The answer to this issue is an simple voltage regular controller chip, ic number: STRG6353 / IC001, located on a small heat sink in the power supply section of the DVD recorder.
Once you replace this part, it will all come back to normal. It seems that Pan are aware of this god dam fault, and have adjusted it in new machines.
WARNING: This area is live mains, so do not attempt to fix whilst connected to the mains supply. If your unaware of what to do, then get it sorted by a pro fixer.
Cameron Cook, July 2007
