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Post subject: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 6:09 pm
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Professional Musician
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Location: Lee, MA
Two days ago, I traded an Egnater Tweaker for a Deluxe Hot Rod. It worked fine for those 2 days. Today I came home from work and turned it on. I strummed a few chords & it died. I pulled out the fuse and it was blown. I bought the exact replacement (which for some reason seemed to have a thicker filiment. I installed it & turned the amp on. As soon as I tool it off standby, it started cracklinf and I saw sparks and smelled smoke. I tool the back off to see what was sparking and it was the transformer. What the hell is wrong with this, am I going to have to buyy a new transformer? What would make a good working amp go like this.


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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 6:36 pm
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Are you sure it was the EXACT replacement. More then likely it was a bad power tube that blew the original fuse. And the beefier fuse took out the power transformer,When it didn't blow out at the time it was supposed to. when the power tubes were bad.


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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 6:38 pm
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That's too bad. Too late now, but I reiterate; If a fuse blows, there is likely a problem, which should have been checked out before hastily replacing the fuse. :? Are you sure that you used the same 3 amp 250 volt fuse?

It could have been simply a bad tube, the transformers usually just don't go out. If the bad tube had been replaced before trying a new fuse, it might have been OK.

It is still possible that you have a bad tube and simply smoked the screen grid resistors, or something else. Why do you think that the smoke/sparking came from the transformer, and which transformer? A burnt transformer has a very unique smell, quite unlike burnt resistor smell.

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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 6:56 pm
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Failed the "smoke test", eh?

Sounds catastrophic.

Tough break......

:cry:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 7:20 pm
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I know its the transformer because I pulled off the back, and when I turned it on after replacibg the fuse (the correct one) the sparks were coming from inside the transformer.


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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:37 pm
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Luckily, I live in MA which gives more consumer rights thanv other states if he doesn't do thev right thing and give me my amp back. IM trying to decide if its worth it to bring it to a tech. I built a couple amps, but much simpler circuits. I know a good transformer will be about $200/ ill need new power tubes, plus diagnostic fee. It is just a Deluxe hot rod, they're not expensive to begin with. I don't know if I should just buy another amp, if this kid tries to duck me.


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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:56 pm
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Which transformer? The one on the far left is the power transformer, the one in the middle is the output transformer. If it is the power transformer, I'd suspect a bad output tube.

Hard to imagine that a fuse blew, but now the transformer sparks and yet the fuse doesn't blow again? :? I still wonder what value fuse you are using. If you caused the transformer to blow by replacing the fuse with the wrong value, not the seller's fault. It is possible that the transformer just went bad, but seems very unlikely. A piece of the puzzle is missing here. :?:

It's probably too late now, but normally if a fuse blows, pull the output tubes, turn on and see if new fuse blows. If fuse doesn't blow, then possibly a bad output tube. And, I would not trust that transformer anymore, if it sparked from inside as you say. And you need to verify if the tubes are good in order to be more sure of the source of the problem.

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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:18 pm
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They did blow after I replaced them, againh with the correct fuses; 3A 250 V. When it happened, I came home from work, a guy I was trading a pedal with was 5 minutes away. I turned on the amp, just like I did yesterday, kept it on standby. Then we plugged the pedals in I turned the standby off, the amp made a crackling noise? I was behind the amp when it happened, so I could see the output transformer sparand smelt smoke, then the amp powered off. I went and bought the replacement fuse, thinking maybe the fuse just didn't blow fast enough(yes I bought fast blow). I put in the fuses, and again it crackled for a couple seconds, qne they blew.
I've worked with this stuff before, so I certainly wouldt buy the wrong fuses, and if I was forced for some odd reason to buy a different value, it would have been a lower value. The onlu mod that was done was the volume pot was replaced with an audio taper, done by the seller.


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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:33 pm
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If you were looking for more wattage, The Egnater has the Tweaker 40. This kind of stuff is exactly why I went with Egnater. Too many issues with my HRDlx.
We rehearsed and auditioned two guys for a new Blues band we're putting together and they were blown away by my Rebel 20.

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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:42 pm
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:shock:

You saw sparks and smoke, but thought you would try another fuse anyway?

Maybe trying three or four more fuses would make it work? :roll:

Sorry, I just can't follow this one. :(

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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:59 pm
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Doesn't matter, the Corp lawyer is going to deal withb it. After the seller left, the jewel light was intermittent, I text himb about it, and it shows previous problems that wasn't disclosed before hand.v I'm MA it demonstrates prior knowledge of issues. And onlyb havingv it two days isn't enough time for responsibility to fall to me.


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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:37 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Sorry, I just can't follow this one.


+1

It is a bit convoluted, shimmilou.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:51 pm
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Hmmmm.

Let's see. The OP takes this amp in trade. Notes that the jewel light is intermittant and complains to the other party. Never says if the other party responded. Goes ahead and uses the amp for two days until the fuse blows. Replaces the fuse without bothering to perform any checks on the amp to try and determine why the fuse blew. The amp subsequently destroys itself. The OP states that since he has only had the amp for two days, it is not his responsibility that the amp failed and he sicks his lawyer on the other party. That about sum it up? Oh, and the OP claims to be a professional? This all sounds pretty amatuerish to me. :roll:

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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:07 pm
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Just pull up a chair and have some popcorn, Bill.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: I think I have a blown transformer
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:08 am
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Windwalker,

Never replace a transformer without a good chekup of the amp . You should be sure why transforme blow BEFORE blowing a new one


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