While driving today I heard a "pop."
(The stereo was very quiet at the time)
Soon my nostrils were filled with the wonderful smell of eletrical fire.
I checked everything out in the car and everything still worked.
My sub still worked at all volumes. However, I was able to isolate the smell as coming from my amp. I removed the amp, opened it up and the smell was very strong inside the amp.
But the amp still works.
There are no burn marks on the board, no popped resistors, just two capacitors that look like they've melted.
Any suggestions?
Can I still use the amp?
Will it be prone to burn up?

 

Magic smoke is always bad. Possibly an output transistor fried itself.

 

Would it still play with a fried output transistor?

 

it probably opened vice shorted, alot of mature amps have failed outputs. the question is haw they fail and how long befor current and voltage swings are not possible.

 

It definitely is a mature amp - I think it is 8 - 10 years old.

So, if I understand you correctly, the amp will still work for a period of time before it fries completely.

Will there be risks in using this amp in this state? Will it pose a risk to my sub, my charging system, or setting my car on fire?

I would like to keep my sub running, but if this amp is going to pose a risk, forget it.

 

If the amp blows it could take your sub with it or start a fire.. the potential is there, but it isn't likely IMO...

It could be the difference between replacing 1 transistor or 10, though....

 

you could try taking it into a little stereo repair shop and see wha tthey'll charge you to fix it.. seeing as it'll still play the damage cant be too bad.

 

^Yes haunz is correct I didn’t mean to lull you into complacency

probably and maybe a very long time or tommorrow

yes, I had an amp in my home go and took my speaker with them. This is possible but not likely (but your recent run of luck...)

Safe bet

You’ve been having a bad run with equipment lately, remember the good old days when electrons were nice to you.

 

Thanks for all of the replies! I will have to try and find a stereo repair shop - Listowel does not have one, lots of tractor repair shops though.

You've been having a bad run with equipment lately, remember the good old days when electrons were nice to you.</font>[/QUOTE]No Kidding! I went from a reasonable starter system to a cd player and one speaker. It sucks! I think that electrons are still nice to me, nothing too shocking around here; but lately my electronics have been waving good-bye.

 

Cut and run

Time for new stuff my man, there’s the upgrade bug and then theirs the "my system blowed up" bug. I am also in the second category, NEED a washing machine, need AC in my car fixed, NEED the AC in my house fixed, NEED my cars coolant system fixed (overheats in town...fan or controller is shot), NEED new living room furniture, NEED $3500 US for repairs to my house from last years hurricane, want to reupholster my cars front seats, want to upgrade the cosmetics of my SQ system.

cut and run