Electrocompaniet AW-250r problem. help please

maxzimum · 30th January 2008, 07:42 AM

Hi,

My Aw-250r just started giving me the following problem.

On low volume the sound in my speakers keeps cutting in and out (like a loose connection somewhere). If I turn the volume up it goes away and stays OK at low volume till I stop the source for more than a few minutes.

I have checked everything and determined that the problem is with the power amplifier somewhere. Till last evening the problem was with the left channel and now it is with the right channel.

The amplifier is less than a year old but since there is no distributor for Electrocompaniet in my country, warranty is a problem.

Would highly appreciate some assistance.

Thanks.

ben goh · 30th January 2008, 09:01 AM

Hi

Check the main supply when it's cut off. The voltage is 67 volts

for output and 72 volts for pre board. Any DC leakage will

cut off too.

Leolabs · 31st January 2008, 01:23 AM

Possible bad PCB contact???

Roar Malmin · 31st January 2008, 06:34 AM

The relays on these behemoths tend to oxidize. Replace them, or take them out and clean them.

Regards
Roar

maxzimum · 1st May 2008, 11:18 AM

Hi,

Sorry for the late response to this post as I just got down to checking the problem.

I took the plastic covers off the relays, sprayed some WD40 on the contacts and cleaned them. Not only has this seemed to have resolved the problem but I think it's sounding better too.

Now my question is, what could have caused the relays to degrade so soon (about one year). Also, the contact quality seems to be very poor to be in the signal path - so is there a way to safely bypass the relays?

Thanks in advance..

Roar Malmin · 1st May 2008, 12:45 PM

I can see that you live in India. Can it be that the humidity is too high? The relays utilized by EC are neither sealed, nor good quality. Maybe you can get hold of some hermetically sealed relays. Also, in my opinion you should not only spray them, but also wipe them with some metallized sanding paper, and them treat them with some electrically lubricant/preservative.

Regards
Roar

maxzimum · 1st May 2008, 03:31 PM

Hi Roar,

It's not really humid where I live, except when it rains (June-August), but is pretty hot and dry.

I was reading somewhere about a snubber circuit - capacitor connected to the relay contacts. Is this something I can use?

Else, do you know off any hermetically sealed relays that I can replace the stock ones with?

I am simply amazed at how much sonic difference the cleaning of the relays has made specialy in the HF.

Thanks.

djk · 1st May 2008, 04:26 PM

Relays generally have a bit of a wipe-ing motion to the contacts.

Speaker relays that fail early on generally don't have this action and get dirty fast. I generally replace them (leaving the cover off), and after soldering spray Deoxit in the contacts (and then snap the cover back on).

I have also added film caps around 0.047µF~0.1µF in parallel with the contacts (if you have the volume up you will hear a little HF bleed through before the relay closes).

maxzimum · 1st May 2008, 05:18 PM

Hi,
Can you confirm if this is parallel with the contacts or the coil? Also, is their any risk in doing so and what to you mean by HF Bleed?

Thanks.

maxzimum · 1st May 2008, 05:30 PM

Also, the relay in the amp has 4 poles.. 2 for the + and 2 or the -. Where do the caps go?

30th January 2008, 07:42 AM	#1
maxzimum diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: India	Electrocompaniet AW-250r problem. help please Hi, My Aw-250r just started giving me the following problem. On low volume the sound in my speakers keeps cutting in and out (like a loose connection somewhere). If I turn the volume up it goes away and stays OK at low volume till I stop the source for more than a few minutes. I have checked everything and determined that the problem is with the power amplifier somewhere. Till last evening the problem was with the left channel and now it is with the right channel. The amplifier is less than a year old but since there is no distributor for Electrocompaniet in my country, warranty is a problem. Would highly appreciate some assistance. Thanks.

1st May 2008, 04:26 PM	#8
djk diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: USA	Relays generally have a bit of a wipe-ing motion to the contacts. Speaker relays that fail early on generally don't have this action and get dirty fast. I generally replace them (leaving the cover off), and after soldering spray Deoxit in the contacts (and then snap the cover back on). I have also added film caps around 0.047µF~0.1µF in parallel with the contacts (if you have the volume up you will hear a little HF bleed through before the relay closes). __________________ Candidates for the Darwin Award should not read this author.

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
Solen SUB-250R bass boost	Jonnyc	Solid State	2	4th December 2011 04:26 AM
Electrocompaniet ECI-4???	kimschips	Solid State	11	24th March 2010 04:22 PM
Electrocompaniet AW-250r Gain	maxzimum	Solid State	6	4th January 2009 07:05 PM
Electrocompaniet Help	Andypairo	Solid State	66	9th July 2008 10:13 AM
Electrocompaniet AW 250 AMP.	hogue	Solid State	1	1st March 2004 05:48 AM

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

30th January 2008, 09:01 AM	#2
ben goh diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: nil	Hi Check the main supply when it's cut off. The voltage is 67 volts for output and 72 volts for pre board. Any DC leakage will cut off too.

31st January 2008, 01:23 AM	#3
Leolabs diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bukit Mertajam	Possible bad PCB contact???

31st January 2008, 06:34 AM	#4
Roar Malmin diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2006	The relays on these behemoths tend to oxidize. Replace them, or take them out and clean them. Regards Roar

1st May 2008, 11:18 AM	#5
maxzimum diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: India	Hi, Sorry for the late response to this post as I just got down to checking the problem. I took the plastic covers off the relays, sprayed some WD40 on the contacts and cleaned them. Not only has this seemed to have resolved the problem but I think it's sounding better too. Now my question is, what could have caused the relays to degrade so soon (about one year). Also, the contact quality seems to be very poor to be in the signal path - so is there a way to safely bypass the relays? Thanks in advance..

1st May 2008, 12:45 PM	#6
Roar Malmin diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2006	I can see that you live in India. Can it be that the humidity is too high? The relays utilized by EC are neither sealed, nor good quality. Maybe you can get hold of some hermetically sealed relays. Also, in my opinion you should not only spray them, but also wipe them with some metallized sanding paper, and them treat them with some electrically lubricant/preservative. Regards Roar

1st May 2008, 03:31 PM	#7
maxzimum diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: India	Hi Roar, It's not really humid where I live, except when it rains (June-August), but is pretty hot and dry. I was reading somewhere about a snubber circuit - capacitor connected to the relay contacts. Is this something I can use? Else, do you know off any hermetically sealed relays that I can replace the stock ones with? I am simply amazed at how much sonic difference the cleaning of the relays has made specialy in the HF. Thanks.

1st May 2008, 05:18 PM	#9
maxzimum diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: India	Hi, Can you confirm if this is parallel with the contacts or the coil? Also, is their any risk in doing so and what to you mean by HF Bleed? Thanks.

1st May 2008, 05:30 PM	#10
maxzimum diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: India	Also, the relay in the amp has 4 poles.. 2 for the + and 2 or the -. Where do the caps go?

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