{"id":293,"date":"2022-12-18T17:29:48","date_gmt":"2022-12-18T16:29:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/?p=293"},"modified":"2022-12-23T16:59:52","modified_gmt":"2022-12-23T15:59:52","slug":"fixing-broken-airport-express-power-supply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/?p=293","title":{"rendered":"Fixing broken AirPort Express power supply"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Recently my 15+ year old AirPort Express decided to stop working. This is was a dissapointment as this device is actually amazing at streaming high quality audio from iTunes via Airplay (I use it over a wired connection).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Apple_Airport_Express.jpg?resize=415%2C348&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-294\" width=\"415\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Apple_Airport_Express.jpg?w=829&amp;ssl=1 829w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Apple_Airport_Express.jpg?resize=300%2C252&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Apple_Airport_Express.jpg?resize=768%2C644&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Apple_Airport_Express.jpg?resize=358%2C300&amp;ssl=1 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 415px) 100vw, 415px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">AirPort Express 1st Gen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Some investigation learned that a common failure with these devices is a broken power supply, so time to crack open the well sealed case. Some people on the internet use a Dremel-tool, but a screwdriver and a hammer did the trick for me (be careful though as there is some wiring that might get damaged if you go in too hard :-).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/broken-power-supply-2.png?resize=384%2C512&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-295\" width=\"384\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/broken-power-supply-2.png?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/broken-power-supply-2.png?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/broken-power-supply-2.png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Now definitely) broken power supply<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The power supply seems to provide 3.3V and 5V DC. It has 3 wires towards the logic board:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Orange: 3.3V<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Red: 5V<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Black: GND<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To check if the logic board was still ok, I first used my lab power supply. This also allowed me to see how much current the AirPort Express is pulling when streaming audio to my Amplifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-style-rectangular wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" data-id=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/test-with-lab-supply-2.png?resize=800%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/test-with-lab-supply-2.png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/test-with-lab-supply-2.png?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/test-with-lab-supply-2.png?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/test-with-lab-supply-2.png?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" data-id=\"301\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/current-2.png?resize=800%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/current-2.png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/current-2.png?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/current-2.png?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/current-2.png?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Connecting to lab power supply<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Since I do not like messing with 220V, I decided to use an off-the-shelf breadboard power supply. These are very cheap; I got one for Euro 2.25 from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kiwi-electronics.com\/en\/breadboard-power-supply-3v3-5v-2946\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.kiwi-electronics.com\/en\/breadboard-power-supply-3v3-5v-2946\">Kiwi Electronics<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-style-rectangular wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"446\" height=\"324\" data-id=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/kw1851-1.png?resize=446%2C324&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/kw1851-1.png?w=446&amp;ssl=1 446w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/kw1851-1.png?resize=300%2C218&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/kw1851-1.png?resize=413%2C300&amp;ssl=1 413w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 446px) 100vw, 446px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"584\" height=\"372\" data-id=\"302\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/kw1851-2.png?resize=584%2C372&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/kw1851-2.png?w=584&amp;ssl=1 584w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/kw1851-2.png?resize=300%2C191&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/kw1851-2.png?resize=471%2C300&amp;ssl=1 471w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To fit it inside the AirPort Express case, I had to desolder the pin-headers on the bottom of the board. I also removed the pin-headers top center, to directly connect the 3 wires from the AirPort Express logic board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With some isolation- and duct-tape the result looks as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-style-square wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"297\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/fixed-power-supply-2.png?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/fixed-power-supply-2.png?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/fixed-power-supply-2.png?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/fixed-power-supply-2.png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" data-id=\"299\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/re-assembled-2.png?resize=800%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/re-assembled-2.png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/re-assembled-2.png?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/re-assembled-2.png?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/re-assembled-2.png?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Duct tape galore \ud83d\ude42<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The breadboard power supply needs a standard DC power adapter providing 6-12V DC. <br>I used a 6V, 1000mA one I had lying arround.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/standard-ac-adapter-2.png?resize=384%2C512&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-298\" width=\"384\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/standard-ac-adapter-2.png?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/standard-ac-adapter-2.png?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/standard-ac-adapter-2.png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Standard 6V DC powerbrick<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This fix worked for me; your milage may vary&#8230;.<br>Happy iTunes music streaming \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recently my 15+ year old AirPort Express decided to stop working. This is was a dissapointment as this device is actually amazing at streaming high [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":300,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[60,61],"class_list":["post-293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-apple","tag-power-supply","col-md-4 col-sm-4"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munnik.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/test-with-lab-supply-2.png?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1YJQj-4J","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=293"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":308,"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293\/revisions\/308"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munnik.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}