Repairing a Neewer 660 Studio light - How Hard Can It Be? -- Episode 594

Yes a new project with a microcontroller.

You could perhaps look at adding:

• wireless control that allows individual or group adjustments
• DMX interface so as they can double up as party lights
• preset store/recall option
• display on the back
• strobe feature 

If you plan to re-lamp them in the future, then you could do RGB / white and then some colour temp control options.

Presumably the MCU is controlling the power to each color using PWM. You could look at the working light to see what the MCU outputs look like. I expect you can see if the lights work just by connecting the output pad to 5V. If you only need one color at one brightness, you might get away with just using a short or a switch in place of the MCU.

beacon_dave   I looked at the MCU datasheet.  It's got Read-Out Protection so there is some risk involved.  I'd go with trying to duplicate functionality - or at least "working".

hifromkatie  I enjoyed the troubleshooting.  I would be surprised if you haven't already fixed the light.   I'm interested in hearing how you chose to repair the light.

Since you have the second working unit, you could perhaps look at downloading the code from that working one to reprogram a new replacement microcontroller with. Or at least use it to work out what the microcontroller does and then write new code to duplicate the functionality.