Hi again. I was finally able to replace all of the electrolytics in this piece of crap only to discover that it still produces exactly the same bad cap smell.
I suffered a near fatal heart attack a few weeks ago, and had a friend help me finish it yesterday.
I don't know what else could be producing the smell. The amp shows no sign of corrosion, yet it smells like burning rust.
It also runs cool all the time, so no problems with overheating.
I am at my wits end here.
I suffered a near fatal heart attack a few weeks ago, and had a friend help me finish it yesterday.
I don't know what else could be producing the smell. The amp shows no sign of corrosion, yet it smells like burning rust.
It also runs cool all the time, so no problems with overheating.
I am at my wits end here.
Sorry to hear about your health.
I'm trying to figure out what a 'bad cap smell' smells like.
If it's that bad, your health is more important than an amp..
Hugo
I'm trying to figure out what a 'bad cap smell' smells like.
If it's that bad, your health is more important than an amp..
Hugo
Does it start smelling immediately at turn on or after a few minutes?
It can't be the caps as you appear to have changed them all.
It can't be the caps as you appear to have changed them all.
I know the smell of transformers and resistors.
If it's that bad I'd first inspect the transformer.
You could try finding a thermal imaging camera or a cheap infrared thermometer, something must be heating up.
If it's that bad I'd first inspect the transformer.
You could try finding a thermal imaging camera or a cheap infrared thermometer, something must be heating up.
Well, the smell comes and goes like something leaking, and the whole amp runs cool.
I haven't detected any problems with the transformers.
I do suspect a possible issue with the rectifiers which could be causing the mains capacitors to leak and bulge.
I haven't detected any problems with the transformers.
I do suspect a possible issue with the rectifiers which could be causing the mains capacitors to leak and bulge.
I haven't had a chance to inspect the new capacitors yet, but they have white vent plugs which would make it easy to see when they leak.
If the voltage on the caps is too high (underrated cap) it will heat up after a while, depending on how much it deviates from max voltage.
If the polarity is inverted, it doesn't take long for it to explode.
If the polarity is inverted, it doesn't take long for it to explode.
Let us know what you measured. It's the only way to find out if something is wrong or not over there.
If all electrolytic caps were replaced, by elimination, they cannot possibly be the cause.
Blown electros smell fishy, literally.
I know the smell of burnt transfos, but that's like lacquer wire. Burning rust is not a description that triggers my smell memory database 😉
Could it by any chance be the PCBs get hot in places and start to smell? They look to be made of phenolic paper.
Blown electros smell fishy, literally.
I know the smell of burnt transfos, but that's like lacquer wire. Burning rust is not a description that triggers my smell memory database 😉
Could it by any chance be the PCBs get hot in places and start to smell? They look to be made of phenolic paper.
Should I measure it on the mains capacitor terminals? They are directly connected to them.
Unless they are receiving too much voltage. I know first hand what a bad cap smells like. I guess you can say that it smells fishy.
The amp doesn't run warm at all as far as I can tell.
Yes, negative (black) lead on the middle point between the caps.
Red lead on the upper cap should give you a positive voltage and a negative voltage on the other cap.
Red lead on the upper cap should give you a positive voltage and a negative voltage on the other cap.
There is a copper bus connecting the 2 caps plus to minus. Then the other terminals are connected to the plus and minus feeds of the amp boards, which contain the rectifiers.
What setting should the meter be set at? Should I connect the leads to the feed terminals?
What setting should the meter be set at? Should I connect the leads to the feed terminals?