A pretty one but dead none the less

[Northwinds]

I wanted to post images that so you guys can check for anything bad. Looks like a chick Geri built this one, Nando?? hehehehe

I don't see anything at all but main power fuse pops immediately upon plug in. No flash in the amp when fuse goes, fuse looks slightly burnt, not like a major failure full on black cinder inside. Big white caps have no weird swelling

 

[Northwinds]

 

[Northwinds]

Took the caps out

 

[Elite-ist]

Ron: My Geri and electronics aren't compatible. She always seems to have difficulty with operating anything that requires electrical power. I can step in when she is having problems with something new she's trying to get working and get it operational, then have her exclaim, "I did the very same thing as you did and it wouldn't work for me!"

If it was a Geri that signed off testing your PL 400, that might be part of the problem.

Nando.

 

[Northwinds]

Did a closer inspection and I see this, if your looking at the back of the amp at the transistors, this corresponds to the 1st bank, second down. I assume this transistor is bad besides the resistor?

 

[Fishoz]

I was going to hijack your thread for Grace Lee Whitney since the title fit but thought better of it.

 

[orange]

It's like the titles were switched at birth in maternity.

 

[ksrigg]

What are you going to do with the amp? Are you going to WOPLize it? You might as well. Life is short, and you'll have to pay for it (the upgrade) sooner or later... Might as well be enjoying it NOW...plus ............... isn't that what we do here?

 

[Gepetto]

Did a closer inspection and I see this, if your looking at the back of the amp at the transistors, this corresponds to the 1st bank, second down. I assume this transistor is bad besides the resistor?

Not the original bridge rectifier and definitely not stock wiring to it. This has been messed with before. Suspect the bridge rectifier. Take one of the 2 AC wires off the bridge and if it no longer blows fuses, then it was the bridge. If it continues to blow the main fuse, there is something in the transformer that is not right.

 

[Gepetto]

Did a closer inspection and I see this, if your looking at the back of the amp at the transistors, this corresponds to the 1st bank, second down. I assume this transistor is bad besides the resistor?

I would guess there is more than one bad output transistor to cause that type of damage Ron. The 555s are not a good choice for the stock PL400.

 

[Gepetto]

I would guess there is more than one bad output transistor to cause that type of damage Ron. The 555s are not a good choice for the stock PL400.

Unless you fix that resistor Ron, the best you will be able to do is get it halfbiassed...

 

[Gepetto]

With what appears to be a plastic case on that bridge rectifier, it will not be a 25A rated bridge rectifier. The 4 rectifier die inside a high current bridge rectifier are heat sunk to the metal case.

 

[laatsch55]

And halfbiassed is not a good thing...

 

[Northwinds]

Heck, I don't even know what a bridge rectifier is, you mean that black square with the silver screw and 4 posts???? Amp will just go into the pile of things to be done someday I guess. This is not something for a dude with bad eyes and no electronics skills to mess with. I will however strip the chassis bare so when it does get done someday, some of the work will be eliminated

 

[Northwinds]

Gutted as far as I am going, now put it away until it can be WOPL'd. I saved the control board and lightboard

If anybody here wants all the transistors and the TO3 mess can have it all for the cost of shipping. I am sure they are usable for other amplifier projects