PL400 series 2 with power switch and fuses on faceplate

[Izzi]

Hi All,

I recently got this PL400 series 2 which has a power switch and the fuses on its faceplate, also the rack mounting screws slots are present too; the rest is the same.
The opening in the aluminum is anodized and its corners radius match the VU meters ones.
Do you know if this is a mod or was it some specific option?

 

[Gepetto]

Some prior owner did this on his own.

 

[J!m]

Good idea for a rack-mount amp, honestly.

 

[Gepetto]

Good idea for a rack-mount amp, honestly.

Or better yet, fix it so it doesn't blow rail fuses...

 

[Izzi]

Some time ago I saw a similar one on Ebay with the same rework, maybe they belong to the same owner.
Thanks for the reply guys.

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

Or better yet, fix it so it doesn't blow rail fuses...

Now THAT's a novel approach and I like it. I have seen some serious hack jobs but they didn't do a BAD job. WOPL it and you can move that stuff back to whence it came.....

 

[mr_rye89]

Why are there 5 fuses? Did they have the good sense to put in AGC holders instead of the AGX holders? That switch will eventually give up tho......

 

[J!m]

Or better yet, fix it so it doesn't blow rail fuses...

Remember: we make it idiot RESISTANT, not idiot proof.

 

[Hexis22]

Positive and Negative rail fuses like a 700.

I’m a little curious what the interior looks like.

 

[Izzi]

Correct: positive and negative (per channel), plus mains.
Here are some internal pictures (to have it working, I replaced most of the caps, the bias pots, 3 power transistors and added a bracket to hold the supply caps):

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

Looks pretty clean inside, good luck.

 

[J!m]

I think it’s clean because of the work already done.

 

[Hexis22]

Very clean.

Not bad for an amp previously moded by someone else.

To be honest, most amps with home gamer mods are downright scary.

 

[wattsabundant]

That's the mod we did for pro use. We sent out the panel to a local machine shop to accommodate the fuses and power switch. The lower left transformer bolt was replaced with a longer bolt that fit into a bracket mounted in the rack. This supported the amp and took a lot of stress off of the front panel and chassis.

 

[George S.]

I've seen about four of those on eBay over the last three years.

 

[Izzi]

That's the mod we did for pro use. We sent out the panel to a local machine shop to accommodate the fuses and power switch. The lower left transformer bolt was replaced with a longer bolt that fit into a bracket mounted in the rack. This supported the amp and took a lot of stress off of the front panel and chassis.

Thank you for clarifying, the mod is very clean.