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Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Smartbar 2 Will Not Power On

Symptoms

The user interface (UI) of the SmartBar 2 is dark, and the LED indicators are off. 

Explanation of Issue

The SmartBar 2 is powered from an external source, either by being hard-wired to that source or via a cable with connector. If the power source for the Smartbar 2 has been confirmed to have adequate voltage, but the bar will still not power on, the SmartBar most likely either has a blown fuse or a dead power supply.

Checking the Fuse

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The information in this post is provided to assist in troubleshooting. Perform work at your own risk. ENSURE ANY POWER FROM DEVICES HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED BEFORE SERVICING ANY EQUIPMENT. If you do not feel comfortable performing the work, please contact us or your local service center. Be aware that ETC and its Affiliates are not responsible for any damage or injury caused by service of our products by anyone other than us or our authorized service providers, and such damage is excluded from the product’s warranty.

  1. Remove the back cover of the SmartBar. This can be done by removing all the screws on the top & bottom of the SmartBar.
  2. With the back cover removed, locate F1 on the power supply board, located behind the UI:
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  3. Set a digital multimeter for Ohms (Ω) and place the lead the connection points on opposite sides of F1.
  4. If the meter reads 0Ω, the fuse is good. If it reads OL, this means the fuse is bad and should be replaced.
  5. The fuse must be replaced by removing the board soldering in a new one. The ETC part number for this fuse is F391-F; it is a 0.5A 250v PCB fuse. This can be ordered from any ETC dealer. If you are not comfortable performing this repair, you can use the same link to look for an Authorized Service Provider to do it for you.

Replacing the Power Supply

If the fuse is good but the UI still doesn't power on, this likely indicates an issue with the power supply itself. Its part number is 7543B5701, and it can be replaced by following the steps below:

  1. Remove the back of the Smartbar and disconnect the harness on the left-hand edge fo the circuit board.
  2. Remove the power supply PCB from the bar and secure the new one in its place.
  3. Reconnect harness, reassemble the bar, and test with power