Trouble with my Paramounts [resolved]

patm · 4182

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Offline patm

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on: January 06, 2016, 11:10:45 AM
Hello,

I posted about this problem maybe 8 months ago. One of my Paramounts just stops playing music. When I get a look at it on the workbench, only 1 of the LEDs is on. In the process of checking voltages the other three LEDs come on. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to LEDs coming on. (I'm sure there is to someone more skilled). The only voltages that are out of line are:
#   Me     BH
9.  150.  195
19  152. 195

Before when the LEDs came on during testing I put it back in the system and it worked for 8 months. Now it makes a scratching sound intermittently and then quits playing music. Tubes are on.

While on the workbench I did a chopstick test and never could make the LEDs turn off.

Help

Pat McSween
« Last Edit: February 04, 2016, 07:13:51 PM by Caucasian Blackplate »

In the beginning there was nothing, then it blew up!

FP III, Paramount 300b (Takatsuki TA-300B), both with Mundorf S/O caps, Mikes iron, HFBG Eros,Oppo 103,Rega RP6 2m black ,Vaughn Triode JR II


Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #1 on: January 06, 2016, 11:32:52 AM
In the process of checking voltages the other three LEDs come on.

This is almost always a flaky solder joint or a broken wire.  I would start by reheating every solder joint the amplifier.  Does this behavior occur no matter where you are checking voltages in the amplifier, or only at certain spots?

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline butchbass

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Reply #2 on: January 06, 2016, 01:15:25 PM
I had a similar problem with my Foreplay III. It turned out to be a bad solder joint on one of the capacitors in the HV power supply.

Butch Gross
Stereomour II/  Blumenstein Orcas, Dungenes/Schiit Bifrost Multibit/Amarra


Offline patm

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Reply #3 on: January 06, 2016, 01:52:59 PM
Thanks for the replies, I will dive in tomorrow.

In the beginning there was nothing, then it blew up!

FP III, Paramount 300b (Takatsuki TA-300B), both with Mundorf S/O caps, Mikes iron, HFBG Eros,Oppo 103,Rega RP6 2m black ,Vaughn Triode JR II


Offline patm

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Reply #4 on: January 28, 2016, 07:09:54 AM
Hello,

The good news is that I found the intermittent problem I think. Black wire from r b twisted pair ps board to 16U was broken under the board, only found it when I tried to move the wires to install soft start kit.

My issue now is that this was a 2010 kit, prior to the 2011 change to the kit. I have one ss board installed and the other board is ready to install and I have 4 of what is described on page 15 of my manual as a 220 ohm 1/4W carbon composition resister (r,r,br,go). And I have two larger resisters that also test in the 220 ohm range with the same color code (r,r,br,go). On page 20 of my manual, it asks me to install a 220 ohm carbon composition resister (r,r,br,go) from B7 to 18L.
The next step asks me to install a 220 ohm carbon composition resister (r,r,br,go) from B3 to 20L. In the picture I can clearly see that the resisters are different, the one from B3 to 20L appears to be like the 1/4W one from pg 15 and the one from B7 to 18L is like the larger resisters I have 2 of left.

I am officially confused. Help

Pat McSween

In the beginning there was nothing, then it blew up!

FP III, Paramount 300b (Takatsuki TA-300B), both with Mundorf S/O caps, Mikes iron, HFBG Eros,Oppo 103,Rega RP6 2m black ,Vaughn Triode JR II


Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #5 on: January 28, 2016, 07:22:23 AM
It would help to see a photo of what you have. 
-PB

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline fullheadofnothing

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Reply #6 on: January 28, 2016, 07:31:58 AM
They are all 220Ω resistors. Look at the color codes. The two in the manual are probably from different batches, but they are clearly 220Ω carbon comp resistors. Use what you have.

Joshua Harris

I Write the Manuals That Make The Whole World Sing
Kit Packer Emeritus


Offline patm

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Reply #7 on: January 28, 2016, 08:14:55 AM
Thanks for the prompt reply.
I guess one of the things I was worried about was that I appear to have 2 many resisters left and the other thing was that there might be different watage requirements.

My camera bat is charging, post pic when charged.

I haven't applied power yet. I will wait untill I post the pic.

Pat

In the beginning there was nothing, then it blew up!

FP III, Paramount 300b (Takatsuki TA-300B), both with Mundorf S/O caps, Mikes iron, HFBG Eros,Oppo 103,Rega RP6 2m black ,Vaughn Triode JR II


Offline patm

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Reply #8 on: January 28, 2016, 08:41:47 AM
This what I have

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1161.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq517%2FPatmcsween%2F3c3456222b19bbcb43efa3176d376014.jpg&hash=bdede29ba2d57f56e28b17e01d5dc88e62b7d3d7)

In the beginning there was nothing, then it blew up!

FP III, Paramount 300b (Takatsuki TA-300B), both with Mundorf S/O caps, Mikes iron, HFBG Eros,Oppo 103,Rega RP6 2m black ,Vaughn Triode JR II


Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #9 on: January 28, 2016, 09:11:30 AM
The larger ones will fit on the sockets just fine.  My guess is that the 1/4 watt parts were out of stock (they take many, many, many weeks to get from the factory when the suppliers run out), so two 1/2 watt parts were added as substitutes.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline patm

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Reply #10 on: January 28, 2016, 09:35:24 AM
Thanks,

You guys rock. I must admit that some times I am afraid you guys will find out how little I know about this stuff and kick me out.

I installed two of the 1/2 watt ones in the 9 pin of the modded amp so I will install the remaining two in the other amp 9 pin.

I will apply power and volt ck tomorrow morning when my head is clear.

Pat

In the beginning there was nothing, then it blew up!

FP III, Paramount 300b (Takatsuki TA-300B), both with Mundorf S/O caps, Mikes iron, HFBG Eros,Oppo 103,Rega RP6 2m black ,Vaughn Triode JR II


Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #11 on: January 28, 2016, 10:00:45 AM
The 1/2 watt parts are actually a lot stronger physically than the 1/4 watt parts, and they should hold up a lot better to being mounted to a 9 pin socket.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline patm

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Reply #12 on: February 02, 2016, 07:08:04 AM
OK,

The intermittent amp has been modified (SS kit) and everything checks out and it playes music.
Finished installing the kit on the other amp. I have 299.7 volts at pad OB and the trim pot is unresponsive.

In the beginning there was nothing, then it blew up!

FP III, Paramount 300b (Takatsuki TA-300B), both with Mundorf S/O caps, Mikes iron, HFBG Eros,Oppo 103,Rega RP6 2m black ,Vaughn Triode JR II


Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #13 on: February 02, 2016, 07:33:38 AM
What's your Kreg A voltage?

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline patm

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Reply #14 on: February 02, 2016, 07:49:32 AM
8.4vdc

In the beginning there was nothing, then it blew up!

FP III, Paramount 300b (Takatsuki TA-300B), both with Mundorf S/O caps, Mikes iron, HFBG Eros,Oppo 103,Rega RP6 2m black ,Vaughn Triode JR II