Service Action to Prevent PSU Failures in ReadyNAS NV/NV+

I was going to sell my "fanned" NV PSU on Ebay after I replaced it with the fanless style. I guess it's a good thing it is still sitting up on the closet shelf so I have a spare just in case.

My NV is in another room (can't hear it) so I use the "Fan RPM Override Option" set at a minimum of 2300rpm in the normal flow setup to keep it cool, I also blast it out with air and clean the filter regularly. I've been running the replacement PSU for about 1 year, so far so good. I took a peek at the caps a couple of weeks ago, no apparent leakage yet.

Question for Infrant; Are the black filters available via a spare parts order? I have a small tear in mine and would like to replace it.

No, the filter sheets themselves were never available for order.

My ReadyNAS has been down for almost 3 weeks now. And I don't even know whether my data is still intact or not? Can't get through to Netgear line and got an incomplete RMA online from Netgear USA, which wants me to send back to dunno where since the RMA was sent to me but without any forms or where to send to? I'm in Singapore and if they want me send back to US, it'll cost me a substantial amount from FedEx or DHL. It just doesn't make sense.

It's very disheartening to hear so many PSU failures for NV/NV+ around 12-15mths with defective PSU from so many threads. Like many have said and I'm just repeating here so to be heard......I think Netgear is not doing a very good job at acquiring Infrant.....I always remember Infrant was top notch and still is, dun get me wrong...you Infrants boys are picking up extra unnecessary work which Netgear should rightfully take up since they acquired it = GOOD CONSISTENT SUPPORT!!! I mean just take a look at this forum, it's Infrant's forum and the Netgear website forum for ReadyNAS actually points here too. After reading so many threads abt Netgear support, I know there has been very mixed support service, some ppl got their problem fixed (PSU replacement, whole unit replacement, etc) and some don't get complete or sub-standard support like me. That's what I meant by CONSISTENCY!!

My NV was in the range of defective PSU list, use the fan fix, but now it finally packed up with sparks flying and burned smell. I mean, car manufacturers do worldwide recall if there were a defective part in the car for safety reasons. Luckily I was around when sparks flew in my NV. Now for a product that is suppose to run 24/7, that's a potential fire hazard. I have a UPS attached to NV for power failure and reliable power source and also a auto fire extinguisher installed just above the NV at home, not many people do that. Since it is a known problem.....I'm petitioning for NetGear to replace those affected with brand new PSU for FREE!!!! Whoever are affected and wants a new replacement please submit below and this petition will be brought to the attention of Netgear.

1. Patrick Cheah (Singapore)
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This is what I meant by GOOD CONSISTENT SUPPORT which Netgear doesn't reflect.

Here's excerpts from what Netgear wrote to me when I replied them I didn't get an RMA form from them:

Thank you for contacting Netgear Online Support. The form would have been sent to you. If it is not there, you can take the device back to the place of purchase and get it replaced by them. You will need the case number 606xxxx to the replacement to take place with the place of purchase. Kind Regards, Netgear Support

And guess what, here's the reply I got when I wrote to the place I bought my NV.

Hello Patrick, Thank you for your inquiry. When you bought the RNV1-S2-0000 Infrant Technologies was manufacturing these NAS server. As of then, a new model has been rolled out, RNV2-S2-0000, meaning the Server you have, is End Of Life (EOL). Ever since Netgear has bought over Infrant Technologies and warranty has improved tremendously. When you bought this system, RNV1-S2-0000, it came with Infrants 1 year manufacturers warranty. So you will have to contact Infrant Tech support which is now handled by Netgear support to see if this unit you have purchased (Alittle over a year ago) is still under warranty. We at mnmsystems don't handle warranty issues, as warranty is handled by the manufacturer. Please contact the manufacturer and get the RMA or replacement directly through them. With Netgear as the new owners all RMA issues are to be handled directly with them. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Support mnmsystems.com

Looks like each side is pushing back and forth!!! What kinda of support service is this? Very disappointing!!

Luckily I didn't send my NV over the place I bought, it'll cost me a bomb and probably cost me again for them to return an unserviced NV. Or worse, I may never see it again. Lost in shipment!!

Patrickcheah,
we had exactly the same NV problem at hand here a fourtnight ago. The reseller put us back to Infrant/NetGear because that would allow a quicker handling (note: he did offer help should the NetGear route not succeed!)
Although the NetGear techie was wrong in thinking the serial number we mentioned was not in the range of faulty devices, eventually we got a (brand new nv+) replacement machine within 24 hours (counting working days only) using the premium service.
Although the techie was wrong in his in structions as how to put the disks and the new machine together, the wiki was helpful (and so was the infrant, ehr, netgear helpdesk via e-mail) in moving the disks to the new device and after a seemingly long file system check (took a whole night) we were up and running just before the deadline.
Netgear was even very helpful in arranging a convenient returning arrangement for the faulty unit.
Finally, I got apologies for the wrong instructions and the assurance that our case would be used to prevent this kind of misunderstandings in the future.

The final message is: do not despair (yet), all still might end well. So far, although there seems to be room for some improvements, InfrantGear hasn't let me down. Good luck.

My NV+ PSU failed before I know about the 'alert' posted here. I now have a replacement PSU here, but no instruction on how to install it. Does instruction exist anywhere?

Thanks,
P.K.

pkshiu wrote:
My NV+ PSU failed before I know about the 'alert' posted here. I now have a replacement PSU here, but no instruction on how to install it. Does instruction exist anywhere?

Here it is:

http://www.infrant.com/download/Replaci ... %20PSU.pdf

Another one bites the dust.. I have a NV+ with a serial that falls in the 'here be danger!' category, so after the announcement I used the fan RPM override as well and it has been running fine 24/7 since that time.

This morning I woke up (too late in fact as my alarm clock did not have a backup battery) with a blown circuit breaker in my fuse box. This had actually happened a couple of times the last couple of days as well but I had assumed I just had too much power hungry equipment on at the same time (electric heaters for instance).

This afternoon however I tried to plug in the device on a tech circuit (with higher ampere rating) and as soon as I plug in, the main circuit breaker for the whole apartment trips and I barely miss a nice little electro shock from the blue spark coming out of the NV+ PSU.. Yowsa! Guess I'm not going to try plugging that baby back in.

Have opened a support ticket now requesting an RMA so we'll see how it goes. The device is still within warranty (purchased 3/26 last year) so I guess I'm in luck there.

I agree with posters here that what by now must be knowingly faulty and potentially dangerous PSUs should have been replaced proactively and without cost to any owner who wanted one regardless of warranty status since this seems to be such a prominent problem for these devices. A PSU is designed to last more than 12 months in any case IMO. Any company can get unlucky with a batch of bad products, but what separates good from excellent companies is their willingness and ability to proactively do something to rectify that problem rather than just wait for the RMAs to roll in. :)

neonsun wrote:
Have opened a support ticket now requesting an RMA so we'll see how it goes. The device is still within warranty (purchased 3/26 last year) so I guess I'm in luck there.

Yep, you are lucky. I am one month outside warranty and Netgear support refuse to help me even though my serial number is on the "bad" list. I even offered to buy a new PSU but they said no I must use the Netgear Shop (who have been out of stock for months).

Mike, you should be fixed up now.