So, recapping g4 cube psu…

[imactheknife]

Going to recap one of my four cube psu and see how it goes., what a pain to get into lol. Thank god not a lot of caps..

 

[Ncc74656]

double check all solder joints while your in there. on mine i had cracked joints on the main 22 pin wiring harness to the board.

 

[imactheknife]

double check all solder joints while your in there. on mine i had cracked joints on the main 22 pin wiring harness to the board.

Thanks! Will definitely check that out for sure

 

[joshc]

The amount of dirt inside that, for a relatively closed unit is a little alarming. Hope you can get it going again.

 

[ObeyDaleks]

Is this a proactive recap, or is the PSU dead? Just wondering if this is worth doing on a working PSU. I don’t have a lot of experience with the cube - are the PSUs prone to failure?

 

[imactheknife]

Is this a proactive recap, or is the PSU dead? Just wondering if this is worth doing on a working PSU. I don’t have a lot of experience with the cube - are the PSUs prone to failure?

the cube Psu are known to die. This is my first time seeing if I can recap one. Have to order caps today

 

[François]

Wouldn’t it be cheaper and easier to replace the PSU by a modern one? They are more efficient and produce less heat. They’re more compact too: a modern open frame PSU could fit inside the original case of the Cube PSU.

 

[imactheknife]

Wouldn’t it be cheaper and easier to replace the PSU by a modern one? They are more efficient and produce less heat. They’re more compact too: a modern open frame PSU could fit inside the original case of the Cube PSU.

Not that i have seen. Always an issue with connector to computer and it is 28v psu. So would rather keep original if possible. Will see if it works

 

[Ncc74656]

its easier if you need to change forum factor. you can build a one off psu easy enough, if your not using ADC you dont NEED the 25v power but again, you can always use a standard ATX - pin it out to the 22 pin apple and then add a second 25v psu off one of its rails or off of 110v to make up the difference. the other issue with ATX to apple is that modern PSU's are not build to handle 2002 tech. the amperage bias is way off - so you need to make sure your 3.3/12v rails can handle the amperage your system is going to use.

 

[François]

Not that i have seen. Always an issue with connector to computer and it is 28v psu. So would rather keep original if possible. Will see if it works

I was talking about replacing only the electronic board (that’s what an open frame PSU is). You just have to figure out how to mount the new board inside the original case and rewire the cables. No issue with the connector!

I had already looked into it (but not done it, my Cube PSUs work fine), and a Mean Well EPP-400-27 is a good replacement candidate. It’s not cheap, but big capacitors aren’t either, and they add up quickly!

 

[wottle]

I was talking about replacing only the electronic board (that’s what an open frame PSU is). You just have to figure out how to mount the new board inside the original case and rewire the cables. No issue with the connector!

I had already looked into it (but not done it, my Cube PSUs work fine), and a Mean Well EPP-400-27 is a good replacement candidate. It’s not cheap, but big capacitors aren’t either, and they add up quickly!

Yeah, I had a dead Cube PSU and I replaced it with an older 27v mean well PSU. I did have to 3d print a piece to extend the length of the case. However, I think newer PSUs may be able small enough to fully fit into the original case. Definitely something to keep in mind if the recap goes poorly.

 

[imactheknife]

Recapped and all is well. Going to order some thermal pads for copper heat sink but she works.

 

[Juror22]

Was it easy to take apart - (I guess not, any hints)? Did you use someone's list for the caps or did you order them once you had it opened and checked them out?
If you put together your own list, could you share it, along with the model number of the PSU?

 

[herd]

I'm glad you got it working again. Which caps were actually bad? It seems like the main/big/expensive ones are usually fine, and the little ones flake out. Was there leakage? Here is a recent thread about possible replacements for the power supply (I use cheap 24v ones):

Modern G4 Cube PSU replacement?

Hey guys, The G4 Cube PSU is terribly inefficient. Even when the machine isn't turned on the PSU is kicking out heat. Has anyone known of a modern equiv or has anyone got the pinout for it?

68kmla.org

 

[imactheknife]

Was it easy to take apart - (I guess not, any hints)? Did you use someone's list for the caps or did you order them once you had it opened and checked them out?
If you put together your own list, could you share it, along with the model number of the PSU?

It wasnt bad really. Only issue is unsoldering some caps that were attached to the huge copper plate. Honestly no caps “looked bad” but i can see where a ceramic something was getting hot right beside a 1000uf 35v cap.

I think the typical no fan in my computers attitude from everyone’s favorite Steve has killed a lot of electronics early. If these had a fan i am sure it would help. It is an interesting design, but with no air flow, and its weird shape made it a hot object as it laid flat killing off air flow from one side. They should have made it to stand up or something.

I had the small caps on hand, but had to order big ones. I didn’t know any values until I opened it either

 

[Juror22]

Thanks for the report out. I am going to be looking after mine eventually and just wanted to know what I would be in for, so thank you very much.

Can you imagine the alternate universe where young Steve did not have one of these in his bedroom, keeping him up all night and did not grow up hating fans...

...and occasionally listened to his engineers about the whole cooling, mumbo-jumbo early on?

Of course, he figured you would just throw it away and buy the new one two years later, anyway.

 

[imactheknife]

Thanks for the report out. I am going to be looking after mine eventually and just wanted to know what I would be in for, so thank you very much.

Can you imagine the alternate universe where young Steve did not have one of these in his bedroom, keeping him up all night and did not grow up hating fans...
View attachment 67030
...and occasionally listened to his engineers about the whole cooling, mumbo-jumbo early on?

Of course, he figured you would just throw it away and buy the new one two years later, anyway.

Lol, yes he must have had nightmares over fans.. i guess he figured he had enough apple fans like us he didn’t need any more

Btw, caps were 820uf 200v, 1000uf 16, 47uf 25, and a 220uf 35v.

 

[Juror22]

guess he figured he had enough apple fans like us he didn’t need any more

I might need a little more sleep, since I laughed quite a bit longer than I should have at that...

 

[imactheknife]

I might need a little more sleep, since I laughed quite a bit longer than I should have at that...

glad it had some humor!

 

[imactheknife]

well, 3 out of four done and all good so far