Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => S.E.X. Kit => Topic started by: joralieu on October 09, 2021, 11:02:27 AM
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Just installed the C4S upgrade kit. I get 67 volts on OA and 48 volts on OB. Also one of the led's on the B side is not lit. Problem?
Thanks
Joe
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Can you post a picture of your installation?
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Here are some pictures.
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You have a backwards transistor.
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Okay, where is it?
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Okay, where is it?
On the C4S board.
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Okay, I see it now. How does one go about desoldering that? The Board came to me already built.
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There are a few ways to deal with this. You can purchase a replacement PN2907 transistor, then cut the one off that's on there now but cut it so that as much of each lead is left sticking up out of the board as possible, then heat up each pad and slip the lead out, then install the new transistor.
You could also attempt to use solder wick, a spring loaded desolder pump, or an electric vacuum desoldering tool to remove the solder that's there, then turn the transistor around and solder it back in. The PN2907 should still work just fine.
If someone else built this, I would send it back.
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Well I got this last winter when I purchased the sex kit. The upgrade came with the board already assembled. Is this the way they come now? I kinda thought it was weird that the the instructions show how to assemble the board when mine came prebuilt. I guess I will attempt to desolder the transistor and turn it around.
Thanks
Joe
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The upgrade came with the board already assembled. Is this the way they come now?
Our boards do not come pre-built.
I ​kinda thought it was weird that the the instructions show how to assemble the board when mine came prebuilt.
Are you sure you got this from us?
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Yup, ordered it at the same time I bought the sex kit. Another odd thing, it had one completed board and one blank board all the wires and hardware but no components to populate the the blank board.
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This is really odd, as the building where the packing and order fulfillment happens often doesn't have the tools present to populate and solder up a board. When these kits are packed, parts are laid out and several kits are packed all at the same time, so this would be highly unusual. Moreover, if you asked for a built board, that request likely would have gone to me.
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Check the security cam for ghosts soldering in the wee hours .... maybe C4S stands for "Check 4 Spirits"??? :o :P
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Now that I had some time to reflect on this I think I did assemble the board. The soldering was so perfect( except for the backwards transistor) I thought it was built by somebody other than me. The thing is that it came with 2 boards and I must have done the board when I was doing the sex amp and didn't remember that I did it ( it was a while ago) any way my apologies for the complaint. Still would like to fill this empty board just for practice if I could buy the parts from you. By the way I managed to desolder the transistor and flip it and it sounds great?
Thanks
Joe
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Is it possible that the other board might be for a different kit you also have?
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No, the only other kit I have is a crack that I haven't started yet.
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If there's a Speedball with that Crack, it would have that same small board included.
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Hi Joe, I am happy to send you a PayPal invoice for the parts you need for the second board. They are so skinny that I must have packed two in the little baggie by mistake. I will be back in the office on Monday. I am happy that you made good progress with your build. Happy Listening! ~Eileen
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Thanks so much for the stellar customer service. I have a question about the crack I am about to build. I like the look of the bare top plate and transformer bell, should I clear coat them and with what?
Thanks
Joe
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It's a very good idea to paint the transformer cover and the actual metal stack of the transformer itself too. I take painter's tape and wrap a loop around the terminals so they don't get painted, then spray the transformer with black nitro lacquer. I would get a recognizable brand and avoid stuff like the Ace Hardware brand.
For the cover, I find it works well to clean it with steel wool and alcohol, then clear coat or also spray it with the black lacquer.
The chassis plate will look the way it does for a long, long time. When I get old brushed kits back, typically the aluminum is just dirty more than anything.
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What is black nitro?
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Nitrocellulose lacquer.
I have used and like the Mohawk brand which I get from Klingspor's Woodworking Shop.
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What is black nitro?
If you go to the hardware store and there's a spray can that says "lacquer" on it but doesn't say "polyurethane" or "acrylic" on it, you're good to go.