Aja FS1, the frame sync that roared

We have metric buttloads of these wonderful frame sync/video Swiss Army Knives in service. Here’s what’s inside. Failures are rare and seem to be limited to burned out front panel LEDs (not critical), power supplies, and fans.

This one was working but causing noise complaints due to fan bearing drama.

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Five volt muffin
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Pots?!
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HD-SDI interface

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The brawn
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The brains
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5 volt PSUs. Both identical.

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5 vdc @ 6 amps

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Before I un-bunnied it!

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Watch out for this yellow thread lock.

Yellow?!

I’m going to call this yellow thread lock “Wishful Thinking Thread Locker” because it didn’t stop the standoffs from backing right out of there. I’m familiar with the usual grades:
Purple: Low strength, formulated for small fasteners. Also good to use as just an anti-galling aid.
Blue: Medium strength, removable. Also useful to prevent fastener galling.
Red: High strength, impact driver and/or heating with a torch, *or* the effort of destructive little demon spawn children needed for removal. Still prevents galling too, I guess.

2 thoughts on “Aja FS1, the frame sync that roared”

  1. I found your pics very helpful! I’m replacing the fans in a couple of noisy FS1’s, and wanted to confirm that the fan wiring was correct (it looked like a field mod). Since I picked up these FS1’s second hand, I wasn’t sure if they had been worked on before. Thanks to your pics, it looks like AJA wires the fans that way from the factory…

    1. HAHAHAHA!!! I never even really paid attention to how those are wired in before. Yeah, now I COMPLETELY understand you thinking this was a field modification, because… who… even… does that??

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