Rokford fosgate Amp repair

hrodgmc · 14th April 2011, 12:37 AM

Has anyone ever seen aluminum used as solder on the board traces of a Rockford amp? I've removed the bad transistor banks, but cannot remove the aluminum. It's all gobbed up and I've used a 60w soldering iron and a SMD hot-air rework station. All the solder has been removed via vacuum or copper braid. I'm at my wits end with this thing....
Any help would be appreciated...

Perry Babin · 14th April 2011, 02:44 AM

Can you post a photo of the aluminum?

seankane · 14th April 2011, 07:45 AM

If this is an older dsm amp I have seen the fets short so badly and burn that they melted the bar clamps and gobbed onto the board and melted to the traces.

hrodgmc · 14th April 2011, 01:17 PM

sean, I think you are 100% correct.... Thanks so much. I'll try to post a pic asap.

hrodgmc · 14th April 2011, 05:26 PM

Pic attached. Nothing at 500 degrees celsius phases the larger silver puddles.

seankane · 14th April 2011, 06:05 PM

Your pic did not post, and I think you meant 500 degrees F. 500 degress C is beyond any iron on this planet.......LOL

hrodgmc · 14th April 2011, 06:14 PM

Way for me start out on a forum.. It was 500 F...

I'll try this again.

seankane · 14th April 2011, 06:31 PM

Are you sure this is a rockford fosgate amp? They normally dont use solder traces on their boards, unless this is a type rf or something? I dont think it looks like aluminum, you may need a hotter iron for that thick of material. I would try something in the 85 watt range. Make sure your tip is cleaned and tinned. If you have a small butane torch you could carefully assist your iron in heating this glob of solder. Careful though if you get the traces to hot you could damage components inline with the traces.

Besides type RF the only other blue boards rockford used were specifically manufacture for audio express, but they were late models with MESHA boards. This almost looks like a type RF amp. Can you post a pic of the board?

hrodgmc · 14th April 2011, 06:36 PM

After calling the owner, I found it was an RF 500-1 prime amp. AT 150 ish to replace, I told him to junk it.

Thanks for the info and I'll be ordering a butane and 85 w iron.

seankane · 14th April 2011, 07:02 PM

Yeah prime amps are the cheapo line, cheaper to replace than repair. You will definantely need a butane torch if your gonna be working on Rockford amps to de-solder and re-solder the fets on and off of the MESHA board. I just use an 85 watt iron from radio shack. Its small, very hot and adjustable from 35 watts to 85 watts. They run around $20 and I go through about 3 a year, because they are on all the time.

14th April 2011, 12:37 AM	#1
hrodgmc diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	Rokford fosgate Amp repair Has anyone ever seen aluminum used as solder on the board traces of a Rockford amp? I've removed the bad transistor banks, but cannot remove the aluminum. It's all gobbed up and I've used a 60w soldering iron and a SMD hot-air rework station. All the solder has been removed via vacuum or copper braid. I'm at my wits end with this thing.... Any help would be appreciated...

14th April 2011, 02:44 AM	#2
Perry Babin diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Louisiana	Can you post a photo of the aluminum? __________________ Links >> Basic Car Audio Amp Repair --- Basic Car Audio Electronics --- Basic Transistor Testing --- Basic Switching Power Supply Design --- Basic Computer Skills << Links

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Rockford Fosgate P800.2 [Repair]	woutzor	Car Audio	94	29th May 2010 04:30 AM
Rockford fosgate amp	mike49504	Car Audio	16	25th April 2010 09:30 PM
repair of rockford fosgate power 451s	chemid51	Car Audio	10	26th December 2009 08:34 AM
Repair of Rockford Fosgate Punch 201s	Jackson75	Car Audio	15	3rd November 2009 10:34 PM
help with fosgate 1100a2 amp	ben04srt	Car Audio	31	23rd March 2009 07:56 PM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

14th April 2011, 07:45 AM	#3
seankane diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington State	If this is an older dsm amp I have seen the fets short so badly and burn that they melted the bar clamps and gobbed onto the board and melted to the traces.

14th April 2011, 01:17 PM	#4
hrodgmc diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	sean, I think you are 100% correct.... Thanks so much. I'll try to post a pic asap.

14th April 2011, 05:26 PM	#5
hrodgmc diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	Pic attached. Nothing at 500 degrees celsius phases the larger silver puddles.

14th April 2011, 06:05 PM	#6
seankane diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington State	Your pic did not post, and I think you meant 500 degrees F. 500 degress C is beyond any iron on this planet.......LOL

14th April 2011, 06:31 PM	#8
seankane diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington State	Are you sure this is a rockford fosgate amp? They normally dont use solder traces on their boards, unless this is a type rf or something? I dont think it looks like aluminum, you may need a hotter iron for that thick of material. I would try something in the 85 watt range. Make sure your tip is cleaned and tinned. If you have a small butane torch you could carefully assist your iron in heating this glob of solder. Careful though if you get the traces to hot you could damage components inline with the traces. Besides type RF the only other blue boards rockford used were specifically manufacture for audio express, but they were late models with MESHA boards. This almost looks like a type RF amp. Can you post a pic of the board?

14th April 2011, 06:36 PM	#9
hrodgmc diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	After calling the owner, I found it was an RF 500-1 prime amp. AT 150 ish to replace, I told him to junk it. Thanks for the info and I'll be ordering a butane and 85 w iron.

14th April 2011, 07:02 PM	#10
seankane diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington State	Yeah prime amps are the cheapo line, cheaper to replace than repair. You will definantely need a butane torch if your gonna be working on Rockford amps to de-solder and re-solder the fets on and off of the MESHA board. I just use an 85 watt iron from radio shack. Its small, very hot and adjustable from 35 watts to 85 watts. They run around $20 and I go through about 3 a year, because they are on all the time.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)