Panasonic DMR EZ48 VHS - Part 1 - Power supply and DVD drive issues (Dead, U80 and U81 error fix)

Here's a fine Panasonic DMR-EZ48. This one is from 2011 but I believe they were released around 2008. This one was bought as faulty from eBay with DVD drive issues.

I've not really covered the newer video decks and this is something I will be doing a little in future videos also comparing mechanisms, user experience and quality of design with older machines - both Beta and VHS and some Video8 and V2000 too!

There is someone selling power supply repair kits on eBay and I contacted the seller. Steve is great and very genuine and I would recommend the kit to get your machine going and reliable again. The kit is not as comprehensive as the cap change I did but it will get your machine up and running and reliable for now - it really depends how you're going to use the machine too.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1725567179...
(Not affiliated or linked in anyway other than Steve turns out to be a great guy!)

The two small caps on the 'hot' side are well worth changing as well as if they go bad, just like the Sony SMPSU's, it'll potentially blow the switching transistors. I changed far more than I needed to mainly because this machine will be used a lot and left on too and I need it to be as reliable as possible - no doubt I'll do a video in a few years time on how it's getting on if I keep it that long!

This will also fix a dead or partially dead machine and also will usually fix the U80 or U81 error codes.

These machines are now becoming quite sought after as they are fairly solid and enable easy digitisation of VHS tapes plus they have an HDMI output socket on the back.

Interesting that I work in IT and I have the patience of a Saint when it comes to boot up but I really get frustrated waiting for a video recorder to boot! Especially when it seems it's booted but still hasn't actually finished!

Are there any other VHS or VHS combi machines that are a good workhorse? Let me know in the comments below and I may well take a look at one and feature it in a future video. 😊

Please like and subscribe - there is so much more to come on lots of video formats and it'd be great for you to join me on this journey. It's really appreciated

Chapters
00:00 Please Wait...
00:49 Introduction and faults run-down
05:15 Testing the VHS deck
05:56 Disassembly
14:03 Capacitor list - all that ideally need to be changed
15:07 Capacitors changed and checked
15:55 DVD drive check and clean
23:47 Check the machine - has the capacitor change done the trick