Northwind's 400 to WOPL 500

[jbeckva]

The stock jacks are 3/8' (.375). The Mouser jacks are slightly larger (.394) and will likely require drilling the fiber washer and bus bar. Of greater concern is the fact that mouser jacks mount on the front of the chassis, with the nut on the inside of the amp. The stock jacks are Switchcraft 3501FR which mount from the inside of the chassis with the nut of the outside.

I don't think it would be worth the effort to try the Mouser jacks.

That's a good eye, Don. I didn't see how the nut was on the inside.. hmmmm.. Yeah, the 3501FRX's were the ones I was comparing. Wish switchcraft made 'em in gold..

 

[Gepetto]

That's a good eye, Don. I didn't see how the nut was on the inside.. hmmmm.. Yeah, the 3501FRX's were the ones I was comparing. Wish switchcraft made 'em in gold..

Cardas GRFA S jacks Jer. Expensive but come with 3/8" thread and front nut mount.

 

[Gepetto]

That's a good eye, Don. I didn't see how the nut was on the inside.. hmmmm.. Yeah, the 3501FRX's were the ones I was comparing. Wish switchcraft made 'em in gold..

This guy has quite an assortment of nice quality stuff Jer. Takes a while for his pages to load but if you have some time to look, it is worth the wait.

http://www.vt4c.com/shop/program/main.php?cat_id=25&group_id=2

 

[jbeckva]

This guy has quite an assortment of nice quality stuff Jer. Takes a while for his pages to load but if you have some time to look, it is worth the wait.

http://www.vt4c.com/shop/program/main.php?cat_id=25&group_id=2

Yeah I'll have to check that stuff out Joe. That left RCA is waaaaay lose, and the right's not far behind.

Got'em bigum caps n fuses in (Lee's a lifesaver!!). Yeah... you can definitely tell the increase in headroom and on the bottom end with the big caps in place. Wasn't no slouch before with the stock guys, but daaayum is it a BEAST now.

Going to start configuring for the torture testing now... this one is going to get beat up.. abused.. pushed around, and pimp slapped before I let it go!!

 

[laatsch55]

DAYAM!!! Startin to sound like me!

 

[jbeckva]

305 watts at clipping, one channel driven. About 270 with both channels @ 1khz.

Buggah can put it out! Not going to repeat this test since I don't have spare picos, LOL.

But... now lemme think on how I can get Daqarta to do some freq sweeps for response and distortion.. hmm.. ought to be a fun experiment..

 

[laatsch55]

Yep, need the complete suite there Jer...

 

[Skynyrd77]

Yeah I'll have to check that stuff out Joe. That left RCA is waaaaay lose, and the right's not far behind.

Got'em bigum caps n fuses in (Lee's a lifesaver!!). Yeah... you can definitely tell the increase in headroom and on the bottom end with the big caps in place. Wasn't no slouch before with the stock guys, but daaayum is it a BEAST now.

Going to start configuring for the torture testing now... this one is going to get beat up.. abused.. pushed around, and pimp slapped before I let it go!!

Treating it like a dirty whore lmao

 

[Northwinds]

If it can take what Jer can dish out with it, I expect it to be a very reliable amp just like Blackie. Only one who could beat her harder would be Lee since he has more parts on hand LOL

Jer, quick question... I see you mention she clipped at just over 300w's through one channel but only 270 with both driven? Why the difference? Would not both channels push about the same? Interested in seeing all the test results posted indeed, especially the distortion and noise floor figures! It's amazing taking a 400w stock amp and getting almost another CLEAN 150w's out of it!!! Any thoughts on a fan setup yet? Was she running real hot when you did that test?

Thanks for helping with the big caps Lee!

 

[laatsch55]

Power supply sag, the PL's(and all amps) the more you load them the more the power supply droops. The Pl's just droop a lot less than others...

 

[Northwinds]

Quick question for Joe, Jer or Lee (whoever see's this first)

I fired Blackie up this moring and the line fuse supply for the farthest from the tranny is giving me fits. Took a few minutes of shutting off the amp and wiggling to get the channel to come on. Is there something I can do to temporarily fix this issue? I don;t weant to fry anything though I ALWAYS shut the amp off prior to messing with that line fuse

 

[jbeckva]

Quick question for Joe, Jer or Lee (whoever see's this first)

I fired Blackie up this moring and the line fuse supply for the farthest from the tranny is giving me fits. Took a few minutes of shutting off the amp and wiggling to get the channel to come on. Is there something I can do to temporarily fix this issue? I don;t weant to fry anything though I ALWAYS shut the amp off prior to messing with that line fuse

Pull that fuse and give us a pic of it. Get a pic of the fuse top too with the fuse in it.

 

[jbeckva]

Pull that fuse and give us a pic of it. Get a pic of the fuse top too with the fuse in it.

ps.. you're asking for trouble if that is one of the rail fuses, even when powering it off between wiggles. The big caps have enough storage left in them to whack things a good 10 to 20 seconds after the AC is removed.

 

[BubbaH]

Learned my lesson a long time ago with fuses. Had moved the 1801 and I guess knocked the fuse cap off. Protection light was on after I powered it up. Even after shutting down I reached back and took a nasty jolt when my fingers touched the end of the fuse. Always unplug and wait about 30 seconds to a minute now.

 

[Northwinds]

Fuse is fine, no burn marks or anything else (that's part of my reflection you see on the top of it). It's almost like it's not making contact inside but here are the images, sorry if they are a little out of focus. You can clearly see how far the cap sticks out when it's installed

Should I just leave it on all the time or should I just take it out of my system? I suppose I can use thay POS Sony 135w receiver in the meantime but I will probably puke from the sound quality after being so used to Blackie

 

[Northwinds]

Always unplug and wait about 30 seconds to a minute now.

I wait a full minute before touching it, I don't need no afro LMAO

 

[Northwinds]

I put it back in and am listening to it now. Thankfully both channels fired right up. Waiting on your advice Jer

Also, I am using the same size 8A fastblo fuses for both line channels so I can't account for why the one sticks out so far. I have a 10A fastblo in the power

 

[jbeckva]

I put it back in and am listening to it now. Thankfully both channels fired right up. Waiting on your advice Jer

Also, I am using the same size 8A fastblo fuses for both line channels so I can't account for why the one sticks out so far. I have a 10A fastblo in the power

That fuse looks like an AGC versus an AGX (taller). What we'll probably do is just put AGC holders since the AGX guys are hard to find - that holder is probably stretched and not making good contact at all. I did that with another 400 in the past and it came out fine. Need to send ya "FC Sally" here tho first, eh?

 

[Northwinds]

That fuse looks like an AGC versus an AGX (taller). What we'll probably do is just put AGC holders since the AGX guys are hard to find - that holder is probably stretched and not making good contact at all. I did that with another 400 in the past and it came out fine. Need to send ya "FC Sally" here tho first, eh?

That's what I was thinking (about not making good contact)

No problem Jer, sounds like a plan

I have the house shaking right now, damn I love this amp...

I guess I will just leave it on all the time for now until it makes it's way back down to you for some more lovin', then I won't have to do the wiggle LOL

 

[Northwinds]

Damn, Blackie sounds louder then usual heheheh wait until the old lady gets home

EDIT: I spoke to soon, she just shutdown. Meters went dark but needles are still swinging. Guess I need to get the big fan on her

Really have to figure out a fan setup for these (at least for knuckleheads like me that crank the hell out of them)

EDIT EDIT: She's back on, listening at more normal volume levels