I screwed up on falcon mobo

[saulk90]

Hey all,
New to the forums here, and just want to start out by saying that I'm a total f***ing idiot. I was trying to bridge the top point (closest to fan connection) and the middle point of D3A1 to see how loud the fans would be running at 12v, when the lead I was using on the top point slipped and shorted out between the top and bottom points (I heard a nice little pop and saw a small spark). I immediately got a 3 flashing ring error, and the system turned off and wouldn't turn back on. So I was frantically checking everything to see if I could find anything wrong, and eventually figured out (after checking the error code) that the power brick faulted. So I unplugged that, let it reset, plugged it in, and the system would turn on for a few seconds and the fans would run at a low speed for a half a second then run full blast for a second, then the system would shut down and flash two red lights. Checked the code, 0011. So my idiot self decides to try to bridge the top and middle pins on D3A1 again as I started the system up. So I guess something else went wrong because now I hit the power button and the fans will twitch and then nothing but 3 red lights. Its giving a 0001 code which apparently has to do with the power supply, but nothing is wrong with it. So I ended up testing D3A1 (on the board) with a DMM on a diode setting and I get continuity between the top and middle points both ways and nothing between middle and bottom both ways, and top and bottom both ways. I found another one like it on the board, D8B2 (has A6 and a sideways 9/6 on the top) and tested it and only got continuity FROM (+side lead) the bottom point TO (-side lead) the middle point, and nothing else.

So I guess my questions are; is this repairable? Can I just buy D3A1 online and swap it out? What is it even? Diode? Transistor? How do I know which one to get? Is it even worth it?

(FYI) I'm guessing I have the Falcon MoBo, judging by the power plug on the console.

[bidomo]

Soldering or bridging in a running console? at least that's what I got from the reading, that's nasty sh!t

[xboxbreaker]

You probably would have done less damage with a sledgehammer man. Soldering while it was on?! Why were you doing the 12v mod on a falcon? Did it allready have an RROD previously?

The first error (0011) was could have been caused by you having the console on while you were busy shorting points without the fan shroud causing an overheat (2RROD), or you could have damaged the temp sensor, or if you have an xclamp mod, the heatsinks are too tight/loose/no paste etc.

Second error, you have shorted a power rail and probably blew one or more of the mosfets in the process.

It probably is fixable, but I doubt you are the man to do it after that tale. :-P

[bidomo]

It probably is fixable, but I doubt you are the man to do it after that tale. :-P

You should seriously think about giving away your username to him, fits him xd

[xboxbreaker]

Haha yeah. I realise from looking again, he wasn't soldering. But its still bad!
Funny you should mention that though, my Xenon JTAG finally croaked it yesterday, through no fault of my own! I think Skyrim killed it. 

[bidomo]

Funny you should mention that though, my Xenon JTAG finally croaked it yesterday, through no fault of my own! I think Skyrim killed it. 

Arrow to the knee perhaps...

[Xb0xGuru]

Funny you should mention that though, my Xenon JTAG finally croaked it yesterday, through no fault of my own! I think Skyrim killed it. 

Arrow to the knee perhaps...

I totally missed that meme at the time.

Ironically I was too busy playing the game

[saulk90]

Soldering while it was on?! Why were you doing the 12v mod on a falcon? Did it allready have an RROD previously?

Not soldering, just bridging the two points with DMM leads hooked together at one end. One of the tips was broken so it slipped and shorted the points. I was doing the mod so that I would never have the RRoD in the future. And no it didn't have it before that I know of.

or you could have damaged the temp sensor, or if you have an xclamp mod, the heatsinks are too tight/loose/no paste etc.

Wheres the temp sensor? Any way to test that? No xclamp mod just yet, but I was going to do it. Again, as prevention, not because it had problems before.

Second error, you have shorted a power rail and probably blew one or more of the mosfets in the process.

Is there a way to test those with a DMM?

It probably is fixable, but I doubt you are the man to do it after that tale. :-P

 

[xboxbreaker]

Is there a way to test those with a DMM?

Yes, the common mode of failure is for the component to short across all pins, so check the continuity between the pins, and if it is very low or 0, it is probably that component. The problem with that is you can't be 100% without taking the part off to test it. If the short is in parallel with the component your testing, it can appear to be faulty when it is not.

First place to check would be the resistance between the 12V power pins on the power connector and ground to confirm you have a short. Then test the original mosfet you were shorting as you might have blown it. Then try testing the Q9XX mosfets down the right hand side of the board, Q9F1 is a common part to fail when the rail is shorted. I have 2 boxes that came back to life when I just cut the pins off it (I will replace them eventually!), but I do not recommend that unless you are sure it is that component!