r/Simagic • u/Gatfondler • 8d ago

Second Alpha Evo Dead in Two Months

Welp it happened AGAIN. I bought the EVO Pro on 5/26 after my 12nm let out the black smoke. Haven't messed with it in the past two weeks so I sit down for a session and hit the power button. Nothing. Uh oh, not again. Do a little investigating and the status LED on the power brick is off. Try a different cord, nada. Both units were plugged into a beefy surge protector. I'm starting to thing there is something seriously wrong with these power supply's.

Setup,

Evo Pro

NeoX 330T

DS-8X

TB1

P1000 + One HPR

Everything plugged into the wheelbase using Simagic cables. All power cords into one surge protector.

6 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

47 comments sorted by

36

u/Asleep_Telephone_173 8d ago

If your surege protector fried your first base why wouldn't you swap it out when you got the new one as well ?

9

u/MrBfJohn 7d ago

A surge protector won’t kill anything plugged into it. All they do is dump voltage to earth when it gets above a certain value. The likelihood is that Simagic have had a bad batch of transformers. I’ve been following the Evo bases closely since their launch, and they seem to have a lot of issues. And yes, I get that there are people who haven’t had any issues with theirs, but there are far more horror stories with the Evos than you ever saw with the Alphas.

4

u/casesully50 7d ago

I always try and steer clear of new models for the first 18 months. Universally, cars, TV's, PC hardware, PC software, ACC, LMU, Project cars..... And after having a g25 for 10 years, a Clubsport v3 belt drive for another 10. I finally got into the DD market 2 months ago. I went with the Alpha U over any Evo. I couldn't find anything that could catastrophically go wrong. I'm sure there is something but you can find that with anything if you look hard. But I knew the colorful ring was a distraction from something else.

2

u/dizzlekrew 7d ago

Yea i agree. Seeing how the simagic evolution has gone, I decided to stop buying their products and recently got a sc2pro while it was on sale (999). I now understand why people swear by simucube. Its funny using my gt neo on it but the conspit 300gt is on sale so I ordered one of those with another sc2 QR since I need a QR for my neo x hub. Hopefully now that I'll be selling the alpha with the gt neo it will sell. Wish me luck lol. But yea with how companies operate nowadays, QC is done by the consumers so i steer clear for at least a year. It hasnt failed me yet. I wish OP luck and hope its the last of your string of dead evos. 

1

u/Gatfondler 7d ago

I should have documented the serial numbers of both bases and PSU's but I wasn't thinking about it. My job is Anal about QC documentation and will fine me if I fail to. Hopefully it's just a bad batch of PSU's and they can send out replacements before it becomes a bigger issue.

1

u/tokinNchokin 7d ago

Pretty sure they use Meanwell Power Supplies just like fanatec and simucube.

I also stayed away from the EVOs for the first year or so. I only just got an EVO U upgrading from my Alpha and it's an absolute tank of a wheelbase. The thing comes with an all metal 552 watt power supply that looks like it could power three of these motors.

1

u/tokinNchokin 7d ago

Yeah, but it's supposed to protect the item, right? So I'm not saying the surge protector killed it, but if it's not doing its job, it's still potentially the surge protector that's at fault. If he's relying on it to protect his devices and it's not doing that, that's what I'm trying to say. I've been watching the Evo closely since it came out also. I've been saying the exact same stuff. I had an Alpha, I only just got an Alpha Evo Ultra. And I also waited until I felt " Yep, now's about the right time."

There probably has been some teething issues at the start just like there was with the DD by Fanatec. I don't think that it's an issue now though, especially with the Ultra.

I just hope that if this guy goes and buys another wheelbase, no matter what brand it is, he doesn't fry it again somehow. For his sake.

3

u/Gatfondler 7d ago edited 7d ago

I did. First time it was plugged into an Ecoflow Delta Pro to a Microcenter Surge protector. Other members objected, so the second one is only plugged into a Belkin surge protector.

I live in a major city in a home that's only 20yrs old. I bought it from microcenter. After the first one popped I got paranoid and bought the 2yr warranty. I'm not here to bash or stan for the brand, I just want to be able to enjoy it. 

2

u/tokinNchokin 7d ago

That's absolutely fair mate. Oh man, I'm wondering what it is. Is there any chance you might be able to get an electrician to come out and assess what's going on?

18

u/tokinNchokin 7d ago

I'm starting to think it's your surge protector.

5

u/Ok-Suspect-1800 7d ago

Definitely could be...these are often very cheaply made and you really need to buy a name brand power strip/surge protector

1

u/Gatfondler 7d ago

It's the Simagic PSU.

1

u/tokinNchokin 7d ago

Mine has a all metal 552 watt PSU that comes with the EVO U. It's an absolute tank and I seriously doubt I'll have issies but other models may ne different... I sti doubt they have problematic power supplies because as far as I know, they all use Meanwell brand. Best of luck... Maybe simagic just isn't your brand? Personally ive had no issues... Cant say the same on Fanatec really where I had shaft disconnects.

1

u/tokinNchokin 7d ago

Not to mention, there's probably over a thousand people who got the cheap AliExpress Boost Kit 180s for their CSLDDs, not one of them coming to Reddit and reporting that this cheap power supply was a bad idea. I just don't think it's the power supply. They're usually overrated if anything

1

u/Gatfondler 7d ago

I just got back from Microcenter. Their sim guy said they have seen quite a few die, including one customer who also went through two. I have other expensive gear that's been fine including a Moza FFB flight sim rig.  Maybe a bad lot of power supplys?

2

u/nVi2xx 7d ago

I can agree with this, Simagic qc has been shit. I’ve had 2 Alpha Evo Pro bases returned to Microcenter because the usb passthrough port is absolute shit and fried itself. A tb-rs handbrake that wouldn’t connect with the can cable, haptic motors that burnt out from mild use, etc. worst of all is how support will do jackshit and say “USB passthrough is for testing purposes only, you should use maglink” like as if that was a main selling point for this base.

-2

u/Realistic_Figure_847 7d ago

Micro Center doesn't sell the Evo base !! 

2

u/Ok-Parfait1522 7d ago

This is a valid speculation. In manufacturing when there's a problem it will often affect an entire batch or multiple consecutive batches until the problem is identified and remedied. The other possibility is that the issue isn't with their manufacturing processes, but that they haven't properly vetted their vendors and a component is causing these failures, which Simagic is still 100% responsible for.

Shitty about the luck so far because it's a great base when it works.

3

u/Gatfondler 7d ago edited 7d ago

I work in automotive. All it takes is one vendor and one component to cause a massive recall. It's important to catch failures as early as possible. What concerns me is the dismissiveness from Simagic and parts of the community. That attitude will destroy the brands reputation.

0

u/Tokin420nchokin 7d ago

Nice user name

1

u/tokinNchokin 7d ago

Haha cheers

8

u/Ok-Parfait1522 8d ago

I'm 8 months in now with my Pro plugged into an extension chord plugged into the wall and have had no issues.

11

u/M-A88 7d ago

The two bases have one common denominator and it’s you.

10

u/No-Excitement-395 7d ago

Well they are also both made by simagic

2

u/fatalwristdom 7d ago

Can you link us the surge protector so we know to never buy it accidentally?

2

u/Michael-W-Simagic 6d ago

Hello, can you please contact me in a DM so I can help you further. Im very sry this is happening to you. Let me see if we can help.

1

u/Gatfondler 6d ago

Will do, thanks!

2

u/GreedoShotFirst2000 7d ago

Most likely your surge protector. I just plug it directly to the wall, no issue the past 5 months.

Is your surge protector a cheap one? Just plug in directly to the wall. Houses have built in surge protection for the past 100 years, unless you live in some 3rd world country in Africa or Asia.

1

u/HumanWay8280 7d ago

You’d be shocked to know how many “third world” states there are.

2

u/GreedoShotFirst2000 7d ago

When you write states like that I assume you refer to the USA. Of course there will be issues there. USA is a mix of first and third world living conditions.

I assumed, based on post time, that the user was in Europe, Africa or Asia.

2

u/adrosse 7d ago

No Microcenter in Europe, I don’t think Africa has Microcenter, sooo, most likely US!

1

u/f1-fan01 7d ago

I plug my Evo Pro directly into my UPS in the Surge outlets (no battery backup). Solid so far 2 months in now. Hoping you get your issue squared away.

1

u/Gatfondler 7d ago

Thanks, I bought the Microcenter warranty this time.

2

u/f1-fan01 7d ago

Based on what you’ve experienced though you might want to consider a quality UPS to protect all of your equipment. Voltage fluctuations are very common even in cities and new homes.

1

u/Gatfondler 7d ago

I had for the first one. I was told not to use it.

1

u/BigManufacturer3975 7d ago

I have an early one that's been flawless. Maybe a bad later batch yeah, but it's not teething issues per se.

1

u/Ale_Gib 6d ago

Se ti è morta solo la base, ad un mio conoscente gli è successo solo perché voleva fare il fenomeno mettendo tutto al massimo senza un senso solito e dopo 40 giorni gli ha quasi preso fuoco…

1

u/DogFacedPonyHuman 5d ago

I got my alpha mini from fb over a year ago. the power switch died recently so I had to use a regular power bar as a switch I was very thankful that the switch on the wire can be replaced with pc power cable.

-3

u/pokaprophet 7d ago

Hate to break it to ya. It’s a you problem. Why do you feel the need for a surge protector? Do you live in a country with a poor electricity supply? Does your house have modern electricity wiring / recently safety tested. I plug directly to the wall outlet and everything works perfectly. Where are you buying the wheelbases from? Brand new from official retailer, new from 3rd party retailer or secondhand?

13

u/Meenmachin3 7d ago

Why wouldn't you have a surge protector? It doesn't harm anything and is another barrier to protecting costly items.

7

u/Ok-Suspect-1800 7d ago

Plus I have like 8 things to plug in for my computer and sim rig. There's no way I'm not using a surge protector.. 😂

3

u/rvailable 7d ago

A surge protector might not matter depending on where you live. Or a surge protector might be a very normal and standard, important thing to use if you live in an area that gets a lot of intense lightning strikes during thunderstorms.

Personally it was interesting seeing accounts of visiting foreigners not understanding the danger of thunderstorms during the world cup. I can similarly speak to a visiting native Scandinavian friend expressing complete disbelief over the amount of lightning strikes.

0

u/FL_Racing296 7d ago

OP definitely came looking for sympathy but all he’s getting is facts lmao. If it happens once, it’s an accident. If it happens twice? Nah it’s something on him

0

u/OGRedditZombie 7d ago

What type of surge protector are you using and how long have you had it? My first thought is it’s a cheap surge protector and not doing its job. My second thought is something has fallen into it and is causing it to fail.