DIY Series 58: Toilet Cistern Overflow Pipe Replacement

Toilet Cistern Overflow Pipe Replacement

Symptoms:

• Water keeps flowing out from overflow outlet at the bottom of the cistern

Findings:

• The overflow pipe having signs of cracks

Photos:

1. Toilet Cistern (water tank)
2. Turn anti-clockwise to remove flushing push button
3. Open the cover to see inside the cistern
4. Found crack on the overflow pipe
5. Turn-off the water inlet valve & disconnect the flexible hose
6. Identify the location of the cistern bolts (left & right)
7. Remove the nut (left) from the bottom of the cistern
8. Remove the nut (right) from the bottom of the cistern
9. Keep the 2 nuts removed from the cistern
10. Remove the cistern from the toilet bowl base
11. Place the cistern on the floor
12. Remove the old overflow pipe from the cistern
13. Crack found on the old overflow pipe
14. Replace with the new overflow pipe and assemble everything back to its original condition

Tools required:

• Plier / Spanner

Cost involved:

• Overflow Pipe = US$1.80

DIY Series 57: Samsung WA88V4 Washing Machine Control Board Malfunction

Samsung WA88V4 Washing Machine Control Board Malfunction

Symptoms:

• Control Panel occasionally unable to work when the button was pressed

Findings:

• The control board was aging, and the insulation layer changed from clear colour to brown colour
• Suspected some components were broken due to aging

Photos:

1. Samsung Washing Machine WA88V4
2. Remove 2 screws on the top cover of control panel
3. Flip the control panel and remove 4 screws on it
4. The old Control Board suspected was broken
5. Replace with new Control Board
6. Power ON and it is now working again

Tools required:

• Screwdriver

Cost involved:

• WA88V4 Control Board = US$13

DIY Series 56: Fixing Alpha Vannus Luna 5B/56 BLDC Ceiling Fan

Alpha Vannus Luna 5B/56 BLDC Ceiling Fan

Specifications:

Symptoms:

• The ceiling fan is not rotating when Power ON via remote control
• Softer sound from buzzer occasionally when you press any button on the remote control

Findings:

• Burnt mark at the PCB module housing near 220uF/25V capacitor
• There are 3 x 200 Ohm SMD resistors mounted at the bottom of 220uF/25V capacitor (mounted it to the 2 terminals of the capacitor), suspect it is small defect fixed by maker before ship-out.

Photos:

1. Board Module taken from Alpha Ceiling Fan
2. PCB Board with the malfunction 220uF/25V Capacitor
3. Desoldered the capacitor and test it with multimeter. Reading: 75uF instead of 220uF
4. Replaced with new 220uF/50V capacitor (compatible, as long as same capacitance but at higher voltage spec, I do not have 220uF/25V capacitor)

Videos:

1. Board Module during testing, with direct L/N/GND connection to 240V power. The buzzer sound of RF remote control sometimes very soft, especially during initial power ON.
2. Alpha Ceiling Fan is working fine after fixing done (only replaced broken 220uF capacitor)  

Tools required:

• Screwdriver, multimeter, soldering tools

Cost involved:

• 220uF/50V Capacitor = US$0.05

Savings:

• New PCB Board Module = US$18

DIY Series 55: Car Radio (1 DIN 12V with 2 USB Ports)

Car Radio module spoilt, need to get replacement module. Sourcing online will be cheaper compared to get installation done at car accessories shop.

Original : Clarion 1 DIN 12V (with CD Player)
New      : Ekleva 1 DIN 12V (with 2 USB Ports, TF Port, Bluetooth, AUX, IR Remote)

Just get a simple model to replace, as long as able to listen to the radio channels.
Of course, with additional USB Port is a plus.

Tools required:

• Screwdriver, car panel removal tools

Cost involved:

• Ekleva Car Radio (1 DIN 12V) = US$15 ~ US$16
• Installation: Free

Photos:

• Change the gear to "L" to ease the whole process

• Use the removal tool to remove the base cover

• Remove the base cover

• Unscrew 2 screws

• Use the removal tool to remove the panel cover

• Remove the panel cover

• Unscrew 4 screws

• Disconnect the antenna connector and the wiring connectors

• Take out the radio module from the slot

• Old radio module (Clarion)

• Unscrew 4 screws to dismantle the radio module from the holder

• Get ready the new module (Ekleva)

• Identify the antenna connector and the wiring connectors
• The wiring connectors are having different shape, thus not to worry of wrong connections

• Wiring information of the connectors

• The new radio module is having different screw holes and different location, you will need to get suitable new screws (not provided)
• Get the 2 new screws to secure the new Radio module into the holder and install it accordingly

• Turn the gear knob back to "P" Mode

• Start the engine to test the new car radio module