Replace power connector?

[jmang]

The power jack on my Boom has loosened to the point that the plug rattles around and loses connection when the unit is moved. I looked at the white paper explosion diagram and photos and it looks like the back panel is a separate unit, but there's no indication of how (or if) the power jack is fastened to it.

Can anyone provide additional info on this? I don't want to disassemble the Boom if it isn't feasible to replace the jack.

Thanks.

[Soulkeeper]

It looks like it's soldered to a daughterboard to the backpanel, in the typical way. Are you sure the jack needs to be replaced? Normally, this type of thing only takes some heat to the solder points.

[jmang]

Thanks Soulkeeper.

Looking at the back panel in the explosion diagram in the white paper it does not appear to have solder connections to the main PC board behind it, just standoffs that probably hold it in place when the whole thing is screwed together. My guess is the connectors on the back panel are electrically connected to the main board with a cable or wire harness that's not shown, and that's hidden in the photo.

What I'm concerned about is: how is the power connector fastened to the back panel? Is it just held in place, or is it glued? I was hoping someone who's opened up a Boom could tell me how the back panel jacks are actually mounted.

[JJP]

One of my booms has developed the same problem, the power plug needs to be positioned Just So for the unit to fire up. I think it took a knock when we had a summer party..

Has anyone had any success in re-seating the socket? Any tips before I start pulling it apart please?!

Thanks in advance.

[mctubster]

I have the same issue with one of my Booms, in which I recently repaired the speakers, but didn't notice the intermittent power issue at the time.

So I pulled it apart again.

The board that contains the power, ethernet and 2x audio connections is soldered onto the back of the main board. I noticed when wiggling this daughter board that I was getting a bit of a click noise, like a dry solder joint, so I reflowed the three solder points for the power connections and then when that didn't solve the click noise, I reflowed all of the solder connections on the front of the main board where the daughter board connects, and the power end of the connections on the daughter board. This still didn't stop the click noise when moving the daughter board, but I figured that was all I could do.

After reassembly the issue unfortunately still remains. I had a play with my much newer Boom and when really wiggling the power lead even it loses power for a second.

The only other think I can think of trying is replacing the power socket.

[WontonNoodleSoup]

Fixed my Boom!

I reflowed all of the solder connections on the front of the main board where the daughter board connects, and the power end of the connections on the daughter board. This still didn't stop the click noise when moving the daughter board, but I figured that was all I could do.

After reassembly the issue unfortunately still remains. I had a play with my much newer Boom and when really wiggling the power lead even it loses power for a second.

The only other think I can think of trying is replacing the power socket.

Just in case anyone else comes across this thread while searching for information about the Boom power socket, I reflowed the solder joints as well and it didn't help. The intermittent power issue described by mctubster, at least for me, turned out to be due to corrosion in the power socket itself. I fixed my Boom by lightly spraying the power socket with DeoxIT DN5 and inserting/removing the power plug a few times per the instructions. I kept my Boom near a humidifier which runs in the winters so that might have caused the corrosion. My Boom works great now. Cheers.

[eponymous]

DeoxIT DN5 also fixed my Boom

Many thanks to WontonNoodleSoup! Spraying the power receptacle with DeoxIT DN5 also fixed my boom. It did not fix my power supply (which seemed to go out at the same time - I have two Booms, so I could use one to debug the other), but I still have to consider this a success.

[donmacn]

This is an old thread, but I couldn't find anything else just as specific.

I reckon the power connector on one of my Booms is causing some problems. It's not a good connection, and can easily lose power if knocked. Looking through this thread, there seemed to be no hardf and fast answer to replacing the unit if necessary.

Has anyone else tackled this in the meantime and got any more information?

Ta

Donald

[JoeMuc2009]

Hi all,

the connectors are standard 5.5 / 2.1mm coax. A good match is this:

http://www.mouser.de/ProductDetail/Gravitech/CON-SOCJ-2155

But there are loads of connectors around that would fit just as well. I have had good results with a desoldering station to get most of the solder away from the old connector, then using solder wick for the solder that the desolder tip could not get to.
It seems Logitech have cut a few pennies with the connector they picked. They are really low quality. I had some units here where the plating (some copper alloy material) was flaking off, and the plastic housing seems to break easily, too.
I can offer some service around the Boom inside the EU. Replacement of aged displays, bass woofer repairs, and last but not least also the replacement of the power connector (if needed, including the one on the PSU cable). Feel free to contact me anytime

Regards,
Joe

[stereoptic]

I've been living with this problem for a long time now, any slight movement of the Boom would cause it to reboot. I don't know why I didn't think of the Deoxit solution earlier (I have the Radio Shack version which is less expensive) but thanks to this thread, a few sprays on the connector and the port eliminated the issue entirely!
Many many thanks!

[jmang]

Thanks Joe for the part info, and to the rest of you who provided helpful comments.

In my case, the leaf inside the socket that's supposed to contact the outer sleeve and hold it in place seems to have broken. Thus there is no stable contact and there is no friction to hold the plug in place. Indeed Logitech seems to have used a substandard part that just didn't hold up. I have never seen a barrel connector disintegrate like this with just normal use before or since.

[JoeMuc2009]

Well, the spare parts I have here are no different from the ones used by Logitech or Slimdevices. I would not presume they chose a particularly bad part to save a penny or two. There is no supplier that I know of who would offer these parts in a higher quality level. Power connectors are rarely available in high-end quality, and the 5.5mm diameter does not allow for much ruggedness. The main issue is corrosion. The plating becoming loose is either a result of too harsh cleaning procedures or wrong chemicals used for cleaning, or the connector being plugged and unplugged too many times which will also wear out the spring contact and cause it to rupture.
If the connector is plugged in with violence or the plugged-in connector is bent a lot, the plastic surrounding the jack may give way at some point which will also cause bad contact of course. Once that happened, it is definitely time to replace the part.

I have five Booms currently and some had corrosion, but over time (some years) there was no deterioration of the contacts. If the Boom just sits there, the contacts will stay intact at least mechanically. They may require cleaning from time to time but if done with appropriate care, it should not cause problems. By the way, corrosion can be prevented or at least be postponed a lot with just a bit of contact spray.

[PaulShorty]

loose power connector cuts out with slightest movement

I have a similar problem to what is described in this thread
Loved my Boom and it's demise is annoying
Pleased to have found this forum although I have almost no technical ability
Can't even figure out how to open her up ?

[JoeMuc2009]

I have a similar problem to what is described in this thread
Loved my Boom and it's demise is annoying
Pleased to have found this forum although I have almost no technical ability
Can't even figure out how to open her up ?

Opening a Boom is described here (ignore the part about the display): https://joes-tech-blog.blogspot.com/2016/06/logitech-squeezebox-boom-vfd-display.html

You will have to get the mainboard out completely to get to the connector (it is located on the daughterboard that stands off the mainboard in a 90 degree angle). But some experience with soldering is definitely required, and you will need the right spare part.

[Bill Moon]

Conductive metal sticky tape. About twice as wise as a fingernail clipping. Stack a few if necessary on one side of the plug, leaving 4/5ths of the plug bare. It should snug it up nicely. Works.