Sony DCR-TRV27 Ccorder Repair

I have a Sony DCR-TRV27 Camcorder which I can no longer power on. It will not power on with any of the following power conditions:
1) Battery Installed, No AC Power Code
2) Battery Installed, With AC Power cord
3) Battery Removed, With AC Power Cord

I measure the voltage on the battery and it measures fine

With the battery removed and the AC power cord plugged in I measure the voltage on the terminals where the battery plugs in and the voltage there measures fine.

I have verified that with the AC power cord plugged in to the AC power cord unit that voltage gets to the power plus that plugs in to the unit.

Sony tech support says camcorder should power up with the AC power cord and no battery. Since it didn't they suggested to use the Sony repair procedure which is a fixed fee ~$350. I can but a new one that is better for less than $300.

First question I have is does anyone have ideas on what I might be able to do to fix the unit? I thought of buying a new battery to check to see if that is the issue but I don't want to spend the money on a battery and find out it was the unit.

Second Problem I have is that I need to get the tape out of the unit. The tape eject only works with power to the unit. I am sure I could smash apart the unit but I would prefer not to destroy a unit I paid near $1000 six years ago. There are screws under the cover but I can not fit any screwdriver in there. I can't see how to remove the cover. I assume the cover is put in with spring loaded clips but I have no I dea how to get them out. I need to get the tape out since it contains pictures of the kids.

Post edited by: njorange, at: 2008/07/06 15:35

Post edited by: njorange, at: 2008/07/06 15:37

njorange welcome to the forum

I will leave this to Hobbist who is an expert on tv's and repairing them. I hope he can look into your post soon

I have decided to just buy a new camcorder. So I don't plan on getting this one working again.

I still am working on getting the tape out but I have started to remove every screw I see. Most of the guts of the camcorder are out so I should just about be able to get to the tape. I have not damaged the unit but I don't think I could put it back together.

If you'd have a manual (schematic) would you be able to do it? (put it back together)

I really had to tear the unit apart to retrieve the tape. The tape was wound around pulleys and wheels and I had to bend them severely to save the tape. So now all I have is a box of parts which I will dispose of next day our town has a scheduled hazardous waste day.

the last time i answered this question i told you the battery has to be installed.the power cord is just to charge battery .the voltage regulator and power card is in the battery.the battery only runs the camera 12 volts dc. to protect the camera from burning out by ac ripple currents on power line.theirs no way to run with out the battery thats the way its design.camera runs on real low voltage not ac power level. so stop beating an old horse to death thats the way it is buy the battery or give it up for the last time.you can not run ac power on low voltage system.no camera operates above 12 volts dc.

no camera operates above 12 volts dc.
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good to remember....

This Sony camcorder AC cord has an inline regulator so the voltage into the camera is 8V DC not 120V AC. Replacing the battery might have worked but I am not about to throw $50 into a camera that does not work. I got a new camcorder that has better features. The new camcorder is a Sony and it does work fine with the AC cord and no battery installed.

Good to hear you got a new camrecorder, njorange