Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => S.E.X. Kit => Topic started by: pjnestor on June 11, 2017, 02:27:16 PM

Title: One side out [resolved]
Post by: pjnestor on June 11, 2017, 02:27:16 PM

Hi,

I've been using an SEX v 2.1 with a C4s upgrade for several years and it has been working without any trouble.  Recently, the volume on one side dropped off a lot.  Its barely audible.  Switching inputs, speakers and tubes made no difference.

Voltages on the C4s board 0A 354, 1A 67, and 0B 288, 1B 308
A5 is 67, A6 2.2, B5 290, B6 9.4.  The LEDs on 1 side of the board are not lit.

Any suggestions on how to fix it?  I suspect that the C4s is the trouble, is that correct?

Thanks,
Pat

Title: Re: One side out
Post by: Mordicai on June 11, 2017, 06:14:26 PM

Have you reflowed the connections on the C4S board ?

Title: Re: One side out
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 12, 2017, 12:44:25 PM

Quote from: pjnestor on June 11, 2017, 02:27:16 PM

Voltages on the C4s board 0A 354, 1A 67, and 0B 288, 1B 308
A5 is 67, A6 2.2, B5 290, B6 9.4.  The LEDs on 1 side of the board are not lit.

These are pretty tough to read, and I think some are backwards.  Can you check that my list is a correct interpretation?

IA: 354
OA: 67
IB: 308
OB: 288
B5: 290V
B6: 9.4V

If this is the case, your C4S feeding the B side is basically shorted closed and acting as a piece of wire.  I would imagine that seeing some photos of the build could be very helpful in this instance!

-PB

Title: Re: One side out
Post by: pjnestor on June 14, 2017, 03:00:16 PM

Sorry about the format for the voltages, but your list is correct. I have pictures of the board.  Are other area helpful?

Title: Re: One side out
Post by: JeffYoung on June 16, 2017, 05:51:09 AM

Perhaps it's a short between ground (the screw and star washer) and the Y+ pad?  (See arrow in attached photo.)

Title: Re: One side out
Post by: fullheadofnothing on June 16, 2017, 07:34:59 AM

That screw goes into a nylon washer, and therefore is not connected to anything. Also it's on the A side of the board, and it's the B side that has the issue.

On the B side, the soldering of D2 looks sketchy. There is solder in a hole that isn't supposed to have anything attached to it (b/t the 499Ω resistor and Y+). Is that an errant blob, or a connection to something? Pictures of the underside would be helpful.

Title: Re: One side out
Post by: pjnestor on June 16, 2017, 03:42:24 PM

I flipped the board around a to b and the quiet channel switched sides.  I reflowed all the connections.  No difference.

Title: Re: One side out
Post by: fullheadofnothing on June 16, 2017, 08:09:52 PM

Does the issue follow the tube?

Title: Re: One side out
Post by: Paul Birkeland on June 20, 2017, 09:50:10 AM

I would reflow all those joints on the bottom of the PC board.

Title: Re: One side out
Post by: pjnestor on July 03, 2017, 05:44:05 PM

I replaced the board and now its working again.  Reheating didn't change anything.

Pat