Sony CDP-C435 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: amemic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2019, 05:51:15 pm
content: Hi everyone,I have recently got my hands on a semi-broken sony 5 cd changer CDP-C435.Someone cut off the power cord so I did not know what I was getting into...but! I bought it to have some fun fixing it anyway...After fixing the power cord, the thing powered on, but first thing I noticed was that VFD cathode wires were glowing deep orange/red, that was the first clue of what is happening, so I went to check the power section where I found that the transformer is humming/buzzing and it heats up veery quickly when I power up just the board....and it starts stinking like hell...so yeah...it gets quite hotAfter de-soldering the darn thing, it behaved the same...so...yea...it seems dead...question is what else it pulled to death when it died...Now, I am looking for the replacement or at least voltages, I have found the partial service manual so I don't have exact output voltage/current info...so...if anyone has any info I would appreciate it...I could get it rewound if nothing else, but I am not sure if the voltages that the thing outputs are correct ones...Transformer has markings:1-423-553-1171D067HDTAM JAPAN3E078Thanks

author: shakalnokturn
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2019, 08:39:08 am
content: That's odd, first time I hear of a transformer outputting too much voltage before frying.Is there any chance you wired to the wrong place when changing the cord ? Just in case you gave a 110V winding 220V...

author: amemic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2019, 05:31:44 pm
content: Well, that was my thinking in the first place but the transformer is soldered onto the board so there is no chance for that...BUT! After de-soldering it I noticed that it does have 3 wires on the primary side, but two of them seem to be shorted.I can't be sure if the voltages are low or high, because I don't know which voltages should be there, but judging by the fact that VFD wires were glowing, it seems that voltages went up...I would be happier that they went down, it would decrease the chance of something else going out, kinda bummer.

author: amemic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2019, 12:56:10 pm
content: Update!So, I made a kinda stupid breakthrough...I went to check up the Parts list in the service manual...guess what...transformer was 120V...aaaand guess what again? the model is C435 for the US! market...C435 and C535 were sold in US...and somehow...here in europe I ran into one without checking what the freaking voltage is (doh!)...I hope nothing died though...The transformer does have three connections on the primary side so I will give it a try if it is dual voltage...In the meantime, still looking for a european transformer for the thing :-)Just to add...if the cord was not cut at the end, I would see the US plug and immediately check the voltage...this way I expected the EU voltage...dang it...

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2019, 01:57:38 pm
content: This model was sold in Australia as well. The way to know which one you've got would be to look at the back and see what input voltage it specifies.Here's a worldwide service manual:https://elektrotanya.com/sony_cdp-c435_c535.pdf/download.htmlAnyhow, if it is in fact a 120V unit in a 230V country, there's a good chance we know why it failed to begin with!

author: amemic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2019, 02:15:50 pm
content: Yeea...I know...I know...Stupid of me not to check it...well, there is no better way to learn something than the hard wayI have the same one, it seems that it is missing some pages, but it does have the part list, which I did not check...I would realize much earlier that the tranny is 120V...double the voltage double the funYeah, unfortunately, it is, if you look at the manual 1-423-553-11 is US/CND transformer, and what I need is 1-423-555-11...maybe I can just get the primary rewound...or a complete rewinding...For now I will get a step-down transformer just to see if anything got killed in this divine process, I guess something did get damaged...I'm guessing, pretty much anything that comes first after the transformer, voltage regulators would be the the first thing to get hit...hopefully the motors survived...if not...I just might be in a big pile of dog s**t...Well...at least it's fun

author: shakalnokturn
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2019, 03:16:35 pm
content: Maybe rig it up with bench supplies just to check how much trouble you have before seeking a replacement transformer.The annoying bit is the VFD supply of course.

author: amemic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2019, 03:51:55 pm
content: Unfortunately I don't have any bench supplies...It has 3 output on the transformer, so, approx output 1 3-5V, otput 2 30V, output 3 another 30v center tapped to 2x15...soo...yeah..would need a proper test bench equipment...for now I'll have to manage with what I have...step down is the cheapest option to test, we'll see what happens when I get one

author: ignilux
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 11, 2019, 04:34:50 pm
content: Bench supplies would be ideal. If you think you'll be doing much fixing of other instruments in the future, an isolation transformer and variac would be essential for any repair bench.

author: amemic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 03:26:34 pm
content: Yeah, I know, at the moment I do this just for some fun, in time I will try to get some better equipment than Uni-t portable scopeJust to update, I hooked the thing to a 120V transformer, it seems to be working allright, it has some quirks, like when the mechanism is trying to pickup a cd up but it hits the holder. with the centering pin..and some tracking issues, tapping it a bit harder makes it skip badly....I'm guessing recapping and some tracking calibration with the tongue at the right angle would do the trick...for now it works a-okay for what I need it

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 03:37:53 pm
content: Sensitivity to bumps can be due to the laser having weakened over time (or the optics getting hazy). The reduced signal provides less tracking feedback. If you have an oscilloscope, you can use the service manual to find where to probe for different waveforms, esp. the RF waveform, so you can adjust the laser power trimmer to get the right RF level.(And if the optical pickup is actually toast, most Sony optical pickups are available at surprisingly low cost on eBay etc.)

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 03:51:45 pm
content: Lot of Sony cdp series cd player had problems with the laser pickup suspension, they are plastic based, you see them under the optic lenseWith age they go down in the assembly, it is harder to adjust and compensate, and the focus ok signal is not good for the cpu, even with a perfect un-scratched cd.They become sensitive to bumps and vibrations. a new laser pickup is the only option.I know, i changed tons of them .... cdp 291 cdp 292 etc etc ...

author: amemic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 04:14:14 pm
content: Well, I will try to calibrate the laser as soon as I get some free time as tooki said because I did test it with an oldish cd-r (about 12years since it was recorded) so I'm guessing that some tweaking could help it to work better for some time, laser pickup replacement, well, considering I got this thing for about 8$, and current prices of pickups of about 30$+ shipping, it will wait for some time just for the fact that it works even in this state.@cormondalix maybe you could help me find the reason why the rotating plate seems to stop always about 1-2mm more than it should, so when the pickup assembly goes up that centering pin hits the plate, I mean, everything goes back to its place because the centering pin does its job, but it makes a noise like something breaks every time it rotates and picks up the next cd, not functional issue too much but a noisy nuisance

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 04:40:32 pm
content: CD-Rs provide a weaker signal than a pressed disc, so DO NOT calibrate using a CD-R!!!

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 08:45:21 pm
content: service manualhttps://elektrotanya.com/sony_cdp-c435_c535.pdf/download.htmlNormally any kind of transport mechanism has a starting point, maybe with some small leafs switchs or optocouplers sensors, if a gear step / skip a notch it can create thoses problemspage 31 in the service manual tell you how to ....

author: shakalnokturn
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 01:17:20 am
content: I haven't checked on the service manual if this is one of the models, many of the over-sensitive Sony's I've seen needed a re-cap, but not a full re-cap, if it's a model with the small PCB directly under the laser just start with the 3-4 SMD electrolytics on there and see if it improves.Of course cleaning the lens is also something to do.

author: amemic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 10:31:18 am
content: Quote from: tooki on March 23, 2019, 04:40:32 pmI know it was a test only because I did not have any CDs thereQuote from: coromonadalix on March 23, 2019, 08:45:21 pmI have that one already, I would not try much without the service manual as the tray mechanism is a bit nasty to assemble once you pull the tray out, and I don't know what the guy before me did, because I could see it has been opened...I heard some rattling around and thought, crap I have part missing for sure. Luckily, everything seems in place, it was just a small gear someone put inside because they (probably) didn't know where it goes, it was a small tray gear...that is why tray did not open...But I gotta say, it is nasty to set it properly, you have to know exact movement of the tray and exactly in which position is closed, took me a few tries to figure that outQuote from: shakalnokturn on March 24, 2019, 01:17:20 amWith many old electronics caps are the first issue, after so much experience with bad caps, usually first thing I do is replace the caps and then check everything else, I just don't even bother checking them out, they are usually bad or will soon be bad.I just have to get myself a new stock of SMD caps, spent the last ones fixing Sega GameGear :-D

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 09:39:56 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on March 23, 2019, 08:45:21 pmI posted that link 2 weeks ago.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 09:48:20 pm
content: yeahmy bad loll