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Author Topic: Amp died...  (Read 4975 times)

silentrage

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Amp died...
« on: December 09, 2008, 02:04:29 AM »
My amp just died today.
It played fine yesterday, but today when I flip it on... nothing. :/

I noticed that the pre-amp still works, but the power section is dead.
The power tubes don't light up.

F$%^$&@$%@%!!!!

hunter

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2008, 05:53:13 AM »
check fuses, sounds like one has blown
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HTH AMPS

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2008, 01:24:33 PM »
what kind of amp is it? - seems odd that ALL the output stage valves have blown and the preamp valves are still fine.

fuses blow for a very good reason too, don't re-use the dead output stage valves.




silentrage

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2008, 03:54:37 PM »
what kind of amp is it? - seems odd that ALL the output stage valves have blown and the preamp valves are still fine.

fuses blow for a very good reason too, don't re-use the dead output stage valves.





The fuse is fine, I checked with a multimeter.

The power amp section doesn't seem to be getting any voltage.

Is there a way I can check to see if the power amp tubes are dead?
They don't look burnt or anything from the outside, can I pull them out and test them with a multimeter?

Twinfan

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2008, 04:16:03 PM »
Is there an internal fuse for the power section?  That may have blown?

silentrage

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2008, 07:12:17 PM »
Is there an internal fuse for the power section?  That may have blown?

I don't know, I took the amp out of the cab and had a look inside, doesn't seem to be an internal fuse in there.

Will

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #6 on: December 09, 2008, 07:14:32 PM »
It would help if you were to say what amp it is

silentrage

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #7 on: December 09, 2008, 07:36:56 PM »
It's a bugera 6262 212.

silentrage

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2008, 06:20:33 PM »
anybody?

jpfamps

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #9 on: December 11, 2008, 01:28:14 PM »
I can't get much detail from the web on your amp.

However, if the pre-amp valves light up, but the power valves don't (double check this), then I would suspect that the filament supply to the power valves has expired.

This would normally be an unusual fault as the pre-amp and power amp in most amps use the the same supply, however it is increasing common for amps to run their preamp valves from a separate DC supply. If this is the case, then you could have LT failure to the power valves and not the pre-amp valves.

Can you check whether you get a signal from the pre-amp out? If you do then the HT supply is probably OK, and you are looking at a power amp LT problem.

The likely causes of this could be:

1) Broken connection/ cold solder joint in LT wiring.

2) LT winding on the transformer has failed.

Less likely:

3) Heaters to power valves wired in series, and one valve heater has gone open circuit. Can test this by using a multimeter to test continuity between pins 2 and 7.

VERY UNLIKELY

4) LT fuse has blown. (Most amps don't have an LT fuse, although this actually contravenes  electrical safety regulations!!)

Incidentally are you using 6L6s or EL34s? EL34s have a greater LT current requirement and are more likely to cause faults 1 and 2 to manifest themselves.

Regardless, I suspect a trip to a competent tech is in order here.


silentrage

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #10 on: December 11, 2008, 07:15:03 PM »
I can't see if the pre-amp tubes light up, they have a metal casing @_@

I get a good signal from the pre-amp out on clean channel though, and a very faint signal on the lead channel.

What's LT? Sorry I'm a tube nube. :(


Twinfan

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #11 on: December 11, 2008, 07:26:07 PM »
The metal casings twist and come off, then you can see the valves.  Try that first and see if they're lit with the power on...

jpfamps

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2008, 07:37:10 PM »
OK, sounds like you need to take it to a tech.

The LT supply is the low voltage supply that heats the filaments in the valves in your amp. This is needed for them to conduct current. If this dies, your valves will not conduct current, and thus you will have no sound.

Its difficult to diagnose the problem with out seeing the amp, but my guess is that some part of the LT supply has died. This may power some of the valves in the preamp share LT with the power amp. THis is why the clean channel works OK but the distortion channel is very low output. My guess is that the first valve stage is common to both channels and runs of a separate LT supply (this is some that you can use a DC supply in the first few valve stages and thus reduce hum).

Regardless, I doubt you will be able to sort this out yourself.

silentrage

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2008, 09:12:06 PM »
Thanks, that was very informative. :)

I'll take it to a tech and get it sorted out.


jpfamps

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Re: Amp died...
« Reply #14 on: December 12, 2008, 05:14:20 PM »
Let us know how you get on — I'd like to know what the fault was!