Help with ECBA heater

Discussion in 'DIY' started by TheloniuSnoop, Feb 26, 2016.

  1. TheloniuSnoop

    TheloniuSnoop Friend

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    I'm the third owner of an ECBA. Long story short; tonight I discovered that the heater voltage is very low.
    With the adjust pot all the way down, the PS meter still shows just under 4V, and the voltage won't change
    much even if I run the adjuster up. I measured the heater voltage with the tubes in, and I'm only getting
    a tad over 1V. I've adjusted the PS meter and verified that the adjuster pot is OK, as well as replaced the
    regulator tubes.

    I know that Craig doesn't do any repair work except for the original owner, so I'm hoping someone here
    has an idea what may be wrong, or can point me to someone who can work on it as my knowledge is not
    quite up to diagnosing the problem.
     
  2. EraserXIV

    EraserXIV Friend

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    You can transfer the warranty for $100 and have it serviced (for a fee, likely)
     
  3. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

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    Would you post some pics that maybe we could help you with a little more insightful?
     
  4. TheloniuSnoop

    TheloniuSnoop Friend

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    I would post a pic, but can't, and it wouldn't help anyway. Thanks for the replies, but I'm going to have to contact Eddie Current to see
    if they can help.
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Give Craig a call or e-mail him. I'm remember talking to him about this issue with another customer, but I absolutely cannot remember any detail of the conversation.
     
  6. TheloniuSnoop

    TheloniuSnoop Friend

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    Thanks. I'll do just that. It seems like I remember that situation as well. The dark recesses of my puny brain say that it was solved with a new pair of
    rectifiers. I've tried that, but no luck.
     
  7. TheloniuSnoop

    TheloniuSnoop Friend

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    I think I need to be a bit more specific about what/where I measured things. When I measured the heater voltage, I connected my DMM
    to a pair of unused heater Molex connector pins labeled as heater outputs on the heater circuit board in the PS. Now I'm wondering if
    the hi freq of the heater current confused the DMM, causing it to read low, which means my 'problem' is in my head ( not news). ;)
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
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    Keep in mind the heater is AC 40 or 50kHz.
     
  9. TheloniuSnoop

    TheloniuSnoop Friend

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    Well, it seems as though I've cried wolf. I went ahead and fired up the amp. All seems normal. Wrong meter for the job.
    Thanks to all who posted with suggestions.
     
  10. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

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    Now I find this lol, I hope all is OK Allen! Let me know if I can help any but I am absolutely certain you are better than I with the measurings and the irons.
     

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