Adcom GFA535..Bad Transformer?

EchoWars · 5th May 2005, 09:12 PM

I have a buddy who lives many miles from me who is having problems with a pair of Adcom GFA535 amplifiers after an electrical storm. He took them to a local (to him) repair place and was told that the primaries on both are opened. I'm sceptical, since the favorite buzzword of a clueless or lazy tech is 'bad transformer'.

Is there anything in the primary of a 535 that might make it appear that the transformer is bad (soft-start, NTC thermistor...)? If it appears that the transformers are indeed bad, are the voltages from the transformer close to a standard that might make them easy to replace with an aftermarker transformer?

Thanks guys!

anatech · 5th May 2005, 10:01 PM

Hi EchoWars,
I'd be surprised to see an electrical storm take out the transformer. The shop may have killed them by shorting the fuse and turning them on. I'd be taking them back in a hurry. Measure the primary to see if they are open (thermal fuse gone). You may be able to replace those (takes some skill and luck).
May just be a shorted rectfier or output. Some repair guys aren't to swift. (I'm a repair guy, I've seen so much destruction at the hands of other techs). TIM - technician induced malfunction.

-Chris

EchoWars · 5th May 2005, 10:32 PM

Fair enough. You are suggesting that the transformer has a thermal fuse in there somewhere?

You wouldn't happen to know the transformer secondary voltages are?

B Cullingford · 6th May 2005, 12:01 AM

I was going to say don't be so quick to judge an unknown repair shop, but then I thought of some my stories (I've been out of the biz for 8 years now - 'the good ol'days'). In general I'd have to say for the amount of knowledge and skills needed to be really good it is almost as badly paid as teaching (my new profession).

But back to the topic: I can imagine lightning taking out a transformer, of course I would expect many other electrical things in the house to be also damaged.
Thermal fuses in xformers - I know why they are there but why not make them easily replaceable? Seemed such waste to have to throw out a large lump for the sake of a cheap fuse. I did repair some, and a few had extra terminals which you bridge and check if everything else was OK - of course with lawyers and all I was not about to bypass the thermal fuse.
If you can replace it careful with that soldering iron ...

jleaman · 6th May 2005, 01:24 AM

What kind of transformer is in side ? Round or squar ? Can you get a pic of inside of it. ?

anatech · 6th May 2005, 01:44 AM

Hi EchoWars,
Yes there is a fuse in there, can't remember what the secondaries are. I did get some thermal fuses from Nakamichi years ago ... or was it Adcom. Can't remember. I do recall changing them.
My point was, confirm the fault first. Go from there. Any time I've seen lightning take someting out, that something was usually a semiconductor or few (and tubes - wow). Power transformers normally survive. They are tough critters.
-Chris

jleaman · 6th May 2005, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by anatech
Hi EchoWars,
Yes there is a fuse in there, can't remember what the secondaries are. I did get some thermal fuses from Nakamichi years ago ... or was it Adcom. Can't remember. I do recall changing them.
My point was, confirm the fault first. Go from there. Any time I've seen lightning take someting out, that something was usually a semiconductor or few (and tubes - wow). Power transformers normally survive. They are tough critters.
-Chris

I agree the reason i asked about the kind of tranny was to help you locate the fuse and get it apart. Trannys are really strong devices. I saw a carver trany die due to max load max power running and the speakers shorted out and well the amp was a paper weight : O )

woodman · 6th May 2005, 03:10 AM

It's been a long time since I've worked on a 535, but I do remember that a few Adcom units had MOVs, (though they were usually preamps or sources). If the 535 has them, then they would be small bright blue epoxy capacitors, most likely on the PS board.

I've also had to replace a couple of 535 xfmrs, bur never both at the same time.

FWIW - Even though the 535 is rated at 60WPC, it really goes to 80WPC PS sag included!

Good luck!

djk · 6th May 2005, 03:26 PM

E&I type dual 70VCT at 250VA (total), ±52V no load.

EchoWars · 6th May 2005, 08:51 PM

djk...thank you!!

No toroids on the 535? And I assume that it uses a single transformer and power supply to power both channels? No, the unit isn't here, and I don't think I've ever seen the inside of a 535.

5th May 2005, 09:12 PM	#1
EchoWars diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Left of the Dial	Adcom GFA535..Bad Transformer? I have a buddy who lives many miles from me who is having problems with a pair of Adcom GFA535 amplifiers after an electrical storm. He took them to a local (to him) repair place and was told that the primaries on both are opened. I'm sceptical, since the favorite buzzword of a clueless or lazy tech is 'bad transformer'. Is there anything in the primary of a 535 that might make it appear that the transformer is bad (soft-start, NTC thermistor...)? If it appears that the transformers are indeed bad, are the voltages from the transformer close to a standard that might make them easy to replace with an aftermarker transformer? Thanks guys!

6th May 2005, 03:10 AM	#8
woodman diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Jersey	It's been a long time since I've worked on a 535, but I do remember that a few Adcom units had MOVs, (though they were usually preamps or sources). If the 535 has them, then they would be small bright blue epoxy capacitors, most likely on the PS board. I've also had to replace a couple of 535 xfmrs, bur never both at the same time. FWIW - Even though the 535 is rated at 60WPC, it really goes to 80WPC PS sag included! Good luck! __________________ -JamesW- www.thevoorhees.com - on hold temporarily.

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5th May 2005, 10:01 PM	#2
anatech diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Georgetown, On	Hi EchoWars, I'd be surprised to see an electrical storm take out the transformer. The shop may have killed them by shorting the fuse and turning them on. I'd be taking them back in a hurry. Measure the primary to see if they are open (thermal fuse gone). You may be able to replace those (takes some skill and luck). May just be a shorted rectfier or output. Some repair guys aren't to swift. (I'm a repair guy, I've seen so much destruction at the hands of other techs). TIM - technician induced malfunction. -Chris

5th May 2005, 10:32 PM	#3
EchoWars diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Left of the Dial	Fair enough. You are suggesting that the transformer has a thermal fuse in there somewhere? You wouldn't happen to know the transformer secondary voltages are?

6th May 2005, 12:01 AM	#4
B Cullingford diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: California	I was going to say don't be so quick to judge an unknown repair shop, but then I thought of some my stories (I've been out of the biz for 8 years now - 'the good ol'days'). In general I'd have to say for the amount of knowledge and skills needed to be really good it is almost as badly paid as teaching (my new profession). But back to the topic: I can imagine lightning taking out a transformer, of course I would expect many other electrical things in the house to be also damaged. Thermal fuses in xformers - I know why they are there but why not make them easily replaceable? Seemed such waste to have to throw out a large lump for the sake of a cheap fuse. I did repair some, and a few had extra terminals which you bridge and check if everything else was OK - of course with lawyers and all I was not about to bypass the thermal fuse. If you can replace it careful with that soldering iron ...

6th May 2005, 01:24 AM	#5
jleaman Banned Join Date: Apr 2002	What kind of transformer is in side ? Round or squar ? Can you get a pic of inside of it. ?

6th May 2005, 01:44 AM	#6
anatech diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Georgetown, On	Hi EchoWars, Yes there is a fuse in there, can't remember what the secondaries are. I did get some thermal fuses from Nakamichi years ago ... or was it Adcom. Can't remember. I do recall changing them. My point was, confirm the fault first. Go from there. Any time I've seen lightning take someting out, that something was usually a semiconductor or few (and tubes - wow). Power transformers normally survive. They are tough critters. -Chris

6th May 2005, 03:26 PM	#9
djk diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: USA	E&I type dual 70VCT at 250VA (total), ±52V no load.

6th May 2005, 08:51 PM	#10
EchoWars diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Left of the Dial	djk...thank you!! No toroids on the 535? And I assume that it uses a single transformer and power supply to power both channels? No, the unit isn't here, and I don't think I've ever seen the inside of a 535.

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