Help - PSR E-232 shutting down

[Alec]

My E-232 323 suddenly won't stay on. When it powers up (battery or mains) it brings up the Yamaha logo, then turns off after less than a second.
If I hold the power button down, it goes to GrandPno and the key map registers key presses but there's no sound. When I release the power button, it turns off.

However, it works fine when headphones are plugged in. As soon as they are unplugged, it turns off.

This may have started happening after one of the kids left an icy pole on the keys but one report says it was already doing it.

Does anyone have any tips? Is it OK to undo the screws underneath and open it up?

[Toril S]

Have you tried a sort reset by holding down the rightmost white key while powering on?

[Alec]

Thanks, I didn't know about that.

It doesn't work though. The screen flashes up with Clr Backup but turns off again.

[SciNote]

Since it works with the headphones plugged in, but then shuts down when you unplug the headphones, it sounds like it could be something with the built-in amp and speaker system.  For example, there could be a shorted speaker, or something wrong with the amp, so that when you unplug the headphones and the keyboard tries to use the built-in amp and speakers, it shuts down.  It could even be a bad connection in the headphone jack causing a similar problem.

Of course, this is just a guess, as I am not a technician -- however, I do have some basic electronics experience.  I would certainly see if other people have any other ideas before attempting to open up the keyboard or taking it to a technician.

By the way, I don't believe there is a Yamaha model PSR-E232.  Could it be the PSR-E233?

[Alec]

Good pickup - it's a 323. I corrected the original post.

Thanks for the suggestion about the amp/speaker/jack.

It does make it's normal pop sound when it turns off.

[overover]

Welcome to the PSR Tutorial Forum, Alec!

Make sure that the dedicated power adapter is used. There could also be a defect in the adapter. I therefore recommend having the power adapter checked by a specialist or, if available, using another, equivalent adapter


Best regards,
Chris .

[Alec]

If the problem still happens when running on batteries, would that rule out the adaptor as the cause?

[Alec]

Changing the adaptor worked! But only for a little while. Now it shuts down the same regardless which adaptor is used. The replacement is the same voltage and polarity. The amperage is higher but that shouldn't matter.
There is also a burning smell from the right speaker. I don't recall smelling that before. There was dust on the speakers when we blew into them.

For now we've plugged a speaker into the headphone jack and that works, but it would be nice to fix it.

[SciNote]

The idea of the power adapter crossed my mind, as well, but then I remembered you said it did the same thing even when running on batteries.  So, yeah, that generally rules out the power adapter.  However, I am a bit surprised that a different power adapter worked, even briefly.  With that burning smell you mentioned coming from the speaker, that's really pointing back to a shorted speaker or amplifier problem, in my estimation.  It seems like a short is causing the keyboard to pull too much current -- so much that it exceeds the power capabilities of the AC adapter or batteries -- so that the keyboard then shuts down.  The fact that you said the replacement adapter is rated for a higher amperage may explain why it worked briefly.

It is possible that this potential excessive current draw has damaged both of those AC adapters, so I would check them before using them in any other device.  It is also possible that the AC adapters have a protection circuit in them to shut down when they are overloaded, so it may also be the case that they are fine.  They would have to be tested under load conditions, because a digital voltmeter draws very little current, so they could read the proper voltage when you just hook them up to the volt meter, but then not work properly when you actually try to power a device with them.

[Alec]

Thanks for the comprehensive feedback everyone!

I spoke to a local tech who suggested something similar, that it was possibly the speaker amp. He said to try opening it up and check if anything was getting hot when power was supplied.
If I can't get any further with it, I may take it to him.