Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => Legacy Kit Products => MonAmour => Topic started by: Thermioniclife on September 08, 2021, 03:13:17 PM

Title: New meters
Post by: Thermioniclife on September 08, 2021, 03:13:17 PM
So I had problems with both the meters, I ended up removing them and replacing them. I partially recessed them and they work great. Dead nuts on with actual measurement.
My Spidey senses tell me someone else may do something similar.
I mounted them facing the 2a3 because I am working on a vertical mounting system keeping the footprint as narrow as possible.
The amps sound very good.
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: debk on September 08, 2021, 11:26:54 PM
I am planning on doing the same thing, except I will mount them to face forward.  I will post a picture when I make the modification

Title: Re: New meters
Post by: debk on September 09, 2021, 02:59:34 PM
I added the digital panel meters to my MonAmour amps.  Simple to do and I like the look.
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: debk on September 09, 2021, 03:00:19 PM
and the top side
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Thermioniclife on September 09, 2021, 03:19:57 PM
Looking good Deb, I have one recessed and one full height, still haven't decided yet, I'm fickle.
My Spidey senses were correct, It's funny how great minds think alike.  ;D
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: johnsonad on September 09, 2021, 04:25:25 PM
Great idea! I like both versions!
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Thermioniclife on September 09, 2021, 04:54:07 PM
Thank you Aaron.
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Ivan303 on September 10, 2021, 04:01:47 AM
Dose Bottlehead have an 'official' fix, or is this it?

If so, does it come with instructions?  Where to get the meters?

Both of my meters bit the dust as well, and within just a few hours of operation.  No rush, just curious.

TIA
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 10, 2021, 04:43:00 AM
What is really odd about this is that I put a few dozen of these into service in various projects before we ever released them in a kit.  One out of about 25 ended up being sticky but started working properly with a whack.  Some of these meters have been operating daily for five plus years now without a hiccup.

It would help if we could get some of these back to see what's going on with them.
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Thermioniclife on September 10, 2021, 09:20:25 AM
Hi PB, I will send my meters back to your attention.
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Ivan303 on September 13, 2021, 05:00:45 AM
Hi PB

Should be able to send them back.

Do I need to keep those four little resistors in the circuit?  Send them back with the meter and short around them?

Replace them with new little resistors?

Wait for replacement meters?

How should this work?

Be happy to do it any way that makes sense for you.

Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 13, 2021, 06:48:07 AM
The latest meters we have been getting are already compensated, so the resistors aren't necessary any longer.
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Ivan303 on September 13, 2021, 11:07:41 AM
Hi Paul,

As those four little parallel resistors are in series with the 2A3 cathode, exactly how does that work, exactly?

Cathode current goes through the new meter?

Meter across some other part of the circuit?

Are you sending out new meters with instructions?



Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 13, 2021, 12:56:50 PM
The paralleled resistors set the meter to read the scale that's displayed on it.  With no resistors it will go to 100mA with 1mA of current.  The new meters have this built into the inside of the meter.

DC current goes through the cathode resistor(s) and meter,  AC current not so much.

We are not sending out the meters with instructions.  You just replace old with new.
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Ivan303 on September 14, 2021, 04:49:33 AM
Sounds like I should wait until I receive replacement meters before I return the old ones???
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 14, 2021, 05:59:29 AM
Yes, I wouldn't run the amp without them!
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Ivan303 on September 15, 2021, 09:18:46 AM
What is the proper process for obtaining replacement meters?

TIA

Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 15, 2021, 10:02:23 AM
replacementparts(at)bottlehead(dot)com
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 30, 2021, 08:38:19 AM
Going forward we (meaning I) will be testing all of the meters before they get sent out.  Requesting a bunch of returns for the ones that don't work should force the manufacturer to remedy the issue.
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: 2wo on October 01, 2021, 06:02:31 PM
I am glad that you  persevered with these, they look so cool ...John
Title: Re: New meters have Arrived!!!!
Post by: Ivan303 on October 05, 2021, 04:34:46 AM
Thanks!

So I can just pop these in, no 4 ea. tiny resistors needed?
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Paul Birkeland on October 05, 2021, 04:55:08 AM
Correct.  For years and years these meters came uncompensated, so they would go to full scale with 1mA of current.  Putting the three resistors across the terminals compensated for this so they would read correctly, and this is not at all abnormal for meters.  Recently, probably due to people complaining, these have been coming with compensation resistance already added internally, which alleviates the need for the three paralleled resistors. 

Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Altecboy on March 01, 2022, 11:34:26 PM
Where can those digital meters be purchased?

thank you,
Altecboy
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Thermioniclife on March 02, 2022, 07:28:53 AM
I petitioned the designer along with another member. His name is Peter Millett. Email is [email protected]
He had discontinued them a few years ago due to light demand. However he had parts to build a small quantity and agreed to do so.
I can't guarantee he has more parts or would be willing to build any more but it doesn't hurt to ask. The model # is Si-DPM
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Altecboy on March 02, 2022, 09:49:36 AM
Thank you Lee.
Title: Re: New meters
Post by: Altecboy on March 11, 2022, 11:47:55 PM
I contacted Pete Millet.  He has none in stock, but if he note sufficient interest, he will make some more.  So if you are interested, let him know.