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Replacing the Main Board

When a repair requires you to replace the Main Board, your first step is to download the Calibration Files from that camera using the Main Board Replacement plugin / Backup Calibration - if the camera still powers up.  

IMPORTANTThe original Calibration Files are so important that you should make it a habit of saving these files from every camera you service for any reason .. it is a simple one step process using our Canon Service Adjustment Software.  You can even offer this as a 'service' to your customes.

But repairs also involve cameras that are completely dead - bricked!  When you decide that the cause is a blown Main Board you need to know the things you can do / steps you can take, to get the camera to work like a new camera.  

 

You can work the steps in order or you can vary you’re technique depending on circumstances.  However, Step 1 is always you’re preferred choice!

 

 

Step 1:    Use the Original Data Files

  1. Retrieve the data files the you saved on your PC before the camera crashed - bricked.
  2. Upload the original Calibration Data File (.cal) into the new Main Board after Initialization.
  3. Or upload the original Camera (.cmr)  and Digital data (.dig) files sepearately into a good Salvage Board.

 

 

Step 2:     Retrieve what you can

If the Main Board is able connect to our Canon Service Adjustment Software, you may still be able to retrieve some of the calibration data. The backup and restore tabs on the Main Board Replacement plugin allow you to save and load all of the calibration data at once for convenience, but you can load separate chunks of data elsewhere:

  1. Save / Load Digital data (Main window) 
  2. Save / Load Camera data (Main window) 
  3. Backup / Restore AF Shift data (Auto Focus plugin) 
  4. Backup / Restore AE data (Automatic Exposure plugin) 

As an example, it may be the case that you can save camera data but not the digital data.

 

 

Step 3:     Rescue the Eeprom

If the Main Board can NOT connect to our Canon Service Adjustment Software, you can still retrieve some data. 

 

Unfortunately, the flash ROM cannot be removed from the main board without very special soldering equipment.  But .. the Eeprom is relatively easy to desolder. It is a small 8 pin package located near the main processor, usually labelled 514E or similar. 

 

CAUTION the Eeprom is heat sensitive, overheating can corrupt its data. If you are successful you can then swap the Eeprom for the Eeprom in the replacement board

 

Note:  This procedure requires some skill, and that the Eeprom itself may be faulty - a common cause of main board failure. If the Eeprom is faulty, transferring it to the new Main Board will cause the new board to appear faulty. But on the positive side, you will have diagnosed the fault of the old board, and can get it working again by inserting a good Eeprom, saving $$$.

 

 

Step 4:     Use data from other cameras as a template

Every time you get an EOS DSLR to repair, it's a good idea to save the camera and digital data using our Canon Service Adjustment Software. As well as 'fingerprinting' the camera for future repairs on that specific camera, this will allow you to build up a library of calibration data that you can use to load into New Main Boards in different cameras / same model.  This works well more often then you would think.

 

*  If you don't have any saved data for that model, contact SPT - someone will email you known good Data Files.

 

  • If you are using a brand New Main Board, you must initialize the new Main Board first using the Main Board Replacement plugin that is part of our Professional and Advanced Canon Service Adjustment Software.  After Initialization you can upload data files. 

 

  • If you are using a known good Salvage Main Board, you can proceed with uploading your data files.

    

  • Load the Camera (.cmr) and Digital (.dig) Data Files separately from other cameras until you find a set for which the camera operates reasonably well. 
  • Check that the image looks reasonable, especially noise in dark. 
  • Check that the camera doesn't hunt too much on AF. 

 

 

Step 5:     Use SPT Advanced software to calibrate AE, AF shift, and Shutter timing

  • Once the camera is operating reasonably well, you can perform the important adjustments with SPT software. Be sure to perform AE adjustment first - This will affect the histogram for shutter timing.

Even if you only follow steps 4 and 5, you should be able to get the camera to perform as well as, if not better than, it did before the fault.

Image with Good Digital File

 

Image with Bad Digital File

 

All our Canon Service Adjustment Software offers Help files linked to that Service or Adjustment Function!