Samsung Home Theatre "Protection Error"

Hi. I have the same problem - PROTECTION and then shut down. But this problem appears only on DivX disks. Please help me to fix this problem!

Hi. I have the same problem - PROTECTION and then shut down. But this problem appears only on DivX disks. Please help me to fix this problem!

I have a Blu Ray Samsung HTB-H4500R. This player worked for a few minutes before showing Protection message. Fan and inside cleared of all dust, but no improvement, even with lid off. Also no signs of components getting hot, or speaker wiring problems. Eventually fault cleared by removing front control panel, disconnecting the one ribbon cable and brush cleaning the reverse side of board with alcohol (where there were deposits of a sticky nature which were there from manufacture). Dust was attracted to these deposits causing a malfunction of possibly high impedance circuitry. The clue was that I had read elsewhere about disconnecting this panel on other Samsung Blu Ray players which cleared the fault and using the remote control for operation. I think the sticky stuff was used on screws going into plastic, and may have migrated with time.

However, I started to receive the same error message again. Further investigation of the main PC board showed evidence of a deterioration in what looked like solder flux on the underside of the board. This was washed using a brush and alcohol (methylated spirits - or maybe ethanol). If you place the board edge-on on some kitchen towel, you will see the offending material wash off. Using the board immediately after cleaning (even if it looks as though the alcohol has evaporated) will result in a protection error showing, but leaving the board to dry properly in a warm place for a few hours will enable the board to function correctly. Still working after days of use! One thing I also did was to give the spring mounted heat sink on the audio chips a little wiggle to ensure a good contact.
John Pearce

The fault has returned, and after obtaining a quote from my local Samsung repair centre of high, but unspecified cost, had another look after discovering the fault could be cleared for sometimes a short or long period by jarring the unit on the surface it stood on, and decided to look for dry joints. These were found on one of the two power semiconductors (attached to one of the heatsinks). These were made good together with the soldered connections immediately associated with these dry joints. Also remade soldered connections to the other power semiconductor and its nearby solder connections. Also checked soldered connections of the two 560 ohm wirewound resistors where there was evidence of slight heating damage in that area. The capacitor between these resistors could be subject to heat damage, but the capacitance of the component was correct. After re-assembly, the player was no longer giving fault errors and was mechanically stable. There is a design fault with the efficiency of heat dissipation from devices on this PC board since this kind of fault should not occur.

Previous attempts by cleaning the boards with alcohol simply appeared to clear the fault because the dry joints were disturbed.

John Pearce I have a Blu Ray Samsung HTB-H4500R. This player worked for a few minutes before showing Protection message. Fan and inside cleared of all dust, but no improvement, even with lid off. Also no signs of components getting hot, or speaker wiring problems. Eventually fault cleared by removing front control panel, disconnecting the one ribbon cable and brush cleaning the reverse side of board with alcohol (where there were deposits of a sticky nature which were there from manufacture). Dust was attracted to these deposits causing a malfunction of possibly high impedance circuitry. The clue was that I had read elsewhere about disconnecting this panel on other Samsung Blu Ray players which cleared the fault and using the remote control for operation. I think the sticky stuff was used on screws going into plastic, and may have migrated with time. However, I started to receive the same error message again. Further investigation of the main PC board showed evidence of a deterioration in what looked like solder flux on the underside of the board. This was washed using a brush and alcohol (methylated spirits - or maybe ethanol). If you place the board edge-on on some kitchen towel, you will see the offending material wash off. Using the board immediately after cleaning (even if it looks as though the alcohol has evaporated) will result in a protection error showing, but leaving the board to dry properly in a warm place for a few hours will enable the board to function correctly. Still working after days of use! One thing I also did was to give the spring mounted heat sink on the audio chips a little wiggle to ensure a good contact. John Pearce The fault has returned, and after obtaining a quote from my local Samsung repair centre of high, but unspecified cost, had another look after discovering the fault could be cleared for sometimes a short or long period by jarring the unit on the surface it stood on, and decided to look for dry joints. These were found on one of the two power semiconductors (attached to one of the heatsinks). These were made good together with the soldered connections immediately associated with these dry joints. Also remade soldered connections to the other power semiconductor and its nearby solder connections. Also checked soldered connections of the two 560 ohm wirewound resistors where there was evidence of slight heating damage in that area. The capacitor between these resistors could be subject to heat damage, but the capacitance of the component was correct. After re-assembly, the player was no longer giving fault errors and was mechanically stable. There is a design fault with the efficiency of heat dissipation from devices on this PC board since this kind of fault should not occur. Previous attempts by cleaning the boards with alcohol simply appeared to clear the fault because the dry joints were disturbed. John Pearce