CSR Elite - power brick was dead - now fine :)

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kondor999

kondor999

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UPDATE: Working! It was just a bad power brick. Went and got a universal that could do 24v/5a and it turned right on. Too bad it cost $75 but it'll do until Fanatec sends a replacement.

Haven't had a chance to play with it much - I need to read the manual on how to set it up properly for Forza 4 and GT5 (right now the rotation settings are all wrong) but the FFB is there for sure.
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Got my CSR-E yesterday, plugged everything in, and...nothing.

No light on the power brick, power button on wheel does nothing. All connections triple-checked, tried multiple known good outlets - all the usual troubleshooting tests.
 
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Do you have another power cord that fits the power brick ( its a common cord for radios, laptop power bricks, etc) Just wondering if the power cord feeding the brick is defective. If its not the cord the brick is faulty.....not the wheel itself. The green led on the brick should light up if it's receiving power and that would only not happen if the cord was bad or something has gone wrong inside the brick itself.
 
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kondor999
This is my first Fanatec product, and I am very concerned because I have yet to hear anything positive about their customer service if something goes wrong.
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I have contacted Fanatec support several times and they always replied within one week except once, often within 24 hours.

Once I forwarded the same mail after one week and asked if they missed my previous mail.
They replied on the second mail.

Send the mail to e-support@fanatec.com.
I have seen in forums that people tried to contact Fanatec other ways but that doesn't seem
to work.
 
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Yes, I tried a known good cable from the wall to the brick, and still no light.

Thanks SO MUCH for that info about the light. I thought it was supposed to light up. So, it's definitely the brick (made in China, of course!).

I already sent an email to the support address you mentioned. Sounds like they need to overnight me a new brick. Or, if I can find an equivalent (Model FY2405000), I can take care of it myself until they do. I just don't want to take a chance on burning out the wheel (so I'd only ever use the exact same model number with same amp/voltage/polarity).

I appreciate the fast responses guys, I really do. I don't mind telling you that I was/am really worried. My wife gave me Hell about paying $540 for a "toy", and when she saw it didn't even turn on...well - you can imagine :nervous:

That's good to hear about their response time. I followed their instructions exactly and included the pdf from my order. If they give me good service, I will be the first to post it up here and declare my worries null and void. I certainly hope that's what I will be doing very soon.
 
Oh Dear...

Yes, I've seen a lot of similar complaints. Like I said, I ordered with more trepidation than usual, and it just feels very bad to join the ranks of other disappointed Fanatec customers. Hopefully they will make it right, and quickly. In the meantime, I'm going to try and find this exact model of power brick online. Looks like I might need a spare anyway, given it's rather suspect quality.

bladezzz
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?p=6461922#post6461922
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kondor999
Oh Dear...

Yes, I've seen a lot of similar complaints. Like I said, I ordered with more trepidation than usual, and it just feels very bad to join the ranks of other disappointed Fanatec customers. Hopefully they will make it right, and quickly. In the meantime, I'm going to try and find this exact model of power brick online. Looks like I might need a spare anyway, given it's rather suspect quality.
Click to expand...

In the meantime I've ordered a G25/27 adapter, I think that will arrive sooner than the problem-fix because they'll make money..
I've also had multiple different wheels but never had to wait this long on replies for service and totally agree with you that in this time and age a company cannot afford to do that.

Fanatec is working on making support better (according the site) and if I had the room to put spare-parts on shelf I defenitly would put down an application to do that for my country, to bad I don't have the space...

Lets just hope everything will be fixed for all the waiting ones :sly:
 
kondor999, no offence but I'd like to suggest something. Kinda off-topic, tho.

Writing, saying or doing things right away when something made you angry is a pretty bad idea. It's always best to wait a few minutes or even until the next day, think about everything and make a decision when you're not angry anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I can't do that all the time either - but it actually helps a lot. Both yourself and the people you have to deal with. :)
 
in the meantime to try out your wheel just locate your local electronics store and show them your brick - they should be able to sell you a replacement.
it would need to have an output of 24 volts d.c. - with a capacity of 5 amps or higher.
the polarity needs to be positive at the center pin
 
I'm not really angry, but I am worried. I was warned by many people that this sort of thing is depressingly common with Fanatec equipment, and it seems like my worst fears are being realized.

I'll update and revise the thread as things happen. In the meantime, I took your advice, and deleted my contentious ramblings until I figure out what's going to happen.

I'm hoping to be able to post about an overall excellent experience, but that remains to be seen. In the meantime, if you're considering a CSR-E, you might want to see what happens with mine. Or not. I'm just trying to be helpful by providing an A-Z account of what really happens when something goes wrong, not launch into an anti-Fanatec diatribe.

Mr. S
kondor999, no offence but I'd like to suggest something. Kinda off-topic, tho.

Writing, saying or doing things right away when something made you angry is a pretty bad idea. It's always best to wait a few minutes or even until the next day, think about everything and make a decision when you're not angry anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I can't do that all the time either - but it actually helps a lot. Both yourself and the people you have to deal with. :)
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That's a good idea, and thanks for the tech specs. Very helpful!

I googled "FY2405000" and found what looks like an identical brick on ebay, although there are some small differences (uses a different cord for instance).

Can you recommend a place in the USA that would sell power bricks? My top priority is not to harm the wheel. It's gorgeous, by the way :)

novadave
in the meantime to try out your wheel just locate your local electronics store and show them your brick - they should be able to sell you a replacement.
it would need to have an output of 24 volts d.c. - with a capacity of 5 amps or higher.
the polarity needs to be positive at the center pin
Click to expand...
 
kondor999
That's a good idea, and thanks for the tech specs. Very helpful!

I googled "FY2405000" and found what looks like an identical brick on ebay, although there are some small differences (uses a different cord for instance).

Can you recommend a place in the USA that would sell power bricks? My top priority is not to harm the wheel. It's gorgeous, by the way :)
Click to expand...

Hi.
in the usa i believe Radio Shack .
note - even if it does not have the same physical apperance what counts is the output specs - no less than 5 amp output
 
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You could ask an electrician in your city, one that runs his own store - way better than Home Depot etc. They should be able to sell you a matching brick or tell you where to get one. You want the exact same thing, after all. :)
 
kondor999
That's a good idea, and thanks for the tech specs. Very helpful!

I googled "FY2405000" and found what looks like an identical brick on ebay, although there are some small differences (uses a different cord for instance).

Can you recommend a place in the USA that would sell power bricks? My top priority is not to harm the wheel. It's gorgeous, by the way :)
Click to expand...

i did some research and the original power supply is rated at 120 watts - that would give it a 4.1 amp output at the 24v spec.
here is a link to radioshack for the proper brick - it comes with all the plugs you need and is an exact replacement.

http://radioshack.lenmar.com/RS/PS.aspx?Model=LAC120&OEM=Lenmar&CatID=31&DID=
 
kondor999
I'm not really angry, but I am worried. I was warned by many people that this sort of thing is depressingly common with Fanatec equipment, and it seems like my worst fears are being realized.

I'll update and revise the thread as things happen. In the meantime, I took your advice, and deleted my contentious ramblings until I figure out what's going to happen.

I'm hoping to be able to post about an overall excellent experience, but that remains to be seen. In the meantime, if you're considering a CSR-E, you might want to see what happens with mine. Or not. I'm just trying to be helpful by providing an A-Z account of what really happens when something goes wrong, not launch into an anti-Fanatec diatribe.
Click to expand...

The thing is though, if this is a faulty PSU, which it sounds like it is then it's not really Fanatecs fault. These PSU's will be used by lots of companies to power all sorts of products. The failure is at the suppliers QA process. They failed to spot a faulty product before it left their factory on it's way to your CSR Elite box. It could have just as easily ended up in a laptop, printer, scanner, etc. I can guarantee that no company is going to be checking every PSU they supply for use with their equipment. That's the job of the PSU manufacturers QA department.
 
PzR Slim
The thing is though, if this is a faulty PSU, which it sounds like it is then it's not really Fanatecs fault. These PSU's will be used by lots of companies to power all sorts of products. The failure is at the suppliers QA process. They failed to spot a faulty product before it left their factory on it's way to your CSR Elite box. It could have just as easily ended up in a laptop, printer, scanner, etc. I can guarantee that no company is going to be checking every PSU they supply for use with their equipment. That's the job of the PSU manufacturers QA department.
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True - but it is Fanatec who has chosen a supplier with a fairly high failure rate.
there are companys that will test 1 in 10 on the assembly line and others that test 1 in 100.
the difference is in the price to often enough.
a question of profit over quality
 
novadave
True - but it is Fanatec who has chosen a supplier with a fairly high failure rate.
there are companys that will test 1 in 10 on the assembly line and others that test 1 in 100.
the difference is in the price to often enough.
a question of profit over quality
Click to expand...

I've not heard of loads of these PSU's failing so I'm not sure where you get the 'high failure rate'.
 
PzR Slim
I've not heard of loads of these PSU's failing so I'm not sure where you get the 'high failure rate'.
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If I am not mistaken about a year ago Fanatec GT2, GT3, and Carrera wheel owners on various sim forums stated they were experiencing PSU failures.

Quality Control: Personally I have had one Carrera wheel fail, and one GT3 V.2 Wheel fail, over a 6 month period. Both required warranty replacement, knock on wood, my CSPs have been fine to date.

In addition to that, one of the wheels that I purchased from Fanatec shipped from the factory with an integral internal part missing.

They make a great product, but they do seem to have some QC-related issues at the factory. Their customer support/service does seem to have greatly improved in the last few months (based on my experience) not speaking for others.

You can also contact their customer service via Skype within a specific 2 hour window M to F, they have that info on their website. They speak English too. If you call them, make sure you email them before-hand with details as-per their instructions on Fanatec web page, it will make the call go easier.
 
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Working! It was just a bad power brick. Went and got a universal that could do 24v/5a and it turned right on. Too bad it cost $75 but it'll do until Fanatec sends a replacement.

Haven't had a chance to play with it much - I need to read the manual on how to set it up properly for Forza 4 and GT5 (right now the rotation settings are all wrong) but the FFB is there for sure.
 
Thanks so much guys. Notice I deleted my idiotic anti-Fanatec rant. I'm sorry - the ER where I work has been getting KILLED ever since our big county hospital effectively went out of the ER business. I haven't been getting enough rest, and I was *really* looking forward to this wheel.

Check out my 1st impressions in the other thread I started. The short version:

Best. Wheel. Ever.
 

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