Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => BeePre => Topic started by: joepiecuch on June 15, 2021, 02:18:02 PM

Title: Bee Pre dropped channel [resolved]
Post by: joepiecuch on June 15, 2021, 02:18:02 PM
after something like a couple of years of daily problem-free use, my Bee Pre has lost audio on the A channel. the issue doesn't follow tubes, which all glow. observing power up from the underside, i note that the LEDs on the A channel c4s light up much more slowly than the ones on the B channel. furthermore, the b-side LEDs on that c4s board start to light up and then drop out while the LEDs on the a-side of the board stay lit. that seemed like it might be a distinctive sequence of events suggesting something specific. if not, what further diagnostic info would be helpful?
Title: Re: Bee Pre dropped channel
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 15, 2021, 02:32:13 PM
What are the IA, OA, IB, OB, and Kreg voltages on the bad channels?  Pos IN and pos OUT are probably also helpful. 

You're welcome to make the drive over here too, you know where I am!
Title: Re: Bee Pre dropped channel
Post by: joepiecuch on June 15, 2021, 03:09:57 PM
 IA        187   186
OA        145   145
IB         145   145
OB          98   142
Kreg       4.7    3.2
Pos IN   13.9  13.9
Pos OUT  9.9   9.9

yep, if it comes to that, i can find you!
Title: Re: Bee Pre dropped channel
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 15, 2021, 03:18:36 PM
The high OB voltage in conjunction with the low Kreg voltage mean that the 300B on that side isn't drawing any current.  This can happen for a wide variety of reasons like a broken wire, loose component, loose socket, stuff like that.  If the BeePre hadn't ever worked, solder joints (especially on the center leg of each MJE5731A) can totally cause this problem, but that's less likely since the BeePre has been in service for a while. 

Title: Re: Bee Pre dropped channel
Post by: joepiecuch on June 15, 2021, 04:32:55 PM
thanks; so OB should be approx. 100 and Kreg approx. 5? i think i'll do some pin and socket cleaning and tensioning as a first step.
Title: Re: Bee Pre dropped channel
Post by: joepiecuch on June 15, 2021, 05:41:13 PM
well...it would appear that it was, after all, the tube. for laughs i swapped in an old JJ and suddenly everything was testing ok; put back the EH and bad readings returned. apparently when i thought i traded sides with the original pair i did not. or something.