i m
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In message , T i m writes

Motherboard, caps swollen up and failed. Check the caps near the CPU socket and the one near the ceramic resistor for signs of swelling on the top and/or signs of electrolyte leakage in the pressed grooves on the top. V.Common fault on SX260 machines. Contact Dell, don't mess with it yourself, ask if they intend to do anything about it as it's only x old and should last much longer than that, you might be surprised.

--
Clint Sharp
Reply to
Clint Sharp

Hi Clint and thanks for the prompt reply.

Hmm, funny that .. I did (briefly) look at that yesterday and thought I noticed some of the caps were bulging on the top and *maybe* a trace of orange 'stuff' in the grooves?

Hmmm ;-)

Ah, that's what I wanted to hear!

Ok, I'll get the owners to do as you suggest, thanks *very* much for that Clint.

All the best ..

T i m

p.s. If Dell don't wanna play, is it something I can do myself (changing the caps, I'm an electronics engineer) ie is it just the caps or would there be other issues because of the caps do you know please?

Reply to
T i m

I'd start by verifying the output of the external PSU. If it has any sort of remote-on, it's nothing more than bridging the correct two pins in the cable. If that's bad then it's just standard SMPS repair.

Reply to
James Sweet

Ah, I thought that might be the case but wasn't *sure* so didn't want to make matters worse. There are 4 big holes in the end of the DC lead and 2 smaller ones. The graphic on the PSU itself suggests the two smaller holes are the remote pair and the others are 2 x 0V and 2 x

12V. So I guess I can just stick the DMM in there (on 20V DC range) and measure the off load condition at least. When it's powering the SX270N (my mistake in saying it was a 260 but I believe they are very similar) there is an amber LED on the Mobo if that means anything?

Oh ok, I assumed the PSU brick was sealed but I guess any 'repair' would be more expensive than a straight replacement (from eBay etc)?

All the best ..

T i m

Reply to
T i m

In message , T i m writes

Then it's pretty certain. The SX260/270 are nightmares for this fault, we were on first name terms with the Dell field engineers at one point (all under warranty), we service these machines for a major high street company who have several hundred, apart from failed hard disks the

*only* other fault I can remember seeing is the caps failing, I have never had to replace a PSU or any other component.

AFAIK, it's just the caps but you will need to make sure the new ones are of equivalent/better spec. Of course, the usual warnings about multilayer boards and at your own risk etc... Make sure the machine has

*plenty* of airflow and is not put in a cupboard. We blocked the vents on one in the workshop by accident and when we removed the blockage, the fans blew air out that was almost painfully hot. 
--
Clint Sharp
Reply to
Clint Sharp

Ah, ok, thanks for the feedback.

Understood.

Not a lot to loose if Dell don't want to play though eh (ie it would probably be expensive to get a new board etc)?

Ouch. No this one sits on a bracket on the back of the screen up on a worktop.

All the best and thanks again ..

T i m

Reply to
T i m

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