Hi everyone, I have a pair of Adam A7 active studio monitors that are about 12 years-old (and an Adam Sub8, which is a little newer) that I intend to keep.
About five years ago, the power transformer in one of them blew, and I replaced it with a transformer from Adam. In the past few months, the transformer in the other monitor blew and I replaced with a new full amp board from Adam (no individual transformers left).
I believe they are running low on replacement parts for these monitors, and I'm debating whether I should buy another amp board (for about £125) in case I have another problem.
Basically, the question is do you tend to find that there are just bad batches or transformers, or is it reasonable for them to blow every 5-10 years?
One other thing worth mentioning--the volume has recently starting fading in and out a little on the monitor that I fixed five years ago. However, I fortunately have a spare amp board now that presumably works fine except for the blown transformer.
Thanks.
About five years ago, the power transformer in one of them blew, and I replaced it with a transformer from Adam. In the past few months, the transformer in the other monitor blew and I replaced with a new full amp board from Adam (no individual transformers left).
I believe they are running low on replacement parts for these monitors, and I'm debating whether I should buy another amp board (for about £125) in case I have another problem.
Basically, the question is do you tend to find that there are just bad batches or transformers, or is it reasonable for them to blow every 5-10 years?
One other thing worth mentioning--the volume has recently starting fading in and out a little on the monitor that I fixed five years ago. However, I fortunately have a spare amp board now that presumably works fine except for the blown transformer.
Thanks.
I made one of my amps with a 60 year old power transformer and I'm not expecting it to blow any time soon.
Too many variables
# The temp it runs at
(Which should match the load to a great extent which is down to who chose that size of TX in the first place to an extent )
# The general quality of the part
Also depends how it failed ? …. Blown thermal fuse ?, shorted primary(s)? Shorted secondary(s)
If it was a toroid I’d also add in how tight it’s been clamped in (you only need to stop it moving, some people tighten toroids to within an inch of their lives)
A well chosen and well manufactured TX should last for decades
# The temp it runs at
(Which should match the load to a great extent which is down to who chose that size of TX in the first place to an extent )
# The general quality of the part
Also depends how it failed ? …. Blown thermal fuse ?, shorted primary(s)? Shorted secondary(s)
If it was a toroid I’d also add in how tight it’s been clamped in (you only need to stop it moving, some people tighten toroids to within an inch of their lives)
A well chosen and well manufactured TX should last for decades
First they should don't blow at all. Transformers (as in copper wires on ferro material) in general are very reliable. They last decades. They are way more reliable than SMPS in general. So transformers may be heavy and clunky, may appear simple (they aren't!) and old fashioned... they are one of the good guys in our hobby despite the gossip.
Now there are bad products and bad practices. When transformers blow in a certain device either the transformer is ultra cheap Far East throw away quality or the design has serious errors that cause the transformer to blow. So concentrate on these items and find a quality solution that lasts or change the situation if that causes the trouble. Challenge!
Now there are bad products and bad practices. When transformers blow in a certain device either the transformer is ultra cheap Far East throw away quality or the design has serious errors that cause the transformer to blow. So concentrate on these items and find a quality solution that lasts or change the situation if that causes the trouble. Challenge!
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No! A fuse does not prevent transformers to blow (=become open circuit) as you can read in the first post which contains the subject.
Besides that it is not reasonable at all that they go kaputt every 5-10 years: overheating, mechanical pressure ..... error by design is not solved with a fuse but luckily it will blow to limit further nasties. And if sold in EU the device always has an internal fuse. A fuse protects a transformer when it is overloaded or when it becomes a short circuit itself. A fuse reacts to current. When the transformer develops an internal short when it is abused mechanically/overheated etc. then the fuse will also melt thankfully.
If the fuse would be the remedy, the OP would not tell that the transformers have such a short longevity or? You seem to have a strange opinion on reality. I can use 10 identical transformers and short secondaries of all those transformers 30 times per hour. The fuses will blow 30 times an hour too. Still I'll have 10 working but warm transformers after 1 hour.
Besides that it is not reasonable at all that they go kaputt every 5-10 years: overheating, mechanical pressure ..... error by design is not solved with a fuse but luckily it will blow to limit further nasties. And if sold in EU the device always has an internal fuse. A fuse protects a transformer when it is overloaded or when it becomes a short circuit itself. A fuse reacts to current. When the transformer develops an internal short when it is abused mechanically/overheated etc. then the fuse will also melt thankfully.
If the fuse would be the remedy, the OP would not tell that the transformers have such a short longevity or? You seem to have a strange opinion on reality. I can use 10 identical transformers and short secondaries of all those transformers 30 times per hour. The fuses will blow 30 times an hour too. Still I'll have 10 working but warm transformers after 1 hour.
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Wrong, plain bs, as you would say. However, I am not responsible
for the design of ADAM amp modules, Hypex is.
for the design of ADAM amp modules, Hypex is.
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Correct. It depends whether the transformer develops the failure mode of either internal short circuit (fuse blows) or the opposite to blow and become an open circuit (fuse does not blow). In both cases the transformer is defective and then should be examined why it happened.
Did I just read the plain B word?
Did I just read the plain B word?
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Wait… the power transformer is mounted on the *board*? Is this “transformer” part of some SMPS? The rest of the discussion about transformers being reliable only really applies to the big 50/60 Hz kind. They are almost impossible to kill, except for extended overload or a lightning strike. With high frequency switch mode “transformers” anything goes - they are subject to the terrible/cheap design practices of disposable electronics. You can make SMPS trafos just as reliable as the 60 Hz ones, but it is harder and usually costs too much to be “competitive” in consumer electronics. With a dead SMPS, it’s usually blown transistors, but the magnetics can go out too. They have other failure modes that are much less frequent in 60 Hz units. When that happens you usually end up replacing the transistors, too - if the PCB hasn’t caught fire.
If it’s a “board mounted” 60 Hz power trafo, it is probably just too damn small to do the job. If it’s just an embedded thermal fuse that blows, it is just as dead as if the wire fused open. If that happened, the trafo is just too small. When putting things on a PCB there is motivation to make everything as small/light as possible and this can be pushed too far.
If it is a SMPS transformer (we would not call that a power transformer) then this is yet another good example of a person asking generic questions about a very specific product/situation in generalized terms without any payload we can shoot at. No pictures, no schematics, no nothing.
With other words: then we are apparently supposed to find out in detail how that device exactly works and why it has issues with the specific transformer. Sorry but that it is the task of the OP to make matters as specific as possible.
If you want good answers then give good info! This thread can be closed with a single answer like:
Yes there can be bad batches/practices and no that is not reasonable
With other words: then we are apparently supposed to find out in detail how that device exactly works and why it has issues with the specific transformer. Sorry but that it is the task of the OP to make matters as specific as possible.
If you want good answers then give good info! This thread can be closed with a single answer like:
Yes there can be bad batches/practices and no that is not reasonable
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No guesswork please. ADAM is using "regular" amp and supply panels.
Pictures of A7 can even be found in this forum :
Sound more worse after replace cap post 11
I think with "board" OP described the replaced complete panel, not a pcb.
Pictures of A7 can even be found in this forum :
Sound more worse after replace cap post 11
I think with "board" OP described the replaced complete panel, not a pcb.
It is the task of the OP to provide info and pictures. We are not a women's magazine.
"I think" is also guesswork.
"I think" is also guesswork.
Mine as well stubborn man. OP should provide info in this thread. Are we the free researchers of every issue in audio? Should we search and get together all necessary info for the one that wants answers on HIS issue?
No it is: requester is hungry and sees that as an issue. Does not know how to cook. Does not speak our language but points at his mouth. We point him to supermarket and give shopping bag. He goes to the supermarket, buys meat and groceries. Delivers it to us. We cook. He eats.
It happens more and more that the message is short and generic, many will react from all angles and put time in it. OP only then comes with details. Again many will react. If one has a specific issue with a specific device then don't ask generic questions.
No it is: requester is hungry and sees that as an issue. Does not know how to cook. Does not speak our language but points at his mouth. We point him to supermarket and give shopping bag. He goes to the supermarket, buys meat and groceries. Delivers it to us. We cook. He eats.
It happens more and more that the message is short and generic, many will react from all angles and put time in it. OP only then comes with details. Again many will react. If one has a specific issue with a specific device then don't ask generic questions.
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A glossy with just looking pictures of various generic items just for scrolling and entertainment. Not based on specific detailed trouble shooting like on technical fora/magazines. The majority of those specifically meant for women to read so they're called "women's magazines". These magazines call themselves like that in English.
List of women's magazines - Wikipedia
Cosmopolitan.com - The Women's Magazine for Fashion, Sex Advice, Dating Tips, and Celebrity News
Or are you of the woke brigade and pointing to gender stuff? That is serious so I will make it "men's magazine". OK? Eh... "peoples magazine".
List of women's magazines - Wikipedia
Cosmopolitan.com - The Women's Magazine for Fashion, Sex Advice, Dating Tips, and Celebrity News
Or are you of the woke brigade and pointing to gender stuff? That is serious so I will make it "men's magazine". OK? Eh... "peoples magazine".
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Well I read them at the barbers and for some reason I get them from many so I read them now and then just like lifestyle magazines. In 2021 the vast majority share not too much content but many pictures and gossip and make up tips which one can not do without. They are meant as a pastime and also used as such. Very different from technical magazines if these managed to survive. Here about 95% is glossy magazines!
I used to read Playboy magazine for the interviews 🙂 But ... how about the transformers? Too busy reading up on fall fashion ain't you ? 😉
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