MOTU 896HD Christmas Lights

qnpqnp · Post by **qnpqnp** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 4:58 am

Hello,

I am sitting here with a broken MOTU 896HD first generation. It has a vague smell of burnt circuits and when I turn it on all LEDs starts flashing directly and don't ever stop. Even if I only plug in the power chord. No computer recon the card and I have not been tempering with the drivers or anything I like that. This happened just before a gig (god bless my replacement 828) at a venue with somewhat fluctuating power, microphones was electrified and so on. I have also a suspicion that someone in stage crew plugged in the firewire upside down because the FWport looks somewhat raped. I called MOTU and they friendly told me to buy a new card since the warranty was way over due. I googled the net and found tons of people with the same problem but none of the threads offered a solution, I also found a bunch of cards sold for parts on ebay with the same symptom.

Should I scavage it for the neutrik XLR ports and pots and put the rest in the junk or are there still hope for this poor unicorn?

Looking forward to any answer, ranting of poor venues and/or facepalm stagecrews

Best
Tom

qnpqnp · Post by **qnpqnp** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 5:02 am

or maybe I could turn it into a birds nest and put it in the garden

qnpqnp · Post by **qnpqnp** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:33 am

or maybe as a breadbox?

no seriously, no one have any clue?

Todzilla · Post by **Todzilla** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 5:30 pm

Similar thing happened to me after two years of problem free usage. Then after a whole weekend of this behavior, just as I was ready to ship it off, the problem stopped. That was five years ago, no trouble since.

Not sure how this relates to your issue, but thought I'd share.

HCMarkus · Post by **HCMarkus** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:39 pm

Can you ship to MOTU for repair? I think they charge a flat $100 for 828 repairs (when they really just exchange with another used unit.)

allemande · Post by **allemande** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:34 pm

It sounds like you accidentally plugged in the FireWire cable upside down. I once did the same thing with the same results. Motu will repair the unit for $100.

Good luck.

brianrey · Post by **brianrey** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 11:47 pm

Any set should be unplugged before repairing. If a set has no transformer, it is not line isolated. The small matchbox-sized electronic controllers do not have transformers in them, and sets with such controllers are also not line isolated, as well as all parts inside the controllers.

The number of strands of continuous light sets that may be safely daisy-chained in sequence varies based on whether the lights are LEDs, ordinary miniature light bulbs, or the larger C7/C9 type light bulbs. Other factors include the voltage of the set and the size of the wiring in the set. Those with questions should consult the manufacturer's instructions or an electrician.
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[url]http://store.christmasdesigners.com/LED ... ringers/C9 LED Christmas lights

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:38 am

brianrey wrote:Any set should be unplugged before repairing. If a set has no transformer, it is not line isolated. The small matchbox-sized electronic controllers do not have transformers in them, and sets with such controllers are also not line isolated, as well as all parts inside the controllers.

The number of strands of continuous light sets that may be safely daisy-chained in sequence varies based on whether the lights are LEDs, ordinary miniature light bulbs, or the larger C7/C9 type light bulbs. Other factors include the voltage of the set and the size of the wiring in the set. Those with questions should consult the manufacturer's instructions or an electrician.
......................................................

[url]http://store.christmasdesigners.com/LED ... ringers/C9 LED Christmas lights

- ???

Phil O · Post by **Phil O** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:55 am

Christmas lights, Shoosh. He's talkin about real Christmas lights.

[cue Twilight Zone theme]

Phil O · Post by **Phil O** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:03 am

qnpqnp wrote:I called MOTU and they friendly told me to buy a new card since the warranty was way over due.

By "new card" do you mean a replacement board for the unit? Or is that the PCI board? Or are they saying to replace the whole device? (I guess I don't know much about the original 896) I would ask what it would cost for repairs and base my decision on cost of repair vs replace. Regarding scavenging for parts - I'm such a hopeless squirrel that my basement is a disaster area. Learn from my mistakes. If you decide not to repair it, chuck it.

Phil

kgdrum · Post by **kgdrum** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:04 am

I'd have to agree on not repairing the 896 & getting a new replacement unit.
The burnt smell might be blown capacitors & could really be a very complicated repair.
I had the original 896(my 1st I/O)
It's been improved on by many companies including MOTU and IMO to put more $$ into it would be an exercise in futility.
The repair cost now 11+ years later is probably more than its worth & unfortunately there might be other unforeseen issues with the unit by now.

stevenwright · Post by **stevenwright** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 3:43 am

It is not wise to get them repair because it will charge you high.You can better buy new set of LED lights at affordable price.

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http://store.christmasdesigners.com/LED ... Stringers/

Phil O · Post by **Phil O** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:45 am

This is getting creepy.

kgdrum · Post by **kgdrum** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 12:16 pm

getting?

jingle bells!

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