Tír Na HiFi

Happy New Year
Looking for some input and advice from the forum on what I should do re a damaged amp.
I had an accident today. The volume potentiometre bar on my EAR 859 integrated tube amp slipped out of it's housing inside the amp (while i was playing music) and obviously touched some part of the circuit board. Result was a large 'bang' and some sparks.

Removing the amp , I opened up the back and reattached the potentiometer bar. Also looked for any signs of scorching or browning but saw nothing. All the tubes light up again but unfortunately no sound coming to the speakers. I don't have another amp to check the speakers but I am assuming all the problems lie with the amp.

Any suggestions on what I should do? Send it back to EAR in England for a full check over and refurb? Any advice would be appreciated.

What a start to the New Year :(

Thanks
Conor

Have you checked all of the fuses?

If you're very lucky, there might be an internal fuse for the high voltage blown but not on the heaters. That would account for the valves glowing but no sound.

Please be careful going looking inside the amp - 500v DC will stop your heart, much more dangerous than an AC shock. Treat it as if were still powered.


Fran

Thanks MooseTrakz and Fran.
I have probably done some serious damage. I checked the main removable fuse, accessible from the back of the amp. It is still intact and did not break. Looking at the circuit diagram I don't think there is any other fusible switch in the system.

Anyway I have emailed EAR Yoshino in the Uk to get some direction. They were very helpful and responded immediately to a previous question I asked them sometime back.

I maybe looking for a new tube amp, so if you have one you are considering moving on let me know . :)
Thanks
Conor

There's a schematic here:

http://www.jogis-roehrenbude.de/Leserbr ... vicini.pdf


There's not a huge amount to go wrong in there. Chances are a resistor or some of the diodes are blown. Worst case, its a transformer which will be money. If they fix it for you,depending on its age, you might as well get them to replace any older electrolytic capacitors when they're at it - she'll be good for another 20 years then.