Level 1

6 points

Time Capsule Powered Off, Won't Power Back On

My Time Capsule was running just fine, then spontaneously just powered off by itself. All the other devices in the power strip were fine and I tried switching outlets, plugging it directly into the wall, and unplugging the TC and plugging the power cord back in. The network port lights in the back are out and the light on the front is dark. However, when I first plugged the cable back into the TC, the network lights came on for a split second. I'm guessing that there's a power connection fried (because if it were a power supply failure the lights would not have blinked on at all).

Any suggestions? Thanks!

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 27, 2009 8:58 AM

Top-ranking reply

LaPastenague

Level 9

67,368 points

Posted on Jul 5, 2010 1:14 PM

Basmar wrote:
Well you can add me to the list of ever growing users that are having the PS problems with their TC!!! I'm going to hit up Apple and see what they will do for me... Replacement would be great, but I'm not holding my breath

Unfortunately in Australia, Apple doesn't have the enlightened policies they do in Euro and USA.. here they just put their fingers in their ears and sing ting-a-ling-a loo!! But if you have AppleCare on any current product then they should replace it.. otherwise talk to a repairer.. see the list.

http://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modems /apple-time-capsule-repairers

I have done about 50 all up now.. !!

View in context

1,343 replies

May 9, 2013 4:31 PM in response to elroySF

I switched out two bad capacitors a couple of months ago and it still working fine. My concern was the heat will destroy other components and eventually fail again. I read about modifying the built-in fan so it can be on all the time instead of never. But then I decided just pay $15 for a Microsoft laptop cooling base (amazon, see link below); remove the rubber base of the TC and have it sit right on the cooling base. The fan in the base keep the TC running cool. I am proficient enough to do the fan modification thanks to those nice step-by-step posting. But for $15, I rather spend the time playing with my kid. The base looks not bad at all! You may even get the white one to match the TC.

Just be aware:

It won't be as quite as before since there wasn't any fan action from the TC before. I probably won't put the TC in the bed room now if you do so previously.

The base is powered by USB. So you need to have a powered USB nearby. The USB on the TC is not powered.

kjk

Level 4

1,323 points

Aug 31, 2009 9:28 PM in response to elroySF

Definitely looks like the March 2008 batch have a power supply problem.

DomGiles

Level 1

8 points

Sep 12, 2009 2:33 AM in response to elroySF

Another thread (slightly longer is also reporting the same issues)

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2091667

kmfitz

Level 1

0 points

Nov 4, 2009 7:43 PM in response to LaPastenague

Heard from Apple Computer help desk. Apple is sending me a brand new Time Capsule. Shipped today. Will arrive tomorrow. They went the dead TC returned when the new one arrives. No questions asked.

Nov 20, 2009 6:49 AM in response to elroySF

I called apple and explained my situation and they right away offered to send me a new TC!!! Should be here today!

MarkieM

Level 1

14 points

Jan 16, 2010 7:47 AM in response to elroySF

Don't forget to register your dead TC at timecapsuledead.org

Ronniebel

Level 1

121 points

May 10, 2010 4:50 PM in response to ZayZay

Here's how to open your TC. It worked for me and I was able to take out my 1 TB SATA drive and then connect it to an enclosure. Works fine.

http://www.applefritter.com/node/23907

Oct 12, 2011 3:01 AM in response to sbistj

There are two different power supplies.. Flextronics and Delta.. they behave differently. Yours is Delta.. one day it will no longer boot.. get ready because it isn't far away.

CaptBill

Level 1

1 points

Feb 6, 2012 10:00 PM in response to chuckky

Chuckky... Call Apple Customer Relations and explain. You will need the serial number of your TC. They are really quite helpful. It's worth spending the time to do this.

Aug 30, 2009 7:23 AM in response to Max Stanley

Max... not sure why your's is different, but my screws are philips type. I used the same screwdriver used to take the bottomplate off... I was expecting a TORX like in the MBP... anyway, the screws are a little funny looking, but came off easily. Also, with the enclosure I have it in, the screws could have stayed on without interference...

UPDATE: So I purchased a NEW 1TB TC last night... $300 again and they DON'T OFFER APPLE CARE on this product!!! So, this morning I'm still mad and haven't opened the box, but starring at the pieces of the 1st Gen TC on my desk... I plug it in and IT POWERS UP!!! I can hear the CAPS charging and the LED goes from GREEN to YELLOW! I'm thinking cuz the HDD is out. I unplug it, put the HDD back in and NOTHING!!! guess I need to wait for the caps to completely discharge this time... I'm sure I'm going to be opening the NEW one sometime today...

elroySF Author

Level 1

6 points

Aug 31, 2009 5:08 PM in response to John Conrader

In mine, the power supply is definitely not fried. I'm pretty sure it's either a bad connector (easy fix) or a bad chip in the PS (harder). I know the power supply is working because I let it sit for awhile and plugged it in again and it lit up for about 30 seconds before the lights went out again.

I spent 30 minutes at the genius bar in Palo Alto today and he told me pretty much the same story as related above. That a) it was out of warranty and b) they don't offer repairs on TC's. He did tell me that they could fit in into an applecare policy if I had bought it with a computer - but I didn't so I'm SOL.

I'm embarrassed to say that I bought another one. The good news is that you get 1TB now for less than I'd paid originally for my 500GB. And if you price dual-band wireless routers and good 1TB hard disks, it's a good price. Just wish they lasted longer...

Sep 3, 2009 1:48 PM in response to elroySF

Mine dies after about a year and a half. It seemed like a terrible design. Why does the Airport Extreme Base Station have an external PS and the Time Capsule, which should generate even more heat, have an internal PS.

Apple should really have to replace these power supplies for free. A power supply that is placed in a hot environment needs to be designed to withstand the heat. A power supply is a very simple device and should last for many years.

Sep 10, 2009 7:31 PM in response to elroySF

WOOHOO!!! Just wanted to let everyone know that I have successfully modded my Time Capsule with an external CISCO power supply and it's WORKING!!! VERY EASY TO DO... Total cost: $15

I have to thank LaPastenague for doing the first mod which triggered the idea to use the Cisco Power Supply. Now the Power Supply is external!!! When my new Capacitors come in, I plan to fix the original power supply as a backup!!!

Need Directions? See LaPastenague detailed step-by-step instructions... I will post mine soon...

Sep 12, 2009 7:29 AM in response to elroySF

In case you didn't see this, TUAW is confirming that AppleCare will cover attached peripherals (including Time Capsule) even if they were not purchased at the same time as the AppleCare product. I really hope this is true. See
http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/11/which-peripherals-are-covered-under-applecare/

Sep 13, 2009 7:27 PM in response to elroySF

elroySF wrote:
Sorry, I wish I had something better to offer, but it is almost certainly going to die. Just a matter of time. :-/

Time and tide waits for no man...!!

Still if you TC goes belly up... sure wait for Apple to get its act together and fix it.. but if you are interested in actually making it work long term, I have done some repairs and a fan mod to keep it cool here.
http://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modems /apple-time-capsule-repair

Just check the two linked sites.

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Time Capsule Powered Off, Won't Power Back On