HD-HomeRun Power Supply runs warm

[OneThomas]

Folks - I've just recently installed one of the HD HomeRun tuners, and have noticed that the power supply runs warm. I contacted SiliconDust, and they immediately sent me a replacement power supply - but that one runs warm as well. This seems odd to me - of all the power blocks that I have plugged in, this is the only one that has ever generated any heat. If the power supplu is plugged in without the tuner attached, it doesn;t generate any heat. As soon as the tuner is attached, it startes to warm up.

Have others using the HD HomeRun tuner found the same thing - and this is just normal for this device. If so, I won't bother to contact SiliconDust again... Thanks!

LOVE this little gadget, by the way!

[Opus4]

Mine is warm, but no warmer than the other adapters I have in use.

My understanding was that when not connected to its device, there is no load on it, so there is no heat generation, even though it will still use some power any time it is plugged in. (Maybe someone else will correct my understanding of it...)

- Andy

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by OneThomas

Folks - I've just recently installed one of the HD HomeRun tuners, and have noticed that the power supply runs warm. I contacted SiliconDust, and they immediately sent me a replacement power supply - but that one runs warm as well. This seems odd to me - of all the power blocks that I have plugged in, this is the only one that has ever generated any heat. If the power supplu is plugged in without the tuner attached, it doesn;t generate any heat. As soon as the tuner is attached, it startes to warm up.

Have others using the HD HomeRun tuner found the same thing - and this is just normal for this device. If so, I won't bother to contact SiliconDust again... Thanks!

LOVE this little gadget, by the way!

Heat is caused by the current flow thru the power supply. If no device connected, then no current is drawn.

Yes this power block is a bit on the warm side and I know early devices supposedly had some power blocks melt down, but I have been running my HDHomerun for a year now (holy crud has it really been that long?) and haven't had any issues.

Most of your power blocks are probably things such as cell phones and other portable electronics that do not pull nearly the current. Have you ever felt a power block to a laptop? They don't necessarily stay cool either

[Eckwell]

Silicon Dust had a run of bad Power supplies. Mine died, and there are others posted on the Silicon Dust forums as well. When mine died, they sent a replacement immediately too. The new one runs warm, but not alarmingly.

I will say though that I had many issues with the HDHR until i got the new supply. Most of those problems vanished once the HDHR had a steady signal due to the new PS.

[OneThomas]

Thanks for the feedback, folks! Since they sent me a replacement power supply, and you guys are saying it does run warm - I won't sweat it then.

For the record - I was comparing the Homerun power block temp to the other 12 or so similiar sized power blocks I have plugged in which are no warmer/colder then room temperature (MVP's, USB PVR tuners, network equipment, Vonage Adapter, and such - not larger laptop blocks or such...).

SiliconDust could probably stand to ship with a little beefer power supply, since the tuner seems to pull such a draw. But a beautiful little gadget, no matter!

Thanks again!

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by OneThomas

Thanks for the feedback, folks! Since they sent me a replacement power supply, and you guys are saying it does run warm - I won't sweat it then.

For the record - I was comparing the Homerun power block temp to the other 12 or so similiar sized power blocks I have plugged in which are no warmer/colder then room temperature (MVP's, USB PVR tuners, network equipment, Vonage Adapter, and such - not larger laptop blocks or such...).

SiliconDust could probably stand to ship with a little beefer power supply, since the tuner seems to pull such a draw. But a beautiful little gadget, no matter!

Thanks again!

I agree that it would be nice if their powersupply wasn't so warm. At least you have two, so if one does melt down on you, you've already got a replacement!

[OneThomas]

Hey Folks -

Just thought I would pass this along, in case anyone was interested.... I was really uneasy with the heat generated by the HD HomeRun power supply - so I tracked down a beefier replacement....

The SiliconDust forums indicate the unit needs:
5 VDC
2 Amps
2.1mm plug, center positive
Rev 1 = 7.2 watts, Rev 2 - 4.5 watts (I have the Rev 1 unit)

On PowerStream.com, I found a replacement that is 5 VDC and rated at 3 Amps, and 15 Watts. Item # PST-AC0530.

This unit should be able to handle the draw from the Homerun unit with less effort (thus no heat) then the stock power adapter. It will arrrive in a few days - I'll let you know how it goes....

[SprDtyF350]

I had been having problems with my HD Homerun for the last week or so. Wouldn't get a signal, wouldn't scan the channels, etc. It was really inconsistent also.. Anyway, I went to move it to a different location so I could troubleshoot. The darn wall wart, (Transformer) was really hot. I took a look and there was a spot melted on it that even looks like a wart..

I replaced it with a spare I had laying around for an MVP and my HD Homerun is back in business.

Don't know if it would have caught fire but I'm glad it did not...




* merged *

[SprDtyF350]

I guess this must have been a known failure item since they make it pretty easy to get another one..

http://www.silicondust.com/wiki/tickets

[tmiranda]

I put in my device ID and the page says I do not need a replacement. I bought a HDHR early on so I was surprised to see mine was "good". What is the device ID range for the defective units?

@One Thomas - How did that new power adapter work out?

[SprDtyF350]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

I put in my device ID and the page says I do not need a replacement. I bought a HDHR early on so I was surprised to see mine was "good". What is the device ID range for the defective units?

@One Thomas - How did that new power adapter work out?

I think it had something to do with May 2007. Reading there forums it seemed like the failures all had May 2007 on the little sticker on the side. Mine did also..

[carlgar]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

I put in my device ID and the page says I do not need a replacement. I bought a HDHR early on so I was surprised to see mine was "good". What is the device ID range for the defective units?

The only bad one I found out of my 3 was the newest which is a revision 2 model. The revision 2 serial numbers start with 1013. The power supply also has a LED on it which the other 2 do not.

[Flash69]

Well that is interesting. I just purchased my HD Homerun about 2 months ago and it shows as possibly needing a replacement power supply. I guess the place I purchased it from had older stock. No worries Silicon Dust is sending me a replacement power supply.

So far I have had NO problems with my HDHR.

[sandor]

yeah, i had two 5/2007 dated power supplies fail. one actually burned up the HDHR unit... but my 1st (older HDHR unit) had absolutely no issues with its older power supply.

[OneThomas]

Hey folks -

The replacement I found on PowerStream.com (# PST-AC0530 - 5 VDC, 3 Amps, 15 Watts) works great! I actually like it a little better because it has a longer cord, as well as it stays cool.

Silicon Dust now has a blip on their tech support web page that if your power supply is model SW20-S050-15, that they will send you a replacement one after filling out the short form.

They had actually sent me a replacement before I found the unit on PowerStream... The one Silicon sent had a little heavier power cord, but pretty much looked the same (I believe the little light is green, rather then red). Oh - and it didn't have the SiliconDust logo on it, as the original did.

Sorry I forgot to post back about the alternative replacement I found... but - they are great - if you want to spend a few extra bucks on a heavier one....