Heat dissipation in DVD player

[Franc Zabkar]

I have a Dick Smith G1605 DVD player that appears to play stamped CDs
without problems, but which develops "freeze frame" issues after about
30mins when playing burnt DVDs. If I take the lid off, the player
seems to behave, so I'm guessing it's a thermal fault. All the major
ICs, including the flash memory, are too hot to touch for any length
of time. Most of the electronics (except the PSU) appears to be on the
main PCB (the DVD loader consists only of a laser assembly and drive
motors), so I can't believe the DVD loader is at fault.

Here is the main PCB:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~fzabkar/G1605_PCB_2.jpg (279KB)

The two DVD loader flex cables are at the top and centre left. The
motor drive IC (?) and laser decoder/controller IC (?) are under the
stamped metal shield/heatsink. I'm planning to discard the shield and
replace it with Thermaltake Ramsinks (glue-on Al or Cu heatsinks), but
I'm concerned whether this will introduce RF interference problems.
Perhaps I could attach the heatsink(s) to ground via a strap???

I don't get to work on many DVD players, so I'm wondering whether
these heat problems are common. BTW, the case is not vented at the top
or sides, only at the bottom. Maybe I'll add a 40mm fan, too.


- Franc Zabkar

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

I have a Dick Smith G1605 DVD player that appears to play stamped CDs
without problems, but which develops "freeze frame" issues after about
30mins when playing burnt DVDs. If I take the lid off, the player
seems to behave, so I'm guessing it's a thermal fault. All the major
ICs, including the flash memory, are too hot to touch for any length
of time. Most of the electronics (except the PSU) appears to be on the
main PCB (the DVD loader consists only of a laser assembly and drive
motors), so I can't believe the DVD loader is at fault.

Here is the main PCB:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~fzabkar/G1605_PCB_2.jpg (279KB)

The two DVD loader flex cables are at the top and centre left. The
motor drive IC (?) and laser decoder/controller IC (?) are under the
stamped metal shield/heatsink. I'm planning to discard the shield and
replace it with Thermaltake Ramsinks (glue-on Al or Cu heatsinks), but
I'm concerned whether this will introduce RF interference problems.
Perhaps I could attach the heatsink(s) to ground via a strap???

I don't get to work on many DVD players, so I'm wondering whether
these heat problems are common. BTW, the case is not vented at the top
or sides, only at the bottom. Maybe I'll add a 40mm fan, too.


- Franc Zabkar

Yeah, it would seem all low range (Asia?) dvd players all generate heaps of
heat, even in standby.
I reckon I'd try the fan first and see how it goes, since the bottom is
vented mebbe have it blowing on the hottest area ?

 

[Mark D. Zacharias]

Heat affects pickups as well.

Mark Z.