Spooky2 XM signal generator dead.

[fuzzy4]

Hi,
Was working fine, but now dead, tried different power supply and still the same.
No noticeable marks on the circuit board.
The only possible issue I can think of, was that I wasn't using the switch on the unit to turn it on/off, I was using the wall socket (For a few months), because I thought the switch was getting a bit loose.
What info do you need to try and troubleshoot?
TIA

[stj]

you may have answered your own question.
lets investigate the switch, how it connects and how it's mounted.

[fuzzy4]

Thanks, here's a picture.

[stj]

external power - so is the psu good?
if it is, shoe a picture of the bottom of the board so i can see the tracks from the power inlet

[stj]

is it this?
https://www.spooky2.com/newmodel/

[fuzzy4]

Bought standard external psu (5v 2A) brand new and tested with multimeter, so pretty sure it's good.
Yes, that's it.

[stj]

thats very clear tracks
so plug your psu in and meter the voltage at the switch pins to see if it switches properly.
you can get ground from the bnc sockets

[fuzzy4]

From top to bottom, pins 1, 4 & 5 are fluctuating, 2 & 3 are ~5v

Thanks

[stj]

now i'm confused, the switch only has 3 pins unless your counting the mounting lugs
but it sounds like it's powered,
so we need a higher resolution pic of the topside so i can read chip numbers

[R_J]

That voltage would be correct with the switch in the OFF position, Change the switch to the ON position and you should have +5v on your so called 3 &4 pins
The pins 1 and 4 are just the switch mounting and are not part of the spdt switch contacts

[fuzzy4]

Ok, changed switch to ON and I'm getting a fluctuating reading on pin 3. (Yellow arrow)

[stj]

put some solder across the switch contacts to force it on.
if that works we just need to find a switch with the same pin spacing

[fuzzy4]

"put some solder across the switch contacts", can you explain please?

[stj]

join the yellow and orange arrows in RJ's picture

[fuzzy4]

Yes that worked, it powers up.

[CapLeaker]

Take that switch off the board, take it apart, clean it and reassemble. Then test it before you put it back on the board.

[fuzzy4]

Not confident in doing that, is it a bad idea to permanently connect the two terminals, so that it's always on?

[stj]

no problem with that at all

[sam_sam_sam]

Not confident in doing that, is it a bad idea to permanently connect the two terminals, so that it's always on?

Or just put an external switch and be done with it if you can find the exact replacement switch

[fuzzy4]

So if I wanted to replace the switch, it has to be like-for-like?
Why?