Panasonic PVR DMR-HWT130

Anyone know how to get the metal chassis out of its plastic case (maybe other similar Panasonic PVRs are fixed the same way)? I've removed all 6 screws on the back, although I think only 3 look like they fix it in place, with the rest holding various sockets. I've lifted up a couple of plastic catches underneath at the front, but it still won't budge - not even a fraction. I checked under the rubber feet pads in case there were hidden screws, but there weren't any.

It has been working perfectly for nearly 4 years, but in the last couple of weeks has occasionally failed to record, or will not even turn on with the remote. I wondered if it has a fan inside which was maybe not working consistently, although I can't hear one, or perhaps some fluff or other airborne stuff had got on a heatsink*. It smells of "hot circuit board" through the vents. I've blown pretty hard into it and will see if that helps. I just want to get it apart to see if there is anything obviously faulty.

*Many years ago I had to replace a SMPS chip on a Panasonic DVD recorder (DMR-E55) because they'd skimped on a heatsink. A new chip and a decent piece of aluminium solved the problem.
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Jeff
Reply to
Jeff Layman
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I had a closer look at the user guide (shared DMR-HWT130 and 230) and found the following: "? DMR-HWT130 does not have a cooling fan. Instead, it has ventilation holes."

All the pics in the manual are for the HWT230. I found a service manual offered on Ebay:

But the model shown is *not*what I have. I assume the US version is different. That one has scart sockets and a load of other sockets on the back at the right. It also has an obvious "bolt-on" fan.

Is it usual for equipment with identical model numbers to be so different in different parts of the world?

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Jeff
Reply to
Jeff Layman

Found the service manual on elektrotanya. It didn't turn up on a StartPage search, but did on Google itself.

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Jeff
Reply to
Jeff Layman

Unfortunately, yes, especially if you use the term "identical model numbers" loosely, in which case there are often numerous variants of the same basic model even in the same country.

IMO the worst offenders are laptop and cellphone manufacturers. When I wanted to buy a high mid-range laptop for my architecture-student son a few years ago, it was a real PITA to choose from, not only different models but also from the numerous sub-variants of each model with slightly different suffixes. One Samsung model alone had about twenty variants!!

Reply to
Pimpom

Seems to me that Panasonic have muddied the waters even more. The seller of that service manual states on his Ebay page:

"This manual covers all worldwide models!

DMR-HWT130EB DMR-HWT230EB

Pages total: 102"

The manual I downloaded from Elektrotanya has only 60 pages, Both have the same Order No. on the top right of the cover page (the cover pages appear identical)! Strange...

I wonder if this sort of thing really makes business sense. Do they need that many variants?

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Jeff
Reply to
Jeff Layman

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