Looks like my amp is dead... but would welcome thoughts and/or advice...

Was installing new rear speakers (spare RF components ) while listening to my existing system (Rockford Fosgate Punch 400a4 amp, bridged rear channels for sub, fronts running Xtant components). All working fine. Needed a tool from my flat, so turned everything off, shut up the car and locked it. Came back, opened the car, turned the radio on - no sound. Shortly afterwards... small crackle from the front speakers and head unit display temporarily dims.

Checked everything, and it seems the amp is blown - it blows 30A fuses in the power line even when not turned on. Resistance is negligible on power input lines. Nothing else connected.

So it looks like it's the amp which I'm not impressed about - it's only about 3 years old, never been driven hard, gains set low, never used in distortion (or even close), wiring sound (no shorts etc).

Any ideas? An e-mail to RF hasn't got a response yet

Richard

 

btt for any thoughts

 

sounds like a short cicuit in the amp - one of the components has blown or melted the connecting solder; either way the current is passing straight through from the power into the earth wire, thus blowing the fuse even when the amp is turned off. the way to test this would be to use a multimeter with one plug on the power lead, the other on the earth; if you can get a current accross it, then thats exactly what has happened.

3 options

fix it yourself
pay through the nose for someone to replace a 50p component and solder it back onto the pcb
ditch the amp and buy a new one


sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

si

[Edited by Si.t - 2/19/2003 10:42:05 PM]

 

the most important thing to do is find the cause of teh problem, if its in the wiring outside the amp, you'll blow the next one. best check the connectors and so on.

cheers

 

Thanks Si,

So as I thought then And the wiring's fine, checked all that out, ta.

No response from Rockford Fosgate yet - so much for customer service...

Richard

 

i really hate it when people just flog you stuff then its like... byyyyyeeee!!!!! have u a warantee with rf that still covers the amp?

 

If it's out of warranty, take the top off and look for obvious things such as strand of wire or solder, or ...

Stupid as it sounds, I've found the problem in something before by replacing the fuse and watching for the puff of smoke

I had something repaired by Base Systems in Preston, Lancs - they seem to know their stuff if you're completely knackered?

 

Yeah, thought had occurred to me to "check" it that way

Unfortunately I'm now in Munich, Nick, which makes it a bit difficult to bring it back to the UK to get fixed .

Thanks,
Richard