Steps | Node2 Capacitor Replacement

Open the Node 2 player, inspect the power supply capacitors.

Work in a static-free environment, avoiding carpet, rugs, static-generating clothing, and socks. Ground yourself to discharge electrostatic charge. Consider using an electrostatic discharge (ESD) mat and an ESD wrist strap. Avoid breathing solder fumes by using a fume extractor or small fan in a well-ventilated area. Wear an N95 mask or respirator designed for soldering and welding.

OK, on to the fun...

Disconnect the AC power plug at the rear of the unit. Lift off the rear metal plate with a small flat blade or screwdriver. This plate is magnetically attached. Remove the four black corner case screws and two chrome screws flanking the AC input.

After the screws are removed, gently separate the top and bottom sections of the unit. The front of the unit is connected by plastic interlocking tabs that will separate with gentle force. Next, start separating the case at the rear and gently open the case like a book until the front tabs disengage. A sharp click is generated when the front case tabs are separated. Use care not to stretch or damage the two wires connected to the top of the case.

Inspect the power supply, focusing attention on the two larger green/white capacitors located at the center, left side of the board adjacent to a black metal heat sink. These are the two capacitors of interest, which are often responsible for the power unit failure. Inspect these capacitors closely for signs of failure, including; a budging proud top cap, signs of electrolyte seepage, or other signs of physical damage.

Notice how these two capacitors on my unit's power supply are budging upward slightly and have a slight residue suggesting an electrolyte leak at the top. These capacitors are dead and need to be replaced. I suspect the location of the capacitors very near what appears to be a warm area of the power supply is partly to blame for their failure.

While other capacitors may also have failed or are failing, these two seem to represent most of the problems in these power supplies. So, in addition to replacing these capacitors, some do a whole replacement of all of the capacitors in the power supply for good measure. Not a bad idea, especially if you feel confident in your soldering skills compared to the risks of damaging something on the board while replacing all the capacitors.

For this unit, I was happy just replacing the two bad capacitors.

















Remove the power supply board from the Node2.

Locate the power supply located at the right of the unit when viewed from the rear. Next, remove the power supply board by unscrewing the four chrome corner mounting screws of the board. The two screws at the back of the board also hold a small metal bracket that spans the AC power input.

Next, release the two wire harnesses connecting the power supply to the main board of the unit. Use needle-nose pliers or a small flat screwdriver to remove the connectors as needed gently. Finally, lift the power supply from the unit.









Locate and remove the failed capacitors.

Locate the failed capacitors and any other capacitors you plan to replace. For example, some capacitors are secured to the circuit board with glue that may need to be removed before removing the capacitors.

Before removing the capacitors, note the capacitor's polarity and its' orientation on the circuit board. Often the negative lead of the capacitor is marked with a white strip down the side of the capacitor body. This negative side or lead is typically noted on the circuit board with a negative symbol. Some mark the top of the capacitor on the rear or front-facing side of the capacitor for reference before removing them.

Once you locate the capacitors to be replaced, flip the board and note the location of the soldered leads of the capacitors of interest. Then, using a fine tip soldering iron, heat the solder holding the leads of the capacitor. Once the solder liquefies, tip the capacitor side-to-side to pull the leads out of the circuit board.

The tight location of the two capacitors near the heat sink makes it challenging to access the capacitors limited your ability to manipulate them using your fingers. So instead, I used a small flat screwdriver gently wedged underneath the base of the capacitors to free them while heating the solder.

After removing the capacitors, desolder the capacitor lead through holes on the circuit board to make it easier to install the new capacitors. There are a few ways to remove the old solder from the through-holes. I used desoldering wick and a toothpick. Desoldering suction devices also work well, but I didn't have one for this project.

To desolder with wick material, place a clean end of the wick over the solder-filled holes and carefully apply heat on the wick directly over the solder to be removed. Once the solder liquefies, it will move off the circuit board and into the wick.

Then, use a toothpick if needed to clean the through-hole of residual solder by heating the hole on the bottom of the board while gently pushing the toothpick through the top of the board. When the solder softens, the toothpick will pass through the hole, cleaning it.



















Install the new replacement capacitors.

After removing the old capacitors, replace them with new, compatible capacitors of the same capacitance, voltage, size, lead size, and service life. There are many choices for replacement capacitors. I suggest using components from a top-tier maker like Panasonic, Nichicon, Rubycon, United Chemi-Con, and a few others.

I used Panasonic capacitors ordered from Mouser Electronics (mouser.com). Select a capacitor with the same specs as the originals and choose capacitors with 105-degree temperature ratings and long service life ratings if possible. The location of the two failed capacitors is likely a hot, demanding location for capacitors.

Install the replacement capacitors in the same polarity orientation as the originals. In addition, the negative lead should be marked on the new capacitor.

With the new capacitor leads in proper polarity orientation, pass the leads through the circuit board through holes. Next, press down to hold the capacitor against the board and then turn the board over and slightly bend and spread the capacitor leads outward to have the capacitor in position until the leads are soldered in place. Then solder the leads from the bottom of the board.

To solder the leads, first heat the soldering iron. I have the Hakko Soldering Station, which I highly recommend. It displays the temperature of the soldering iron tip so you know when it is up to heat. It also heats up very quickly and is a joy to use. The soldering iron holder is super solid and firmly holds the iron when it is not in use.

If you have control of the temperature of your soldering iron, start with a temperature of 315°C (600°F) to 400°C (750°F) depending on the type of solder you are using.

Once the soldering iron is up to temperature, clean the tip using a damp sponge or tip cleaning metal mesh. After cleaning, tin the tip by touching the soldering iron tip with solder. Now move the soldering iron to the base of the capacitor lead at the board. Next, place the soldering iron tip at the base of the capacitor lead as it exits the through-hole on the circuit board. Hold the tip in place for a second or so, then touch the end of the solder (I use Kester yellow label .05" diameter) to the lead and hole on the side opposite of the soldering iron. If the lead and through-hole are sufficiently hot, the solder will melt and flow smoothly into the through-hole and wick up the capacitor lead.

A good soldier should be smooth, slightly shiny, and flow through the through-hole to the opposite side of the board. Use care not to apply too much heat to the circuit board or component lead, which can damage the circuit board or component being installed. Also, be aware of circuit components adjacent to or near the area you are soldering (or desoldering), taking care to avoid applying heat to these unintended targets.

Give the solder joint 30 seconds to harden, then cut the leads off just above the solder joint.







Reassemble the Node2 and test the operation of the unit.

Replace the power supply board within the unit and replace the mounting screws and small bracket around the AC power input. Re-attach the two power lead connectors on the mainboard.

Place the black plastic rear plate with the magnets mounted on it back on the back of the bottom tray of the Node 2. Close the Node 2 case starting at the front of the case. Align the tabs and notches of the top and bottom halves and press together firmly to connect. Be careful not to pinch, kink, or trap the two wires connected between the top and bottom cases.

Close the back of the case bring the top and bottom halves together. Replace the rear corner case screws and the two chrome screws on either side of the AC power input. Remount the back metal magnetic mount faceplate.

After the unit is back together, plug it in and check for proper operation. At first, the red light will display, followed by a flashing green light and a solid blue light indicating the unit is ready for use!