My Cambridge Audio A5 Amplifier

holdenwright · 6th July 2009, 04:56 PM

I had a party on Friday and my beloved Cambridge Audio A5 Amplifier died. it got very hot so i turned it off and left it, now it wont turn on at all. i opened it up checked the fuses they all seem to be fine apart from a few, which have a squiggly shaped wire? however this could be what it should look like i have no idea. please help your sincerely Holden Wright

sakis · 6th July 2009, 05:11 PM

hapent to costumers of mine that actually the amp was ok the outputs and power supply was ok but the transformer was gone

you have to check carefully everything starting very carefully from mains till the end

jaycee · 6th July 2009, 06:00 PM

Cambridge amps are not party amps unfortunately. They have poor protection circuitry and inadequate heatsinking.

If there is no signs of life at all then I concur with Sakis, the transformer has probably packed in.

The official service agent for these amps in the UK is Richer Sounds. You may find they charge more than it is worth, however...

sakis · 6th July 2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jaycee
Cambridge amps are not party amps unfortunately. They have poor protection circuitry and inadequate heatsinking.

If there is no signs of life at all then I concur with Sakis, the transformer has probably packed in.

The official service agent for these amps in the UK is Richer Sounds. You may find they charge more than it is worth, however...

yeah !!!!! i had the same exact problem with our local distributor ....he asked i thing 4-5 times the cost of a costum made trafo

i got it winded new in athens for peanuts .... still working like hell after 4 years of use and abuse ha ha ha

holdenwright · 6th July 2009, 08:07 PM

that makes sence, that was my fear about richer sounds i have no money
How would i go about testing if it is the transformer?
And where would be the best place to buy a new one?

jaycee · 6th July 2009, 08:49 PM

Measure continiuity between the pins of the mains plug with the power switch on. If you don't get a reading, the transformer's shot.

If you do, then you should check the secondary side output with a multimeter set on AC. Power it up and see if there is any output.

Puffin · 6th July 2009, 09:30 PM

A new transformer will be between £12 - £15 from Rapid Electronics or similar. However if you have no experience of electronics then you may be safer to get some who does know to replace it. But you need to test it first or you may waste your money. It could be something else.

Pity I am not nearer Brighton, I would have offered.

jaycee · 6th July 2009, 10:55 PM

Likewise. It is not a fit and forget part. Without some good understanding of electronics repair, you're just risking causing more damage.

For example, you might replace the transformer, only to find the output transistors are also shot.

holdenwright · 6th July 2009, 11:08 PM

I did a bit electronic at gsce, wasn't bad with the old soldiering iron. thank you for all your help x

sakis · 7th July 2009, 07:28 AM

that this a guess .... my guess ...and jaycee thinks that is right ... it could be something else .... so dont rush in to a trafo before you are sure about what is going on ....

6th July 2009, 04:56 PM	#1
holdenwright diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2009	My Cambridge Audio A5 Amplifier I had a party on Friday and my beloved Cambridge Audio A5 Amplifier died. it got very hot so i turned it off and left it, now it wont turn on at all. i opened it up checked the fuses they all seem to be fine apart from a few, which have a squiggly shaped wire? however this could be what it should look like i have no idea. please help your sincerely Holden Wright

6th July 2009, 05:11 PM	#2
sakis diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: nea makri athens greece	twice so far hapent to costumers of mine that actually the amp was ok the outputs and power supply was ok but the transformer was gone you have to check carefully everything starting very carefully from mains till the end __________________ SERVICE ΙΑΠΩΝΙΚΩΝ ΜΗΧΑΝΗΜΑΤΩΝ ΗΧΟΥ www.eastelectronics.gr

7th July 2009, 07:28 AM	#10
sakis diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: nea makri athens greece	keep in mind that this a guess .... my guess ...and jaycee thinks that is right ... it could be something else .... so dont rush in to a trafo before you are sure about what is going on .... __________________ SERVICE ΙΑΠΩΝΙΚΩΝ ΜΗΧΑΝΗΜΑΤΩΝ ΗΧΟΥ www.eastelectronics.gr

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6th July 2009, 06:00 PM	#3
jaycee diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, UK	Cambridge amps are not party amps unfortunately. They have poor protection circuitry and inadequate heatsinking. If there is no signs of life at all then I concur with Sakis, the transformer has probably packed in. The official service agent for these amps in the UK is Richer Sounds. You may find they charge more than it is worth, however...

6th July 2009, 08:07 PM	#5
holdenwright diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2009	that makes sence, that was my fear about richer sounds i have no money How would i go about testing if it is the transformer? And where would be the best place to buy a new one?

6th July 2009, 08:49 PM	#6
jaycee diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, UK	Measure continiuity between the pins of the mains plug with the power switch on. If you don't get a reading, the transformer's shot. If you do, then you should check the secondary side output with a multimeter set on AC. Power it up and see if there is any output.

6th July 2009, 09:30 PM	#7
Puffin diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: U.K	A new transformer will be between £12 - £15 from Rapid Electronics or similar. However if you have no experience of electronics then you may be safer to get some who does know to replace it. But you need to test it first or you may waste your money. It could be something else. Pity I am not nearer Brighton, I would have offered.

6th July 2009, 10:55 PM	#8
jaycee diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, UK	Likewise. It is not a fit and forget part. Without some good understanding of electronics repair, you're just risking causing more damage. For example, you might replace the transformer, only to find the output transistors are also shot.

6th July 2009, 11:08 PM	#9
holdenwright diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2009	I did a bit electronic at gsce, wasn't bad with the old soldiering iron. thank you for all your help x

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