Firstly:

(I was doing a school disco last night (5 yrs - 12 yrs old) I was taking a request, getting a track ready and one of my CD player drawers were open.

One of the little s runs across the back and into it and runs off. Nothing I could do and did not see who it was. Could not be prevented as I was just about to put a CD in.

Ran on backup for a bit. Drive itself works great but it falls out sometimes when ejected and will not go back in as various plastic bits have fallen off.

I have glued the one bit I can find back on but there are three other bits long gone. This cannot do.

Its a Citronic 1.2 dual CD player. I am guessing the entire drive needs replacing however, all it needs is a new drawer. A call/email to Citronic?

Secondly:

I have a nice Chauvet disco light...well it was. All works apart from the sound sensitivity. The dial that controls this came loose (as I have today found) and it was sending live voltage down the earth thus tripping the schools power!

Fixed that bit could it have fried the mic and/or switch?

Any way to test?

No matter how much I pay, it all goes wrong.

Yes, a right pain when someone damages your kit.

The Citronics are a cheap player to replace so either bin the unit and pick up a new player or buy a second hand one on ebay to replace your damaged player or to use as a spare/parts.

May do although don't want second hand gear really.

Surely I can get a new drive to fit or something..

Also, my light issue was not clear.

I have fitted the dial back to the unit but the microphone is not picking up and sound, so the Chauvet light is 'stuck' on its lowest sound-to-light setting, even though I can move the dial.

All connections fine..

You should be able to get a new drive.

As for the mic. I had one go wrong on a twister-type light a few years ago. My local TV/electrical repair shop fixed it for me. Replacement mics. are readily available. total cost around £15.

You'll notice there's more on the pcb than the mic. The earth fault could have popped several components on the board..just because they aren't black and crispy doesnt mean they're ok. You'll have to prod around with a meter! Check with the pot itself.

Citronic is a brand of Dutch company Skytronic so give them a ring! Be warned a new drive will not be economical in the slightest but a new drawer may be available...if that's the only fault. A new drive will have to be calibrated so the optical block is matched to the main board to ensure skip-free playback.

Skytronic UK

Good point. I forgot to mention that there was a fault on the board which was also fixed, along with the mic.

Kids parties can be a nightmare.

I wont do them unless there is a stage to seperate me and my gear from the kids.

Kids tend to run around a lot so you have to be careful your gear wont fall on them or you will be looking at an insurance claim !

First time this has happened in 8 years & 4 months of business so not bad really!

Thanks all.

I will have a look at the light tomorrow and contact Skytronic ref/ the CD player.

All the CD player needs is some bits glued to it so I may end up (carefully) doing that. It still works fine apart from that.