repairing Synscan Hand Controller

[malc-c]

When you plug the handset in to the synscan unit, with 12v powering the synscan unit, does the handset LCD illuminate and give any message such as "no response both axis" ?  - If so it the synscan unit that is more likely to have the issue.

Have a read of this long thread which covers repairs of several synscan motor board, and the same would apply to your unit.  As the Synscan unit lacks a built in USB port it will have the older 16F886's and full details on how to program replacements are contained within this thread.

I'm guessing you are not in the UK as you mentioned $$ for the cost of the replacement?

[givoly]

19 hours ago, malc-c said:

When you plug the handset in to the synscan unit, with 12v powering the synscan unit, does the handset LCD illuminate and give any message such as "no response both axis" ?  - If so it the synscan unit that is more likely to have the issue.

Have a read of this long thread which covers repairs of several synscan motor board, and the same would apply to your unit.  As the Synscan unit lacks a built in USB port it will have the older 16F886's and full details on how to program replacements are contained within this thread.

I'm guessing you are not in the UK as you mentioned $$ for the cost of the replacement?

Thanks. Yes, I'm not in UK. It does not illuminate when powered. Totally dead. I know the mount controller is working (without the hand controller), since I can control it via Synscan WiFi adapter. I'll review the long thread you referred me to. Tx!

[malc-c]

1 hour ago, givoly said:

Thanks. Yes, I'm not in UK. It does not illuminate when powered. Totally dead. I know the mount controller is working (without the hand controller), since I can control it via Synscan WiFi adapter. I'll review the long thread you referred me to. Tx!

Not much point in you reading the long thread as it deals just with motor board repairs.  If the mount is functional then it does indeed look as if the hand controller is dead.  

If you remove the hand controller from the mount and connect a USB cable to the USB port on the handset, does this cause the LCD back light to light up, or the controller to boot.  If you get nothing with just the USB cable connected between the handset and computer then it would suggest that something on the power rails have gone.

The problem now is do you send it to a specialist repair centre who go down to component level and try an effect a repair, or simply purchase a replacement and be more careful with your wiring.  The problem with a repair is that the chances of the shop having a donor unit to swap over an damaged parts is slim, and you would still be charged even if it was deemed no repair possible.