My WRT54G blows its power adapter!

Hi,

I have a WRT54G router version 3.1. I have flashed it with firmware
DD-WRT v21a. Everything was working great for a month. I have NOT yet
changed the default settings in the DD-WRT firmware.

The Linksys adapter blew....then I replaced it with another which blew
too. I have clean power which comes through a UPS and Stablilzer and
also have other computer components on that line which work great.

Anything to do with the firmware change? Can I flash my firmware back
to the original LinkSys firmware without any problem? Has anyone faced
a similar problem?

Thanks in advance.

Derek

(E-Mail Removed) said the following on 12/15/2005 9:01:
> Hi,
>
> I have a WRT54G router version 3.1. I have flashed it with firmware
> DD-WRT v21a. Everything was working great for a month. I have NOT yet
> changed the default settings in the DD-WRT firmware.
>
> The Linksys adapter blew....then I replaced it with another which blew
> too. I have clean power which comes through a UPS and Stablilzer and
> also have other computer components on that line which work great.
>
> Anything to do with the firmware change? Can I flash my firmware back
> to the original LinkSys firmware without any problem? Has anyone faced
> a similar problem?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Derek
>

When you say "blew" I guess that means it got real hot, maybe some
smells and smoke and then stopped working? Then the same thing happened
again?

Firmware isn't the cause. You've got an electrical short in the router
and it may be toasted.

Lance
*****

On 15 Dec 2005 09:01:21 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>I have a WRT54G router version 3.1. I have flashed it with firmware
>DD-WRT v21a. Everything was working great for a month. I have NOT yet
>changed the default settings in the DD-WRT firmware.

I now have about 10ea WRT54G and WRT54GS routers at customers running
DD-WRT v2.3. No power adapter failures at all.

>The Linksys adapter blew....then I replaced it with another which blew
>too. I have clean power which comes through a UPS and Stablilzer and
>also have other computer components on that line which work great.
>
>Anything to do with the firmware change? Can I flash my firmware back
>to the original LinkSys firmware without any problem? Has anyone faced
>a similar problem?

There's no connection between the internal power supply and the
firmware. The WRT54G has no software controlled power managment.
Leave DD-WRT running.

I have had blown adapters on other network devices for assorted
reasons. I'll list a few and you see if they're applicable.

1. Input electrolytic filter capacitor leaky and causes both the
capacitor and the power adapter to overheat. Officially, you should
measure the current to see if it's in spec, but it's just as easy to
just check if the wall wart is getting hot. If hot, it's probably
working hard heating up something inside the router. Look at the V3.1
inside photo at:
http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.p...showpage&pid=6
The power supply is in the upper left corner of the unit. You don't
have to open the box. Just put your hand over the area. If it's hot,
it needs fixing.

2. I've seen UPS backups blow up electronics instead of protecting
them. Usually, it's an out of phase switching spike when the UPS
switches to/from backup power. I was blowing up hardware at one
customers location until I ripped out the UPS and replaced it with a
better one. I don't recall the make and model of the one that screwed
up. I think (not sure) is as a cheapo TripLite or Belkin. The
replacement APC SmartUPS something was much better.

Also, the power adapter should be 12VDC 1000ma. Hopefully, you're
replacing it with a similar adapter. Actually, the WRT54G can use
anything that works between about 5VDC and 18VDC as it has a very wide
range switching regulator.





--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Not blow as explosion...just stopped working. I should have used the
right term

Router is working fine with a new power adapter but I dont know how
long that will last.

What do u think?

Thanks again!

I wanted to know whether I can now Re-flash my router with the official
Linksys firmware without any problems?

On 15 Dec 2005 23:13:07 -0800, "(E-Mail Removed)"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I wanted to know whether I can now Re-flash my router with the official
>Linksys firmware without any problems?

Sure. I've gone back and forth a few times running comparisons. The
trick is to WAIT almost forever when it's done BEFORE hitting the
[continue] button. Just go away for 10 minutes and do something else.
If you hit it too early, the flash gets trashed. Also, reset to
defaults BEFORE you flash. See:

http://wrt-wiki.bsr-clan.de/index.ph...T54G.2FGL.2FGS
for instructions. Read and follow or you will end up with a brick
(like I've done twice when I was too much in a hurry).

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Here's my $0.02 worth on the Power Supplies/adapters! If you have
"Modded" your WRT54G to put out more power, then it has to "USE" more
power. Linksys has regulated the rf power output of the stock WRT54G
and like most companies, is only giving you a power supply that
supplies the NECESSARY juice to power the unit at factory
specifications. So, the solution would be to upgrade to a larger
amp-hour capacity power supply unit if you have increased the unit's
output substantially! A recent trip to my favorite Radio Shack and an
overheard conversation from the clerk regarding how many replacement
supplies they had sold to WRG54G owners astonished me! Over 10 in a
couple of weeks!
Obviously, the "scientific" method would dictate that the electrical
current used by the WRT54G should be measured at the performance level
(output) that you intend to operate at, then buy the appropriate
aftermarket power supply. The next question that I have is: How many
WRT54G units have failed due to the increase in rf output, which was
not probably in their engineering standards?


(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a WRT54G router version 3.1. I have flashed it with firmware
> DD-WRT v21a. Everything was working great for a month. I have NOT yet
> changed the default settings in the DD-WRT firmware.
>
> The Linksys adapter blew....then I replaced it with another which blew
> too. I have clean power which comes through a UPS and Stablilzer and
> also have other computer components on that line which work great.
>
> Anything to do with the firmware change? Can I flash my firmware back
> to the original LinkSys firmware without any problem? Has anyone faced
> a similar problem?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Derek

"SteveB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Here's my $0.02 worth on the Power Supplies/adapters! If you have
>"Modded" your WRT54G to put out more power, then it has to "USE" more
>power.

IIRC, there's more than enough margin on the power supply. It's rated
at 12W, and it only draws around 5-ish.

>So, the solution would be to upgrade to a larger
>amp-hour capacity power supply unit if you have increased the unit's
>output substantially!

Amp-hour capacity? While you might have cranked up the output power
to 20 dBm, that's only 100mW, and even at horrible efficiencies, your
power supply is only going to draw a few hundred extra mW...

I've still got my test harness, and I've still got one more WRT54G V4
in stock, maybe I'll try it some day...