Repairing Apple TV 1st Generation Power Light
Many Apple TV forums report a weakening or dimming of the white power indicator. This is due to premature failure of a white LED. It is possible to replace the LED and restore the power light.
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John Matheson
1 Hour
Very difficult
Apple TV 1st Generation
This repair requires either an extremely fine tipped soldering iron and extremely steady hands, or an SMD rework station.
This repair requires either an extremely fine tipped soldering iron and extremely steady hands, or an SMD rework station.
Desoldering Wick
Soldering Iron
T20 Torx Screwdriver
T8 Torx Screwdriver
Tweezers
White LED
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Installing Apple TV 1st Generation Logic Board
Remove the T8 Torx screw securing the metal shield to the case.
Remove the T8 Torx screw securing the metal shield to the case.
In order to remove the T8 screw, you must insert the screwdriver through the access hole in the metal shield, located near the PRAM battery.
In order to remove the T8 screw, you must insert the screwdriver through the access hole in the metal shield, located near the PRAM battery.
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Remove the T20 screw securing the metal shield to the case, located near the digital audio port.
Remove the T20 screw securing the metal shield to the case, located near the digital audio port.
Lift and remove the metal shield away from the upper case of the Apple TV.
Lift and remove the metal shield away from the upper case of the Apple TV.
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Use a pair of tweezers to pull the IR cable straight away from its socket on the logic board.
Use a pair of tweezers to pull the IR cable straight away from its socket on the logic board.
Make sure to pull the connector parallel to the face of the logic board, not straight up from its socket.
Make sure to pull the connector parallel to the face of the logic board, not straight up from its socket.
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Lift the left edge of the logic board (nearest the PRAM battery) upwards and slide it out of the case, away from the ports.
Lift the left edge of the logic board (nearest the PRAM battery) upwards and slide it out of the case, away from the ports.
Be careful to not damage the ports when sliding the logic board out of case.
Be careful to not damage the ports when sliding the logic board out of case.
Logic board remains.
Logic board remains.
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Carefully peel back the two copper sticky grounding strips near the LED module.
Carefully peel back the two copper sticky grounding strips near the LED module.
Swing the outer aluminium case up and carefully slide it towards the connector side of the logic board until it comes off. Remove the two Phillips #0 screws securing the LED module.
Swing the outer aluminium case up and carefully slide it towards the connector side of the logic board until it comes off. Remove the two Phillips #0 screws securing the LED module.
Carefully unplug the module from the logic board to make it easier to work on, and remove it from the case.
Carefully unplug the module from the logic board to make it easier to work on, and remove it from the case.
There are two miniature SMD LEDs, one is clear and one is yellow. Unsolder the yellow coloured LED, which is actually the white one - the clear SMD LED is amber when on. Replace with another high intensity SMD LED. I used a blue one to match my other hi-fi components. The anode (+) is marked on the circuit board and is away from the infrared receiver side. Reassemble is a simple reversal being sure to remember to reverse every step.
There are two miniature SMD LEDs, one is clear and one is yellow. Unsolder the yellow coloured LED, which is actually the white one - the clear SMD LED is amber when on. Replace with another high intensity SMD LED. I used a blue one to match my other hi-fi components. The anode (+) is marked on the circuit board and is away from the infrared receiver side. Reassemble is a simple reversal being sure to remember to reverse every step.
SMD LEDs are difficult to find as a spare part. I carefully ground down a normal sized LED with a Dremil until it would fit. The only source of SMD LEDs I could find was LED bar lights in various colours such as these: <a href="http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=ZD0450&CATID=33&form=CAT&SUBCATID=879" rel="nofollow" title="http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=ZD0450&CATID=33&form=CAT&SUBCATID=879">http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp...</a>
SMD LEDs are difficult to find as a spare part. I carefully ground down a normal sized LED with a Dremil until it would fit. The only source of SMD LEDs I could find was LED bar lights in various colours such as these: http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=ZD0450&CATID=33&form=CAT&SUBCATID=879
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.