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Bottlehead Kits => Crack => Topic started by: BZ58 on May 24, 2017, 01:57:33 AM

Title: Snap! While wiggling output tube (resolved)
Post by: BZ58 on May 24, 2017, 01:57:33 AM

Trying out some output tubes. Loud SNAP! happens when wiggling tube. Left channel stopped working. Same happens now with stock tube.

Both LEDs are lit up. Fuse looks like new.

Title: Re: Snap! While wiggling output tube
Post by: BZ58 on May 24, 2017, 02:03:12 AM

First time soldering. Did I use too little? Too much?

Simple question by the way. Is the term "reflowing" the same as "resoldering"? Also, if I fix a joint, is it sometimes sufficient to reheat the existing solder or is it always best to completely remove it and reapply fresh solder?

Title: Re: Snap! While wiggling output tube
Post by: fullheadofnothing on May 24, 2017, 07:01:58 AM

1) Voltages...?

2) Do not move tubes when the amplifier is on.

3) Reflowing can involve adding solder, but only where necessary. Removing and reattaching is only necessary in cases where the attachment was never made in the first place. Your amounts of solder look about right, although several joints look like they were not heated for a long enough time for the solder to properly flow.

Title: Re: Snap! While wiggling output tube
Post by: mcandmar on May 24, 2017, 07:06:05 AM

That bottom pic of the tube socket, there is a red wire on the top right of the image connecting to the terminal strip that doesn't look like its soldered at all.

Title: Re: Snap! While wiggling output tube
Post by: BZ58 on May 25, 2017, 01:56:24 AM

Thanks for the replies!

I resolved the issue.

Reflowing some of the joints worked well. I replaced the 1 1/2" red wire connecting B6 to 9U. Also moved things around with a wooden chop stick as someone suggested in another thread, and found what was making the static.

Title: Re: Snap! While wiggling output tube (resolved)
Post by: Paul Birkeland on May 26, 2017, 12:01:56 PM

B1 and B5 aren't all that well flowed and could produce these symptoms.