Panasonic Home Theater F61 Fault Code

TLDR: Replaced fans with generic ones from AliExpress, started receiving F61 fault code. Fixed by connecting the yellow signal wire on the connecter of the fan to fan ground.

Initially I just set out to replace the fans inside my Panasonic home theater system (Panasonic SC-HT990).

I ordered two new fans from AliExpress ensuring to match the current and voltage specifications of the original fans. Specifically, these linked fans:

40mm side fan

50mm rear fan

I cut the connector off both of the old fans, the original 40mm fan only had the positive and ground connections. I connected the matching wires from the new fan and the connector (red to red, black to black).

The rear 50mm fan was an issue, the connector had three wires, red, black and yellow. Where the wires on the fan were red, black, blue. Initially I just assumed that the blue and yellow were just signal wires. So, I connected them together, plugged both of the fans and turned it on.

Unfortunately, after replacing the fans, I was greeted with the ever-lovely F61 error. I spent a long-time googling what the cause of the issue is, and what I found is that the F61 fault code seems to be a generic fault code, In the user manual it says that it's the way you've connected the speakers, some articles say that it's to do with the temperature sensor, or the power board, etc. Point is the code is not helpful.

Long story short, after 2 days on and off, of trying different things, putting the old fans back in, I found that my issue was the rear 50mm fan.

I figured it was likely the yellow signal wire from the connector. I randomly decided to try just ground this connector. After doing this it started as expected, no more F61 fault code. Though it seems the fan no longer turns off, which for me is not an issue, but maybe for you if you're wanting it to be quieter.