LW 300 Power-Up Problems

[Concorde1993]

This has been an on-going issue with this printer, but since I want to use it to print out my lecture notes from my eMate, and 5215CD, I want to see if I can resolve this once, and for all.

Basically, when I plug in the LW 300 to an outlet (with a surge protector, of course), the LED Power light blinks once, and then refuses to proceed with the initialization process (there is no on/off switch on this printer). Sometimes, if I wait about 30 minutes, the unit suddenly "springs back" to life, powers up, and continues to operate (until unplugged).

My question- is the PSU failing on this unit? Also, has anyone else experienced this problem with the LW 300?

Btw, the outlets work perfectly in my dorm room (all of my other equipment works without issue).

 

[beachycove]

No direct experience of this in a printer like yours, but it sounds like what happens a) when RAM is bad in one of the more expensive Postscript laserwriters like the LWPro 630, or B) when capacitors fail on the logic board of a Mac (i.e., the machine starts up but hangs).

You can't fix RAM without serious surgery and equipment, and there won't be much of it to fix anyway on a Quickdraw printer, but the "good news" is that there may well be bad capacitors by this stage. I would hope for B, and tear it down in order thus get the logic board out and clean it/ wash it, and then see what happens. You can't make matters much worse.

Disassembly of these more or less requires a service manual, if the machines are anything like the LW 4/600 at least, as otherwise you are likely to break the plastics. I had to take my 4/600 apart once to install the über-rare RAM chip, and I seem to recall that it was not especially easy to do, with much flexing of plastics at set points on the frame being required. Mind you, that was several years ago....

 

[beachycove]

Actually, on second thought I have also seen this happen when the main motor failed on another LW printer. It would get so far but no farther.

Do you have the service manual? The behaviour of the lights is important on other LW units, so it may also be key to figuring out your troubles.

 

[Concorde1993]

Do you have the service manual? The behaviour of the lights is important on other LW units, so it may also be key to figuring out your troubles.

Unfortunately, I do not have the service manual for the LW 300 (I have it for my IWIIs, and my SWs), but I'm sure I can find a copy of it online. I'm hoping its just capacitors, and not the motor that is fowling up.

Btw, I found this link that mentions a similar problem with my LW 300. http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/laser/70488

Thoughts?

 

[Concorde1993]

I managed to get the printer to start-up. I realize that this is temporary, but I can confirm that it does initialize, and print.

When time permits, I'll have the unit properly serviced (or sell it).

 

[techknight]

my guess, bad caps.