PS4 Pro Power Supply Repair

Question

Yesterday while playing my PS4 Pro I heard a loud POP and my console was off. The lovely burnt electronic smell was in the air and I knew something had blown. My warranty is sadly up so I took apart my console looking for a popped cap anywhere. Turns out it was in the power supply. I already cleaned up the area but it looks like C31 was what blew. Does anyone know where I can either find a schematic so I can find out what that cap is, or know how I can identify the part? Thank you! 
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jw0752 · Answer

Hi Zehel, My eyes are not good enough to see a problem with the cap. Cap C29 near it looks to be the same and could be measured to give you a likely value for C31. If you can do this check C31 as well to verify that it has failed. Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that you can check a capacitor in the circuit. Depending on what else is connected the capacitor may look bad on the meter while in the circuit but test OK once it is out of the circuit. I see that C31 lies under the (I am guessing FETS) that are back to back with Q5 and Q6. I would certainly probe all components in this area for shorts. This is a fairly sophisticated switching power supply and they are not know for easy fixes. Also use CAUTION as they can retain fairly high voltages on some of the electrolytic capacitors. It would not be impossible to get a fatal shock many minutes after the unit is turned off and disconnected. If you do not have experience fixing switching power supplies and do not have the proper test equipment to work on this type of power supply it would be safer to look for a replacement board and not take the risk of getting a shock. John

mcb1 · Answer

Looking at the pictures, I doubt that C31 caused the burnt smell. As jw0752 said it's more likely the 'victim' of the original failure. It's more likely that one of the mosfet/transistors Q4-Q8? has gone bang. There is likely to be some damage to the black body, which could show as a small bump or a piece missing. I note that this area has been attracting dust (see the foreign material on the edge and heatsink around Q6.) It is possible that this area was running hot and finally gave up. These power supplies work by rectifying the mains voltage and then use a DC-DC converter running at high frequency to reduce the voltage down to what is needed. Over time the filter capacitors on the high frequence side age and eventually stress the other parts. This may show as a discharge underneath them or bulging. One trick I learnt to test a switchmode supply you've repaired is to use a 50 or 100w mains voltage lamp in series with the active/phase to the device. If something is still dead or faulty, the lamp lights up rather than the device going bang ... again. Mark

jw0752 · Answer

Hi Zehel, I am sorry to hear that you are having this problem. It has been my experience in situations like this that it is almost never the failure of the cap that is the root of the problem. Most of the time there is a failure further back in the circuit that puts too much voltage or the wrong polarity of voltage on a cap which causes the cap to over heat and pop. Before you replace the cap it will be a good idea to check the components associated with the cap for shorts or damage. Sometimes there is internal damage to a part that is not visible externally. Often these parts can be probed with an ohm meter while still in the circuit but some experience is often necessary to find the culprit part. I think I was able to see the part that you identified as C31 but it did not look damaged to my eyes. If it is in fact damaged you may be able to find a similar cap on the board and measure it with a capacitor meter to get the value. Some of the guys might be able to give you more information but you may have to provide a better closeup and an explanation of why you feel the C31 is damaged. John

dougw · Answer

Q6 is on the other side of the card from C31. It looks ratty in the photo - is this real or just an artifact in the photo? Otherwise nothing looks visibly blown. Try using your nose to localize where the smell came from. Also inspect the other cards.

jw0752 · Answer

The reason shellac might work where hot glue doesn't is that it can seep into cracks and crevasses. Not being able to see your transformer makes it difficult to comment. To enter pictures click on the icon in the line above that looks like this: and then follow the directions. If you put shellac on the transformer make sure that you let it dry well before you power it up. The most effective way to apply the shellac might be to submerge the transformer in it until it can soak into all the cracks. Otherwise brush it on and rely on capillary action to pull it where needed. I do not have any knowledge of the PS 4 power supply board but if you post some good picture I or one of the other guys could give you some insights. I am sure the numbers have some significance. Try googling them along with the name of the manufacturer and see what you get back. If you don't get anything it is probably because PS4 is having the parts made specifically for themselves and this will make it more difficult to find a replacement on the open market. I would look to see if I could find a power supply that is being sold as is or for parts. The most hardy component on the board is probably the transformer so that even if you buy a juck power supply the transformer is likely OK. John

ivankatavic · Answer

Moisture and dirty psu can make that trouble. Usually no poping and PSU doesnt work after 1 year. I send mine for repair at http://www.autodijagnostika.biz/multimedia/playstation/adp-300cr-playstation-4-ps4-pro-psu-repair/ Croatia For now works great

jw0752 · Answer

Hi Jonathan, If the power supply is working properly aside from the noise you may just have a noisy transformer. Sometimes they do not get sealed properly and the coil or some of the core laminations are loose and then they rattle. You could try shellac to better seal the transformer. If the power supply makes the noise even when not plugged into the ps4 then it is not the load that is causing the problem. John

PS4 Pro Power Supply Repair

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