Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems G68 power supply failures - Please report

Hi everyone,

I have a G68D, and I am thinking about moving forward with the new power supply deal with Meridian. I bought my G68D in 2008 and has not suffered a power supply failure (yet). I am wondering if there is a propensity for certain models to suffer the power supply failure.

In reading through previous posts, it looks as though the G68ADV has suffered the most failures? Someone has also pointed out that this unit runs "hotter" due to video switching and a more congested chassis.

If you have suffered a power supply failure, please note your model, and about how old your unit was when the power supply needed to be replaced in this thread. I think this information will be useful to everyone with a G68 considering the Surround Controller Health Check.

Thanks,
John

What is the failure mode/symptoms of impending power supply doom? A truly failed power supply would be obvious.

Mine went into standby all by itself.

Remember its always worth checking the output with a multi-meter. The variable output PSU's should be set to 5.2V. I think this avoids a few of the PSU issues people are seeing. The OEM supplier has them set at 5V which is on the ragged edge wrt the power needs of the G68.

Mine (less than one year old G68SL) started clicking its relays and going in and out of standby mode on its own, after several hours of being on -- an interval that got progressively shorter over a period of days - until it did it pretty much immediately after being turned on. It would click and go into standby while playing music, disruptive to say the least.

It took two repairs (under warranty) by Meridian to fix it. The 1st one fixed it for a couple of weeks until the same symptoms started up again. The second repair (they had it for much longer) seemed to have truly fixed it. Suspect they replaced the entire PSU.

I also used to have a G91 that abruptly gave up the ghost - just wouldn't turn on one day. Seemed that a power supply spike or PSU failure caused a cascade of other damage outside the PSU. As it was out of warranty and a standard $900 repair charge :-O my dealer helped secure an attractive trade in for the aforementioned G68SL and HD621.

I had what sounds like the exact same thing on my G68ADV and it was not the power supply. If you pressed on the back the clicking would stop. It was a bad connection in the socket on the back plane. A new back plane board fixed it.

The smoke and burning smell gave it away to me!

I have had 2 supplies fail in my G68XXV. I had the original type fail and this was replaced FOC by Meridian quite a while back. This took out the rear amplifier mains fuses. They fitted the new XP type. This failed after about 18 months and Phase 3 fitted a replacement as a service repair and charged me for the parts only.

I suspect the reason that the ADV variant experiences the most failures is simply because there are more of them in service.

No smoke or smell from mine - I think I caught it before complete failure because it couldn't quite power the trigger relay so the relay was cycling every two seconds. If the triggers had not been powered on then the concequences of PS failure may have been far worse (as we have heard from others). A new XP ECM40UT31 for $50 and it was as good as new!

The G68ADV variant, I think, runs hotter vs G68D

Regards I

The PSU on my six and a half year old G68 has just gone with a phut and that distinctive smell of electronics frying. Strangely enough it kept playing as normal but I made a quick dive for the mains before anything worse happened.

I have just replaced the PSU using the excellent instructions in the wiki (many thanks to jeje and Roger Olney). One of the caps on the mainboard showed slight signs of having blown so I replaced that as well.

Cost was about �50.00 including a new PSU case designed to fit the new smaller PSU; parts available from stock from Farnell.

well, if or when mine goes I know where to sent it

CheeRS

Shaun

My experience

Model: G68ADV
Yr of Manufacture: 2004
Yr of PSU failure: 2012
Symptom: Loud "click" sound on speakers

Repairing: replaced the original PSU with external power supply using Condor CP498A

Have the occassional speaker pop for a couple of years. Luckily the amp's protective circuits are fast enough.

Also having occassional problems with no sound after a cold start (the G68 also reacts slugish and I have to power cycle again to solve it). For at least 4 years now.

This thread has triggered me again to take action, and have just ordered a new XP power supply. I intent not to have it laying around too long, and while the G68 is opened up, I'll also check out the state of the various capactitors.

Bought the G68J new in 2005. And am using it a lot.