Power on right channel not quite right. Need suggestions

last lemming · 1428

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Offline last lemming

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So the first set of tests, tested fine, but when I did the voltage checked the right channel was off:

IA = 216V
IB = 210V
OA = 213V
OB = 158V
OC = 75V
OD = 95V
OKA = 72V
OKB = 97V
OKC = 2.54V
OKD = 1.63V

I’ll check over my connections, but is there something I should hone in on?



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #1 on: March 14, 2021, 11:19:12 AM
The middle leg of Q2A likely needs a lot more heat to be well soldered.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

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Offline last lemming

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Reply #2 on: March 14, 2021, 11:34:23 AM
I just noticed the 2 leds next to OC are not lit.

I’ll look into the middle leg
« Last Edit: March 14, 2021, 11:45:50 AM by last lemming »



Offline last lemming

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Reply #3 on: March 14, 2021, 12:08:53 PM
Ok, the middle legs are all well and soldered. Now the OA and OC LEDS come on but flicker.



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #4 on: March 14, 2021, 12:16:06 PM
Flickering tends to mean something is loose, which still points to a flaky solder joint.  DC voltages are still most important, did those change?

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline last lemming

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Reply #5 on: March 14, 2021, 12:27:33 PM
So I cleaned the board, and retested and the values are good now, but now, but the LEDs on OC don’t light up at all now

New numbers

IA = 216V
IB = 214V
OA = 167V
OB = 162V
OC = 97V
OD = 96V
OKA = 98V
OKB = 978V
OKC = 1.87V
OKD = 1.46V
« Last Edit: March 14, 2021, 12:34:45 PM by last lemming »



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #6 on: March 14, 2021, 12:43:30 PM
That is a working set of voltages.  Do the LEDs glow in a dark room?

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline last lemming

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Reply #7 on: March 14, 2021, 12:53:25 PM
No. Not at all.   I even reflowed them.   They flickered earlier, now they just don’t work. Where does the power on the fed the from?

When I cleaned the board from flux I used rubbing alcohol, could plugging in the unit before alcohol is 100% dry blow out the LEDs?

Would a bad tube do this?
« Last Edit: March 14, 2021, 01:09:18 PM by last lemming »



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #8 on: March 14, 2021, 01:30:30 PM
I would definitely not reflow the LEDs.  When they are not illuminating, it's rarely ever the LED connections themselves, but rather other parts of the amp that aren't working properly that are unrelated to the LEDs themselves.  If you apply too much heat to the LEDs, they can be damaged as they are not particularly hefty and they get pretty warm from soldering.

You don't have a bad tube.  Your voltages are perfect, as far as the tubes know your Eros is working perfectly (assuming OKB is 97.8V, not 978V)

Can you post some photos of the top and bottom of your center C4S board that's mounted up front?

Paul "PB" Birkeland

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Offline last lemming

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Reply #9 on: March 14, 2021, 01:37:14 PM
I’ll try to get some photos. I tried plugging in the unit to my stereo and I started getting a kind of rumbling with a hiss type noise from the right channel. Left channel was quiet at first, then after about a minute I started getting a similar but not quite the same noise from the left channel. This is with the unit plugged on and connected to the amp, but no record spinning.



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #10 on: March 14, 2021, 01:47:45 PM
Did you have a turntable hooked into the Eros when you hooked it up to your stereo?  With an open pair of inputs, you could run into some issues. 

Without a DC voltage problem to chase, you could certainly try just replacing the LEDs on their own. 

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline last lemming

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Reply #11 on: March 14, 2021, 02:03:36 PM
I did have all the interconnects connected.

Btw, this the bottom photo was taken prior to the center leg being resoldered.  The top is current.

Do the LEDs contribute to the sound?
« Last Edit: March 14, 2021, 02:16:04 PM by last lemming »



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #12 on: March 14, 2021, 02:25:54 PM
It looks like possibly you may be using lead free solder, or perhaps an iron that's not hot enough (maybe both).

The LEDs bias the current source loads.  They have to be HLMP-6000 diodes, other choices may simply not work properly.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline last lemming

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Reply #13 on: March 14, 2021, 02:31:11 PM
I’m using Kester Sn60Pb40 with rosin and my temp is 681F

I guess I’ll order more LEDs and give it another shot there.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2021, 02:48:57 PM by last lemming »



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #14 on: March 14, 2021, 03:22:34 PM
If you can turn the temp up over 800F, that will help.  Despite the hotter temperature, the solder will flow out far more quickly and result in your parts heating up less.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man