I have an old Staples branded shredder. It appears to be stone cold dead. No power LED lights up, nothing.

My office tossed it in 2007 and I grabbed it because I suspected it might be easy to fix. Indeed it was - the main power rectifier was no good.

Here we are 17 years later and I suspect the RS807 (8A, 1000V) rectifier has failed again. I read 120V on the AC power pins but only 110V DC on the DC side. Am I correct that only a failed rectifier could cause that? I expected to see an AC voltage on the DC side but for whatever reason I don't.

Does it make sense to "upgrade" to a 10A rating or more? Or is it simply a matter of hours of wear?

 

I desoldered the rectifier and connected it directly to mains power. Still 110VDC on the DC side. That's bad, right?

I only ask because I've never seen one that seems to work - the diodes seem OK - but produces a low voltage.

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with the rectifier. the average of the rectified DC is only about 0.9 X the AC RMS voltage .

Les.

 

I have an old Staples branded shredder. It appears to be stone cold dead. No power LED lights up, nothing.

My office tossed it in 2007 and I grabbed it because I suspected it might be easy to fix. Indeed it was - the main power rectifier was no good.

Here we are 17 years later and I suspect the RS807 (8A, 1000V) rectifier has failed again. I read 120V on the AC power pins but only 110V DC on the DC side. Am I correct that only a failed rectifier could cause that? I expected to see an AC voltage on the DC side but for whatever reason I don't.

Does it make sense to "upgrade" to a 10A rating or more? Or is it simply a matter of hours of wear?

Have you measured the rectifier and it's faulty?, " short circuit?"

 

Also please send the model number so we may get the service manual or schematic diagram for help repair
And by the way, as long as there is a DC voltage, then the rectifier circuit is working and the problem is I think after, can you send photo for the power supply board?

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with the rectifier. the average of the rectified DC is only about 0.9 X the AC RMS voltage .

Les.

You’re right. I was mistakenly thinking I should see the ~170V you’d see on a filter capacitor. My error dawned on me in the shower just minutes after I ordered a new rectifier from Mouser. Alas, too late to cancel.

 

Also please send the model number so we may get the service manual or schematic diagram for help repair
And by the way, as long as there is a DC voltage, then the rectifier circuit is working and the problem is I think after, can you send photo for the power supply board?

I’ll work on more details tomorrow but I did get some pictures of the PCB after removing the (likely good) rectifier.

 

 

The shredder model number appears on the outer shell and is also on the PCB: SPL-1506X.

It looks like a repaired board goes for $85-100. That's a little steep for such an old shredder. I haven't priced new ones - maybe that will change my opinion.

Update: Looks like you can get a darn good shredder for under $150, and more like under $100 if you don't require a CD shredder. So unless I can pull a rabbit of a hat and fix this board, it's off to the dump.

How about bypassing all the fancy controls and just manually turn the motor on or off? That's basically how we use it anyway.

 

I re-installed the bridge, cleaned things up with a vacuum cleaner and reassembled it all, hoping a rabbit would jump out of the hat by itself. Not quite, but I discovered that setting the control switch to Reverse actually work. The power indicator lights up and the motor turns. On Auto the power light does not light and nothing happens when you push paper in. My recollection is that the green light is supposed to be on at all times on Auto.

Anyway, since the motor turns on Reverse, would there be any problem reversing the power leads to the motor? This would allow the shredder to work when manually setting the switch to Reverse. That functionality would save it from the dump.

I suspect the root problem could be that control switch but I don't think it can be easily replaced.

 

I re-installed the bridge, cleaned things up with a vacuum cleaner and reassembled it all, hoping a rabbit would jump out of the hat by itself. Not quite, but I discovered that setting the control switch to Reverse actually work. The power indicator lights up and the motor turns. On Auto the power light does not light and nothing happens when you push paper in. My recollection is that the green light is supposed to be on at all times on Auto.

Anyway, since the motor turns on Reverse, would there be any problem reversing the power leads to the motor? This would allow the shredder to work when manually setting the switch to Reverse. That functionality would save it from the dump.

I suspect the root problem could be that control switch but I don't think it can be easily replaced.

Motor rotate reverse?
How this is possible?, if everything on its nature on this machine?
Motor turn reverse normally with system?, not break something?,
How did you know it turn reverse?

 

Maybe the issue is mechanical now, not electrical problem
I found similar problem, just read and follow instructions from this technician from that website

https://www.justanswer.com/office-e...hredder-spl-1506x-just-quit-will-reverse.html

Also, can you chech the control Button so you be sure it give order the driver board to drive the motor on forward direction?

 

Motor rotate reverse?
How this is possible?, if everything on its nature on this machine?
Motor turn reverse normally with system?, not break something?,
How did you know it turn reverse?

This shredder has a feature where, if it becomes jammed, you can run the motor in reverse by moving the control slide switch to the Reverse position. This is the only function that is working on my shredder. I believe if I reverse the motor leads where they attach to the PCB, I will regain limited function. That'll be good enough.

 

Maybe the issue is mechanical now, not electrical problem
I found similar problem, just read and follow instructions from this technician from that website

https://www.justanswer.com/office-e...hredder-spl-1506x-just-quit-will-reverse.html

Also, can you chech the control Button so you be sure it give order the driver board to drive the motor on forward direction?

I will attempt to examine and clean the slide switch but I'm not optimistic I can do much with it. Maybe, if I can figure it out I can install a bypass switch.

 

I will attempt to examine and clean the slide switch but I'm not optimistic I can do much with it. Maybe, if I can figure it out I can install a bypass switch.

do you hear any noise when you put the switch on forward direction?

 

do you hear any noise when you put the switch on forward direction?

No, it has zero effect when moved from Off to Auto. The power indicator LED does not light and the motor does not run even if paper is inserted. The motor would not normally run unless paper is inserted to break an optical beam. I believe the power indicator remains lit continuously on Auto.

 

Have you checked that the micro switch which detects the paper being inserted is working ?
Les.

 

Have you checked that the micro switch which detects the paper being inserted is working ?
Les.

It’s optical, and no. I think the lack of the power-on indicator points to a different problem. I guess it wouldn’t be hard to see if there’s power at the sensor LED.