Repair speaker relay in Parasound amp?

valnar · 21st July 2004, 01:45 AM

I have a Parasound HCA-1203A amplifier and one of the speaker relays is bad, according to Parasound. The channel's sound goes in & out after it's been warmed up for 30 minutes.
So I ordered and received the new speaker relay today. The old one in the amp for this (left) channel doesn't seem to want to come out. The new one has about 4 pins - it looks like it just goes into a socket?

How can I remove the old one? I've been tugging on it and it doesn't seem to wanna budge. I don't want to break it.

-Robert

KevinLee · 21st July 2004, 02:13 AM

Valnar,

On something like this it is best to use a solder sucker (pump type). You may even have to flood the pins with solder first to get the solder sucker to work well.

Since the relay is bad anyways feel free to use a hotter than normal iron.

The relay may have been secured to the board with some type of adhesive. Start prying around the edges with a small flat screwdriver. It will eventually come loose.

Good luck.

Kevinlee

valnar · 21st July 2004, 02:16 AM

I think I found the relay on this thing. On the Parasound, it's a clear case with some coiled wire within it. It's the same size as my replacement, which is simple black retangular.

Would I have to solder the new one on then?

-Robert

KevinLee · 21st July 2004, 02:21 AM

Most certainly you will have to solder the new one in. Look at the bottom of the new one and you should get a good idea of what to de-solder on the existing one.

KevinLee

valnar · 21st July 2004, 02:33 AM

Hmm. I guess I'll break out the soldering iron. Thanks for your help.

-Robert

mikeks · 21st July 2004, 07:45 PM

Relays in the output line is a poor solution to DC offset protection.....

...far better to use a DPDT relay in both supply rails.....this should be configured for 'normally closed' operation.....opening only when DC is detected at the output...

....of course the relay contacts won't open simultaneously....

...but this is a red herring, because the DC offset which invokes relay operation is asymmerical anyway....

john curl · 21st July 2004, 10:01 PM

Sorry, Valnar for your probem. Relays are a must in mid-fi equipment in order to SAVE the loudspeaker, if a problem in the amp causes DC to be present. It also works to protect the amp from shorts, input RF, etc. It is a practical solution, but not the most exotic one. IF your relay is bad, then you must replace it. It is necessary in order to complete the circuit path to the speaker, and to protect the amp from shorts, etc.
How do you know that it is the RELAY that is the problem? Did someone tell you, did you guess? If it is the control circuitry, THEN you must send it back to Parasound. They are the only people who could fix the control electronics. Good luck, and nuts to you, mikeks. ;-)

valnar · 21st July 2004, 10:19 PM

Hi John,
Bob @ Parasound said it was probably the relay. I guess he's either heard of the problem before, or its quite common.

I'll find out.

Robert

jam · 21st July 2004, 10:23 PM

What is Mike rambling on about now?...............all Robert wanted to do was fix his amplifier, not redesign it.

21st July 2004, 01:45 AM	#1
valnar diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH	Repair speaker relay in Parasound amp? I have a Parasound HCA-1203A amplifier and one of the speaker relays is bad, according to Parasound. The channel's sound goes in & out after it's been warmed up for 30 minutes. So I ordered and received the new speaker relay today. The old one in the amp for this (left) channel doesn't seem to want to come out. The new one has about 4 pins - it looks like it just goes into a socket? How can I remove the old one? I've been tugging on it and it doesn't seem to wanna budge. I don't want to break it. -Robert

21st July 2004, 10:23 PM	#9
jam diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Charlotte,NC,USA	More Pontification! What is Mike rambling on about now?...............all Robert wanted to do was fix his amplifier, not redesign it.

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21st July 2004, 02:13 AM	#2
KevinLee diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Winnipeg MB Canada	Valnar, On something like this it is best to use a solder sucker (pump type). You may even have to flood the pins with solder first to get the solder sucker to work well. Since the relay is bad anyways feel free to use a hotter than normal iron. The relay may have been secured to the board with some type of adhesive. Start prying around the edges with a small flat screwdriver. It will eventually come loose. Good luck. Kevinlee

21st July 2004, 02:16 AM	#3
valnar diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH	I think I found the relay on this thing. On the Parasound, it's a clear case with some coiled wire within it. It's the same size as my replacement, which is simple black retangular. Would I have to solder the new one on then? -Robert

21st July 2004, 02:21 AM	#4
KevinLee diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Winnipeg MB Canada	Most certainly you will have to solder the new one in. Look at the bottom of the new one and you should get a good idea of what to de-solder on the existing one. KevinLee

21st July 2004, 02:33 AM	#5
valnar diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH	Hmm. I guess I'll break out the soldering iron. Thanks for your help. -Robert

21st July 2004, 07:45 PM	#6
mikeks Account Disabled Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Animal farm	Relays in the output line is a poor solution to DC offset protection..... ...far better to use a DPDT relay in both supply rails.....this should be configured for 'normally closed' operation.....opening only when DC is detected at the output... ....of course the relay contacts won't open simultaneously.... ...but this is a red herring, because the DC offset which invokes relay operation is asymmerical anyway....

21st July 2004, 10:01 PM	#7
john curl diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: berkeley ca	Sorry, Valnar for your probem. Relays are a must in mid-fi equipment in order to SAVE the loudspeaker, if a problem in the amp causes DC to be present. It also works to protect the amp from shorts, input RF, etc. It is a practical solution, but not the most exotic one. IF your relay is bad, then you must replace it. It is necessary in order to complete the circuit path to the speaker, and to protect the amp from shorts, etc. How do you know that it is the RELAY that is the problem? Did someone tell you, did you guess? If it is the control circuitry, THEN you must send it back to Parasound. They are the only people who could fix the control electronics. Good luck, and nuts to you, mikeks. ;-)

21st July 2004, 10:19 PM	#8
valnar diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH	Hi John, Bob @ Parasound said it was probably the relay. I guess he's either heard of the problem before, or its quite common. I'll find out. Robert

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