I have had to repair an xbox for a freind with the broken solder points. He did have a 1.0 or 1.1 and he has taken that damn thing world the world. So I know it comes from excessive (3-4 times a day for 3 or so years) plugging/unplugging. Resoldering is the only fix short of replacing the power supply that completely resolves this issue. The AFCI just prevents an arc from having a long enough life to heat things up to were a fire is possible. Your xbox will still get shut down, not start up etc as it did before. It's just less likely to burn your box to smoldering pile of goo.

just so people understand..its an afi not afci... an arc fault circuit interupter is a circuit that will shut down every outlet or any electrical device down the line from that afci.. now an arc fault interupter is contained to that one unit and will only shutdown the one thing....the power cord itself

I also have repaired more then a few of these...I also remember coming across some others that had a loose fitting cable but it would never arc out...They just would fall out once in a while...

I just dug up my info from my first Xbox that is long since gone(I use to mod them and play them for a while then sell them and replace it with a new one) but I figure why not get a free cable...Anyway I thought it was funny that the date on it was 10/21/2001...Damn that was a while ago...I was third in line at CircuitCity on release day

I'll post back on what version of cable they send

I haven't ever had problems with my 1.0 (purchased at 12:08 am release day), but I went ahead and ordered the cord. I will post back with what cord I get, and some time I'll check out my PSU for damage.

the cables arnt the same, The original XBOX (my version 1.4) and the new plug are different voltage ratings. here in australia the old cords were 120volts when the newer ones are 240volts, nearly every single plug here is rated 240volts, my mate has a 1.1 and he got the same cable as me.
explain???

wow are you the real no remorse..just now joining the forums?? how can you have a 120 volt when all your outlets are 240v are you sure your original was not ntsc and how did you plug it in if it was a 120v

I know what yall are talkin about My xboxh sparks everytime I move the plug. But also if i move my xboxh with it on it will spark then reset my xbox so just telling yall order my power cord the first day of the recall still dont have it but o well really dont want it its huge and very ugly

nah, its PAL, every console here are PAL, the voltage readings are 120volts it states that on the the end of the power cable (the end that goes into your xbox)
and the new ones are 240volts, so theres a cable thats ment to take 120volts and theres 240volts goin thru it, that would make the calbe catch on fire, from my understanding anyway.
BTW im not the awsome no remorse, i got my handle from a metallica song, i had no idea that there was some1 here with the same handle No_Remorse_666

MY PSU is Delta and I still got the "spark & burn":

http://img62.exs.cx/img62/9585/dscf09760or.jpg

here is my fix
http://img62.exs.cx/img62/5240/dscf09754qo.jpg

the new "cable" has a luxurious look... I think I'll get one just for fun.

My friend has a XBOX bought at the launch date (V1.0). It get's moved around a lot to other friends so the connectors are often replugged. (I guess people having an xbox that is stationary won't suffer this problem)

After a while the connector started to loosen, we solved it with 2 thick pieces of wood putting between the case and the connector so it couldn't move anymore.

Still sometimes after transportation it wouldn't go on, gave sparkle and smoke (often after transportation through humid conditions). After some fiddling it would go on again.

A while ago it happened again, it wouldn't go on and we decided to open it up and take a closer look: result was indeed a loosened connector, that really explained all the problems. Took me a short while to solder and all problems where over.


I really don't get it, the connector has 2 holes to mount nuts and bolts to. The casing hasn't these holes. Was it so hard to actually use nuts and bolts to make it more rigid? The way it is now, all the kinetic energy that you put inside the connector is transfered to the soldering joints. That's what I call a major design flaw.

(and I don't see why a new cable would help)

I hate to throw a spanner in the works guys, But I just received my cord (Took 2 days postage o_O) in Sydney, Australia.

Mine has the huge sinker in the middle with the fancy buttons as well, but when I popped the hood on my xbox, I have a Delta PSU?!

Any ideas?

mine always crackles when i put the power cord in. its a 1.1 and the MS site says they are sending a new power cord.

Think I might just order a replacement PSU just to be on the safe side.

I know I'm joining the discussion a litle late. A guy I work with gave me his xbox BEFORE xmas saying it wouldnt turn on anymore. I tested the cord, and no short. I pulled out the foxlink psu and the solder pads under the power connector were burnt up. I ordered a new psu from ebay, one of the ones that had a connection for a 1.0 and a 1.3. This power supply worked until like 3 weeks ago, he gave it back to me claiming that it sparked when he plugged it in for the last time. I checked the cord this time and it was shorted. All I know is the foxlink blew, and the cord trashed the new psu. Take what you want from that.

I THINK HE MEANT THE CABLE WAS LABLED 120V & THE BOX IS 240- V FOR AUSTRALIA.
So they changed the power lead . The problem with the 120v would be the insulation may not be rated high enough to cope with the volts.!so they would have had to changed it . But they would have started changing them before all this crap started i spose.we do have step down transformers over here to cope with 120v.

Thanks heaps - looked far more complicated than it was! V1.0 box, built early 2002, with a foxlink.

Half an hour, and my xbox is back in original order. I re-soldered the pads, and added some superglue under the front edge of the plug to make sure it doesn't rock any further. Was definitely a foxlink, and was definitely busted - the solder pads were cracked in the middle.

My replacement cord arrived today - the aussie version has the 'module' in the middle of the cord... A wall plug, 1.5m of cord, then the unit, then another 1.5M of cord... don't need an extension lead now anyway

Just to reaffirm what DeeMan and running_wild already said, I think we Aussies have a better replacement. The plug end is small (same size as the original) and it fits very snug into my GPO. The other end fits very tightly into my XBox too, so that's great news since it used to be very very very loose (if I knocked my table it'd come out).

The thing is so long though, it's just like the length of a laptop charger with the box in the middle.

I strongly recommend anyone who's confident enough to solder, to check their PSU before it's too late. The points to solder are pretty damn massive, so even a beginner could do it.

Just pondering something. The serial number of your xbox isn't embedded in the eeprom or any other software on the box right? Cause if it were, then suddenly anybody connecting to xbox live with a modded box and get's banned, ms has their home address and phone number as you supply serial number and delivery address when requesting the replacement cord. I might just be abit paranoid thou .

The XBOX logs into XBL using your XBOX serial number!.

Beat ya on the paranoia call. See here.

I have resoldered these points 3-4 months ago.

im gonna fix mine tomorrow night. i don't wanna be lugging the big thing around! i should pull apart that box, put many resistors (240v to 3v) and fill it with lights!! hahahaha. shotgun to be the first one to do it! even though i won't be getting any lights soon.

muhahahahaha!

It's hard to tell how detailed MS's database is and whether they account for refurbished parts that have come back through the production line? Perhaps its all based on probability?
I'm in New Zealand, so will get the same cords as Australia. I have a 1.1 and 1.3 with two different Delta PSU's. I'm interested to see what shows up.

Hello all, short-time reader, first-time poster, etc etc.

Just wanted to add confirmation to all that's been said about the purpose of the new cords with AFIs.

I'm in Australia, with a 2002 Xbox manufactured in Hungary, and although it has given me no problems, if I plug/unplug the power cord with the power on at the mains, I hear a sparking sound.

Got my new cord with the AFI today. Out of curiosity, I wiggled the power cord while the power was on.

*Sparking sound*
*CLICK!* -- AFI killed the power immediately. Had to hit reset on AFI to restore power.

So, I guess it won't catch fire, but I think I'll have to look at doing a solder job, just to keep everything nice and tidy.

The european (or at least the dutch) cables are different and smaller


what we recieve

the cable

the difference

they already have your address, name, phone, and credit card # when you sign up for live.

Also, if you can't fit the damn thing in your wall or on the surge protector... just go out and get a cheap $2 extension cord from Dollar General and make it a 2 peice unit :-P

Yeah i got that same dutch cable too, the other box was too new and didnt need any replacements

its a 1.4, and i have not opened it so i dont know if there is anything wrong with my powercable, but ill take this as a warning and not unplug it anymore.

when i finally get around to upgrading the hdd i will check the psu...

The new cable is a lot better, its more sturdy, fits a lot better into the xbox and also the side connecting to the wallsocket is stronger.

not too glad about ms having my home adres though

Just got my replacement cord yesterday. Seems as though I have the european version because it doesnt doesnt have that bulky box on the end of the cord like I've seen for the american version. But whats strange is mine is an american v1.5 that came w/ the Tetris CloneWars Holiday bundle. Odd....


-hhel11

Does anyone else have a strange desire to take the new plug, try it in the bath tub, call up MS, and listen to their reaction?

I sent off for mine well over a week ago. And just recieved it today, as I don't have a camera, here's a scan of the "Clunker" I recieved. MS never do anything small I see.


(That's an entire a4 scanning platter btw, so if you want to compare, just hold up a peice of A4 paper.)

But after reading this post I'm gonna get my toolbox out and resolder the wire, oh well, free AFI 2-pin mains plug XD. Mine's 1.1 btw.

EDIT: Fixed broken link, damn Unicode

Did anyone actually call ms to tell them it didnt help, and that their xbox is still sparking?

I haven't had any sparking issues yet, but I'm intrigued by the power supply resoldering comments... Would it be a lot of trouble for someone to post some pictures of the points that need to be resoldered? Maybe like a before and after picture or something to help out us beginners...

Much appreciated!


EDIT: Just realized they exist on the first page.... The thread was so big I was just going to the last few pages to follow along... Thanks for pointing this out...

i dont get how can the xbox's solder point just al of a suddenly "break away" or "disconnect"... i mena does anybody know the cause????

Welcome to today. They've already been posted, try actually reading the first page properly.

I noticed that the power connector was loose the first time I took my xbox apart years ago. I secured it with hot glue so it couldn't move and have never had a problem. I remember thinking "why the heck didn't they secure where the plug goes in".. Anyhow I think I will order up a couple and see what I get. My oldest xbox has a date of 10/01, but I am not positive which power supply it has.. We will see what I get..

Just taken out my PSU and found out it's delta, with nice neat solder points with plenty of solder, as standard for an external connector. So no soldering for me, but as I still have my xbox open...

i ordered my new psu not sure which cable im going to get but im gonna open up my box shortly and find out. if it is the problem psu, ill just resolder. by the way, what if you have a foxlink ps, your xbox is dead because of the problem. will this make it work now? or will m$ send you a new box? just wondering. maybe we can get some new boxes because of this.

i ordered my new ps cable not sure which cable im going to get but im gonna open up my box shortly and find out. if it is the problem psu, ill just resolder. by the way, what if you have a foxlink ps, your xbox is dead because of the problem. will this make it work now? or will m$ send you a new box? just wondering. maybe we can get some new boxes because of this.

I also live in Holland and have got the exact same cable from MS. MFG date is 14 october 2003, and the xbox appears to be a v1.4. I couldn't resist to check which PSU I had. Guess what! A foxlink...

Foxlink
Model: FTPS-0002
Rev: H
Max power output: 96 W


I removed the PSU and checked the solder, there was no indication of short circuit anywhere. What I did found was molten "White gue' on top of the PSU around one of the coils, but dunno if that has anything to do with this.

It's possible that certain revisions require different security measures (=cables). It would also appear then that the delta PSU is also susceptible to short circuit.

Yeah, as soon as I saw the original press release my initial thought was "it's about damn time". I've fixed several of these PSU's. I have seen them actually spark out the back, and lots of them make crackling noises... Plug it in in the dark, that is fun too!

I am glad MS$ did something about it, even if it is a lame-o fix.

So do these power cables fix any problem at all? My friend's PSU went bad and he ended up buying a new one... and now this news comes out.

No these power cords don't cure the problem they just add a safety mechanism.

::theunbeatable
I think it's only foxlink powersupplies in 1.0/1.1


I have a delta power supply in my 1.0/1.1 and they sent me one of the chunky ones.

YEA cover there ASS... Lame-o MFers

The reason MS sent out power cords, and didn't fix the Xbox is because nobody would send theirs in. Think about it, the repair process would likely take at least 4 weeks. Plus, if you send in a modded Xbox who knows what may happen. This way, the customer doesn't have to do anything, and they are somewhat protected.

um...ive known about this since the early days whats so big about it? just how about not plugging and unplugging so much on the 1.0' and 1.1's. my 1.0 never suffered only my cousins 1.1 and it was pretty stable. solder cracks when you move the metal placed in it i can push a led through a glob of solder.

They're protected from damage to their entertainment center, but their Xbox will still short and no longer function. If the person thinks this will fix the issue, but their Xbox stops turning on, they'll probably switch back to the old power cord only to cause the damage that MS is trying to prevent. This just seems like a marketing ploy to show that MS cares about it's customers and stands behind its products.

My xbox makes crackling noises when you try and plug the cord in and the powers on at the plug. It's a v1.3 dunno about the PSU, i'll check it later.

-BxN

My XBOX was made June 17, 2002. It's a 1.0 (I think). I ordered the new cable, even though I never unplug my XBOX. I didn't check to see what PSU I have, but since I don't unplug/re-plug my XBOX, do I even need a new cable? I got one b/c it's free, and I want M$ to give me free stuff . I hope I don't get a clunker, or have a Foxlink PSU. If my PSU needs re-soldering, will the new cable actually help? Can someone re-solder my PSU for chaep if I need it done?

These things are being churned out on eBay already!
Ordered three using serial numbers of 3 dead Xbox motherboards that I had lying around! The one for my own, working Xbox will have to go to my parents' house.

What the hell, if they're free...

Same here. Just desolder the whole power supply connector, and then solder it with better quality solder. Any n00b can do it, but you can make $$$ doing it for those who don't know how (It's what you know that they pay you for, not the maintainance .

BTW, andybody think maybe a lot of the reasons for the replacement is because M$ wants to find out who's xbox is whose? I wont give 'em my info. I'd rather resolder a joint than get a bulky cord that I'd have to wait for. You have to give them your serial and address, so they can track you (and w/ serial they can track you online w/ HDD and IP, and possibly find if you have a mod, modded eeprom etc.) Sounds kinda familiar to me... RFID tags anyone?

My first xbox got fried this way after it was broken I could wiggle the power cord and there would be sparks-a-flying damm MicroShaft!!!!!

Yeah. I had the same problem with my 1.0. Soldered, hot glued it. It's all fine.

When it first happened, the smoke and the non powering, I opened it up to look at it and realized what shoddy design it was.

Just addin' in.
Fun.

Later. Y'all have a great weekend