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Now hear this!

RME Fireface 800 power supply repair

4/17/2018

12 Comments

 
My RME Fireface 800 audio interface died!  One day it's fine, the next... no lights... no sound... nuthin...  Fortunately, this problem is fairly well documented on ye ol internetz.  (This video on the topic is pretty great.)  Apparently the electrolytic capacitors in the power supply dry out over time (as they do in most electronics).  
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One option is to find the offending cap and replace it, but since it's not too expensive, I went for a full recap of ALL the electrolytics on the power supply.  I found a useful forum post that detailed the specifications of the caps needed to do a full recap.  They recommended using low ESR caps.  I had a really hard time finding low ESR caps, but I'm 100% positive all the caps I used are better than the no-name stock ones that the manufacturer put in it.  Here's a list of the caps (and quantities of each) I used in case you're doing this repair too!  You can also click this link to find all the same parts at digi-key.com (if they still have them):  http://www.digikey.com/short/p9r2zb
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Once all the new caps were in power was restored and peace and justice returned to the universe!  Who knows, with better capacitors than it's power supply had when it was new, maybe it will even sound a smidge better too.  Below you can see it happily reunited with it's tribe of misfit gear; the Furman that I put a new front power socket in, the Symetrix 528E who's input I repaired, and the PC cobbled together from parts, and even the power cable that nobody wanted because of a scratch in the middle of it that I turned into two good power cables.  
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If you're a student at a music or film production school and they make you take an electronics maintenance class, pay attention!  You can do some neat stuff with that information and it's not quite as hard as it looks at first.
12 Comments
Henry Lim
6/11/2018 03:38:12

I require a fireface 800 power supply because the transformer is shorted.

Reply
warren
7/14/2019 15:57:28

Hi I know this is an older post but unfortunately my power supply just crashed also. So Ive been looking online for the capacitors you've stated but cant seem to find out where I can get them all in one place.
Where is your screenshot with listed capacitors from?
thanks

Reply
Dave
7/14/2019 16:36:46

Hi Warren!

Thanks for asking. All these parts came from Digi-key.com. As a matter of fact, here's a link for you to add all the same parts to your own Digi-Key shopping cart: http://www.digikey.com/short/p9r2zb

(I think I'll add this link to the blog post too.


Thanks!

Reply
Paul Gitlitz
4/28/2020 11:36:17

I’m trying to get the top off so I can get to the power supply.
I removed all the screws holding the top and one side is ready to slide off, but the other side remains firmly stuck as if still screwed or even glued in place. No amount of prying seems to be freeing it.
Any suggestions?

Reply
ABY
6/18/2020 12:42:59

Hi
I am Aby from INDIA. here there is no service station for RME.
so trying to repair or replace smps with available 3rd party.
I found that there are four different power power output from rme smps. (a) +12 (b) -12 (c) +5 (d) +48 .
but cant figure out the ampere. so please help me
what is the ampere of RME smps?
thank you
Aby

Reply
Paul Gitlitz
6/18/2020 15:01:42

Hi Aby,
I'm not sure. I ordered the part from Germany. The company is called synthax and the part was a replacement power supply 6308X.
I solved most of the problems, but sadly not all.
Paul

Reply
Kidon
6/13/2022 12:47:32

Hi all,

My power supply also failed and I think it took out the IC (UC3842).
And also the 47µF cap next to it.
R5 is totally burnt as well, and I can’t read the value. It’s the small resistor next to the large tall one. Can anyone tell me the correct value?

Thanks

Reply
KIDON
6/14/2022 05:54:29

Actually the MOSFET completely shorted out. It took out R5, and the 0.12Ω/2W resistor next to it, as well as the fuse, the 47µF cap, and apparently the IC as well.
Can anyone tell me the value of R5, please? And possibly confirm the value of the 0.12Ω standing tall next to it, please?

I really need those values.

Reply
jon
10/5/2022 14:38:15

Still need R5? I'm about to open up mine this week and can check

Reply
Kidon
10/5/2022 16:23:10

Hi JON,

Yes please. As well as all the resistors you can give me the value of. That would greatly help.

Regards,

Kidon

Kidon
10/19/2022 15:29:16

JON,

Have you had the chance to open up your FF800?

Regards,

Kidon

Arthur Miller link
10/19/2022 15:17:37

With better capacitors than it's power supply had when it was new, maybe it will even sound a smidge better too. Thank you for the beautiful post!

Reply



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    ​Author

    Dave Burt is a career audio engineer and is currently working as a freelance Production Sound Mixer.

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