#63 - Shure ULX wireless microphone repair

This ULX2 transmitter with a classic SM58 head did not power up and had a burnt smell. The problem was traced to a tantalum capacitor that appeared to have caught fire, detached from the board and stuck between the battery terminals (what are the chances of that?) A proper disassembly procedure was shown.

[@miketoomey9190]

Thank you. All I needed to do was disassemble my mic to replace a cracked body. Your video made that easy. Repair is done!

[@TonyBarr99]

Another excellent repair video! Thank you. I always look forward to a new video from FeedbackLoop!

[@ricardo0349]

Great video, needed to take a Shure UT4 handheld apart to un-stick the mute button and your demo saved me a lot of time from making mistakes and or saving me money on having to send it out for repair . . A Big Thanks To You!!

[@DrFrank-xj9bc]

Great and straightforward video. Fun to watch & listen.

[@2ndinversion]

Your video was very helpful to me for disassembly. I replaced the power switch. Now after everything is soldered and reassembled the power doesn't come on. Led panel remains off. Before I replaced the switch, it was working, but couldn't be turned off. I've rechecked soldering connections, but can't find anything. do you have any suggestions? Thank you in advance

[@octavmandru9219]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos, especially the repair ones. Just a quick suggestion, inspired from one PS I am currently dealing with: I found the SMD components to be fixed in place with a red compound. I suppose this was used for holding in place the components in factory during the solder flow, but also serve well for stress relief in operation. Maybe you could use a drop of sealing wax, like the one used in the past for sealing letters. I am sure you can still find it in stationary shops

[@MrDubje]

You are a natural when it comes to music equipment repair! What are the chances that cap would land right between the battery contacts? I was however surprised that you didn't glue the replacement down, just to give it some rigidity. By the way, I think your theory is right. This must've been a cap with a manufacturing defect, causing it to short out prematurely and overheat/detach from the board, as evidenced by the missing pads. If it had just come loose due to vibration or shock, why are all the others still in place perfectly?

[@andymouse]

Nice looking unit.

[@xyritec3206]

Excellent repair!! I was wondering if it is possible to change the operating band of a Shure PGX1 body pack so that it can sync with a receiver of a different band (Receiver is a compatible PGX4)? Looking at the schematics, it seems like a simple replacement of the 1k ohm resistor to the respective band channel, however after doing so, it still wouldn't sync? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@twillministries]

Great video. Does anyone know how to disassemble a qlx-d? My battery compartment is broken and the part is only $6 but it seems to be quite different from any other shure mic in disassembly.

[@memoryroom6388]

Thank you!

[@arvindjoshi2436]

THANK YOU SO MUCH SIR FOR YOUR VELUBEL INFORMATION 🙏🙏

[@bhudevsharma4989]

Very good video

[@lexlanz3008]

Hi! What’s the common cause of a sm58 vhf that an audio can’t transmit to a receiver. There is a signal but audio from the mic won’t transmit ti the receiver. Any help, much appreciated. Thanks.

[@raholemac]

hi i have same transmitter is power on but the screen not display whare is problem ? please.

[@litonaktherbarbhuiya8565]

tnks

[@danielboynton3907]

Thanks for the disassembly info. My ulx2 works fine but won't shut off with switch. Display reads P O L. Can you help?

[@danielboynton3907]

I found it. PoL stands for power lock. To unlock hold the set button down and hold the mode button for 4 seconds.

[@radioroger1683]

AH! So that's how the front plastic window comes off, The rubber MODE/SET buttons are caved in and needed to pop them out.........Thanks

[@kristelherrera8271]

Hi I have a Shure beta 58A with ULXS4 transmitter and it seems like my unit is not picking up the signal and the signal and battery indicators on LED screen is blinking with ticking sound, I was wondering if anyone can help me with this, or how to reset the unit?

[@robbinkeenan417]

Thank you for this! Worked like a charm. Now, do you have a source for replacement bits? Specifically the on off switch broke one of its ears ☹️

[@feedback-loop]

do you mean this part? www.fullcompass.com/prod/071688-shure-65a8472-power-mute-button-for-lx2-t2-ut2

[@WaltonPete]

I wonder if the cap actually fell off due to shock, perhaps someone dropped the mic! When it lodged between the battery contacts it obviously shorted. I think it would have been wise to glue the replacement cap down to the PCB, especially as the connections were to thin wires which could easily move if the mic were dropped (again). I enjoy your videos as you obviously take the time and care to ensure you know how to open faulty kit, unlike many KZbinrs who make me cringe when they use brute force and ignorance!

[@feedback-loop]

The capacitor was quite small. I can hardly imagine how such a lightweight component would fly off the PCB taking the pads with it. On the other hand, shorting and burning is such a common failure mode for these caps that I would think it must have happened first. This is just my guess, of course. There is no way to know for sure.

[@kvitekp]

Still feels like adding a drop or two of hot glue to the replacement cap wires would be helpful.

[@pa4tim]

Your desolder gun looks like a copy of Pace SX70. If you ever want a new one, I bought a Pace SX100 last year for my MBT250 (in stead of my >20 year old SX-70 ), I was in doubt because of the cost but that thing is bizar. I often have to remove big relais om massive traces. With the Metcal I had before that was over 15 minutes work per relais (6 relais one pcb) and a lot of swearing. The SX100 does it in a few minutes without increasing the temp (around 310C). Something like your microphone is a piece of cake.

[@feedback-loop]

This is a Pace Micro. I would like to upgrade to a more powerful version, but these things are expensive.

[@TKomoski]

The scary part of that repair was the disassembly. Weird how the cap burnt any thoughts on what happened? Cheers

[@feedback-loop]

This is a typical tantalum capacitor failure. Quite a few of my videos feature burnt tantalum caps.

[@brandonle4221]

Hi there i got the same microphone as your, but my mic suddenly have no power, when i turn it on. Do you think the power switch failed ?

[@feedback-loop]

Possibly. But there are many other possibilities.

[@brandonle4221]

Hi FeedbackLoop, Thanks for your reply .Do you know where i can get the replacement switch for this Mic ? Cheers

[@feedback-loop]

Did you take the microphone apart to check the switch? You may want to have a look at my other video, where the problem was with the power switch. There is a link in the description to the part on Digikey. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGPEmGyMp8yFgsk

[@brandonle4221]

Thanks Fedbackloop. Finally my Mic got fixed. There was switch faulty.

[@HeyBirt]

You need a good pair a snap ring pliers...

[@feedback-loop]

Yes, I do!

[@otherbasis8505]

Yep, that cap needs to be glued down. The assholes drop mikes on purpose! :)

[@jasonj4337]

otherBasis Meh, then the assholes have to pay people like FBL for their services again :-)