Dead Battery And Bulgy Cap Replaced In BOAT PARTYPAL60 Portable Amplispeaker
This was brought by a customer, to whom I had serviced and given a Sony 5.1 Speaker System long back. The complaint reported was that the charger port was not working and it has been spoiled by many people handling it for use in parties! Since Christmas was at the doors, he wanted it to be repaired on priority, which I obliged, keeping away my other pending works just to keep up his spirit. I opened the top control panel by removing four screws.
The four connectors of the speaker wires were all pasted and I had to really struggle to remove the bonding without causing damages. Let us see the inside on dismantling the boards one by one:
One flexible cable of a four pin connector was found cut (see yellow arrow in the first picture above) and probably someone had tried to open the unit without knowing how to do it and tore the cable that was going into the bottom unit for illumination of LEDs surrounding the speakers. I noticed that the battery was totally discharged and it had reached an irrecoverable stage. One 1000uF/16V Cap was found bulgy.
Replaced the cap and obtained an equal type battery, which was slightly better rated and fixed it in place. Since the battery had its own charging protection circuit, I ensured that it was the same that I bought. But the polarity was differently positioned. So, slid the pins out and put it in right place. Let us have a look at these:
If we do not take care of the polarity when replacing a battery, we may end up blowing up the unit. Then I checked all press to on buttons and ensured that there was no leakage and all were making proper contacts. Then switched on the unit and found it to be working very well. I used USB and Bluetooth connection from my mobile and also used FM Radio. It worked very well on all modes.
Having ensured that the set was working well, I dismantled the boards again and checked the charging port and found it to be defective, as the voltage was not detected at the PCB side. So replaced the port. The replacement port had only two legs in place of four in the original. So, I soldered the two pins and added two cut leads of components and soldered it on top to enable strength as this has to withstand hand pressure applied by the users. The port was using only two pins (+ and -), the first and last. So, I removed the pins from the middle of the new port so as to enable easy soldering without much struggle. The charging was taking place after I replaced the port. Let us have a look:
Then assembled the boards back and allowed the set to run for some more time before fixing the top portion back. As for the torn cable, I could not do anything as the screw holes were all blocked by potter wasps with mud and in all probability there might be living worms inside. If we try to open these, the screw drivers would not get a grip due to the greasy fluid. Nothing can clean up the holes thoroughly as these were deep inside.
Moreover, excess cleaning fluids would enter speakers and spoil it. I explained this to the customer and told him to wait for these to fly off after attaining full growth. He took delivery of the unit after paying my fees and thanked me to have attended to the set on the same day of admission. Mission accomplished with double satisfaction getting added to the collection.
This article was prepared for you by Parasuraman Subramanian from India. He is 74 years old and has more than 30 years’ experience in handling antique equipment like Valve Radio, Amps, Reel Tape Recorders and currently studying latest tech-classes conducted by Kerala State Electronics Technicians’ Association. He has done graduation in BBA degree, private diploma in Radio Engineering and retired as MD of a USA company. Presently working as Consultant to Hospital and other institutions.
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Mick Mason
August 2, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Great repair, with a very good report and pictures. This seemed to be a fairly simple & straightforward job for a man of your talents !
Greetings from England, and thanks for sharing !
Mick M, UK
Parasuraman S
August 2, 2025 at 5:31 pm
Many thanks for your encouraging comments!
Abhay
August 11, 2025 at 12:45 am
I too have a boat partypal 60 speaker, I got the charging socket replaced yet it's not functioning not taking any charge got it checked again and the man say that it's board is dead. I really want to fix this one, either new old used board or something to make it run again.
Albert van Bemmelen
August 2, 2025 at 7:55 pm
First time hearing about Potter Wasps that make nests with mud, and even inside in this portable subwoofer. Apparently they exist in different species too. I read that it is believed that Native Americans made their pottery designs upon the form of local potter wasp nests.
Luckily the Wasps didn't destroy the subwoofer.
Parasuraman S
August 2, 2025 at 9:05 pm
The potter wasps make use of the shelter of a screw hole to cover it up with mud keeping its egg inside with a few leafs for the new born until it is capable of breaking the mud seal and fly out. That is a very ideal place! The wasps do not enter the speaker area. It just uses only such holes. Neither would it eat paper. Many thanks for your expert comments, dear Albert!
tree
August 2, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Great job, sir.
Parasuraman S
August 2, 2025 at 9:05 pm
Many thanks!
Waleed Rishmawi
August 2, 2025 at 10:05 pm
Good job dear friend.
Parasuraman S
August 3, 2025 at 10:24 am
Many thanks, dear friend!
Mark J
August 3, 2025 at 7:51 am
Parasuraman well done on the repair. I will say it again. I always look forward to your articles every week.
Parasuraman S
August 3, 2025 at 10:29 am
There are aplenty in the queue! I have to express special thanks to Jestine Yong who always support technicians like us inspite of being very busy in his teaching profession. If I have a number of friends and supporters across the Globe, it is only because of him! I have been able to learn a lot and lot from his and others' books published and also from the writers in this forum. Many thanks, dear Mark!
Mark J
August 4, 2025 at 7:30 am
Parasuraman I totally agree with you on that. This is a great forum to share knowledge and experience. Mr. Yong's books are good as well as the authors and writers on this forum.
Parasuraman S
August 4, 2025 at 3:54 pm
Yes, indeed!
Muykit
August 3, 2025 at 4:39 pm
Thanks Engineer Parasuraman. This goes to fellow technicians. It may be that, for instance in this article case, the lights could have been disconnected probably for a good cause. A trouble maker may have possibly been residing in the lights circuit. And reconnecting the lights as a trial attempt to resume functionality may only spell doom. So unless you pretty much know what you are doing dont do it, ask yourself if the disconnection is intentinal or accidental. On the other hand as fate may have it you succeed and earn credibility on merit when you correct such an error.
Parasuraman S
August 4, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Yes, you are right there! Many thanks for finding time to write detailed comments on my article!
Yogesh Panchal
August 3, 2025 at 5:06 pm
Good Job! Sir,
Don't always rely on wire color orientation in china make cheap appliances. of course they have Good quality too..but importers choose cheap quality to remain cheap in the market & compromise in the quality of the parts.
Parasuraman S
August 4, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Of-course, you are right! Many thanks, dear Yogesh Bhai!