What to do after i finish recap?

[rg12]

Hello
I just finished recapping my whole amp and then i saw a thread in another forum about testing using a bulb and pmv (dunno what it is).

What is a PMV? what is that test with the bulb?

I just connected my amp to the whole system after every few caps that i replaced to make sure everything is fine and thats it.

Did i do something wrong? do i need to let it play for a while? i replaced more than 30 caps!

[ChrisFox]

It's a Poor Man's Variac. Use a power strip and install power box to install light bulbs. You start with a low watt bulb hook amp up to it. If it glows bright you have a short. Then just keep stepping up the bulb watts.

[Speedskater]

More on the "Light Bulb Tester" circuit:

Light Bulb Tester

[rg12]

I don't understand what does the bulb indicate.
If everything is fine, how should the bulb work?

[Mooly]

If everything is fine you don't need it.

It's a useful tool when repairing amps as any fault (such as output transistors conducting heavily) will light the bulb, which limits the overall current saving any disasters such as blowing transistors.

[rg12]

So why does the bulb need to be changed every time to higher watt?

Is there such thing as breaking in the amp after recap? i heard something
about playing music for a few hours or something...is there anything true to this?

[Mooly]

Originally Posted by rg12

So why does the bulb need to be changed every time to higher watt?

Is there such thing as breaking in the amp after recap? i heard something
about playing music for a few hours or something...is there anything true to this?

A 60 or 100 watt bulb is usually all that's needed, personally I'd never work my way up in wattage... you know if the thing is OK,

Break in... again personally no... it doesn't happen. Silicon, as in IC's and transistors doesn't change, neither do resistors. Caps do change slightly (electroylitics) when first used but it all settles down very quickly... seconds only... as the cap "forms".

Others will disagree I know.
SY had a brilliant answer,
Op amp swapping

[rg12]

Got it, thanks.

[Speedskater]

For other users:
If the bulb lights brightly then something is shorted or mis-wired inside the unit. (with no audio signal at the input)
You start with a low wattage bulb, to limit damage is something is bad.
Later you may use a high wattage bulb with high level audio signals.

[oshifis]

100 Watt light bulbs are banned in the European Union It's time to conserve a stock over there until it's too late...