Failing step two of the secondary transformer test (11 & 12)

[crashlandis]

Hey all,

Just got my Crack 1.1 kit and was feeling like a stud making great solder joints. I wired up in the 115v-130v configuration after testing my outlets at 119.5v. Switch resistance check passed, went to do the secondary power transformer test and measured a flat 6v at 7 and 9 but 0v at 11 and 12 which should read 175v. Redid all solder joints, reread wiring instructions (from the previous section), checked fuse, and checked power switch. No dice.

Any thoughts? I've searched for anyone else with this combination of symptoms and cannot find anyone who has mentioned them.

Many thanks,

A saddened newcomer

[Paul Birkeland]

Are you certain that your meter is set to resolve that high of a voltage?  If your meter isn't autoranging and you have it on a low setting to measure the 6V winding, it may be reading "OL" for "Over Limit" for the high voltage configuration.

It would also be a good idea to double check the low voltage winding again, just to be sure this isn't an intermittent loose connection at work. 

You could always post some photos of the build so far too, as well as the meter you are using. 

[crashlandis]

Are you certain that your meter is set to resolve that high of a voltage?  If your meter isn't autoranging and you have it on a low setting to measure the 6V winding, it may be reading "OL" for "Over Limit" for the high voltage configuration.

It would also be a good idea to double check the low voltage winding again, just to be sure this isn't an intermittent loose connection at work. 

You could always post some photos of the build so far too, as well as the meter you are using. 

Hi Paul,

Thank you for the quick reply. Please see the attached photos. I checked all again and am reading 6v steadily at 7 and 9 and 119v between 16 and 18, as I saw you suggested someone test as well in another thread. When I hook up to 11 and 12 with the voltmeter at the 200v AC dial setting and plug in the power cord, the numbers quickly bounce but settle on 0.

The voltmeter is a $12 Amazon purchase AstroAI AM33D. I also checked the small red wires to each of the terminals of the transformer are not broken.

Many thanks,
Landis

[Paul Birkeland]

With the amp unplugged, what is the DC resistance you see between terminals 11 and 12?

[crashlandis]

I get a null reading between 11 and 12 while I get a reading of 0.3 between 7 & 9 and 9.4 between 16 & 18.

[crashlandis]

I guess it's actually an "over-load" reading.

[Paul Birkeland]

It's possible that one of the wires coming out of the transformer snapped off.  I would recommend popping the wires off the power transformer and removing it, then seeing if you are able visually locate the break in the wire where the terminals are.

[crashlandis]

Where am I looking for broken wires? Under the bell top? between the terminals? There are no instructions on troubleshooting a transformer, so I'm feeling somewhat lost.

[Paul Birkeland]

Where the numbered terminals are is where the wires from inside the terminals are brought out.  If you look on the bottom side of those terminals, the wire is wrapped around the terminal and soldered.

[crashlandis]

All of those connections appear to be in good order. I tugged gently on each with a piece of wire and nothing is lose.

Kind of baffled here. Any chance it's a bad transformer?

[Paul Birkeland]

I would go ahead and contact replacmentparts(at)bottlehead(dot)com and let them know your name and order number, as well as linking to this thread.  We will need to replace that for you and likely get that one back. 

The issue that we used to see somewhat commonly would be accidentally cut wires when wiring up the previous version of this transformer, but these terminals are better protected and we haven't seen those issues.

[crashlandis]

I sent them an email. Thank you, Paul, for your time and expertise.