Acoustic B200 Combo keeps powering down

tomhanzo · #1 03-31-2011, 01:39 PM

I have had my Acoustic B200 combo for roughly a year and a half. It has been loud and strong. I can't find a tone I like better without dropping a grand.

Today it cut out on me. I figured it was cables, so I plugged straight into the amp. It did it again and again. I noticed that when the amp came back on it made the click noise like it was being switched on.

I also noticed that the top of the amp was hot to the touch. I've never noticed it getting hot like that before.

Can anyone shed some light?

I forgot to mention I had been playing at a moderate level for about an hour. I've played it at this volume for longer than an hour before and never had this problem.

BigOldHarry · #2 03-31-2011, 01:41 PM

Danger! Take to tech. If it's shutting itself off, it's likely that there is an auto protect circuit in it somewhere that is kicking in.

tomhanzo · #3 03-31-2011, 01:47 PM

Yeah that's what I figured. Like i said, the heat is a new thing. It kicks off for the same amount of time before powering back on, about 5 secs. The blue light stays on while the sound is gone.

jelwood · #4 03-31-2011, 02:23 PM

It is obviously overheating if the chassis is hot to the touch. I had a bud who had one of those combos and it never got that hot even after 2 hours of straight playing. Also, since the chassis is MDF, not metal and that much heat is STILL conducting straight through, you're probably on the verge of frying a lot of components. Doesn't that unit have a fan? Might want to make sure it's coming on and such. Or just take it in to the shop...

glenb73 · #5 03-31-2011, 02:44 PM

Clean out the vents and the fan , etc. It may be loaded with dust and not ventilating properly. It's overheating and shutting itself off to prevent a fire.

seamonkey · #6 03-31-2011, 02:52 PM

GC has a great return policies on Acoustic amps. Just take it back.

BassmanPaul · #7 03-31-2011, 03:06 PM

Were you using the combo with external speaker cabinets?? I don't know the amp in question so I am unaware of whether it has external speaker jacks.

tomhanzo · #8 03-31-2011, 03:14 PM

I live in Huntington WV and have no access to a GC. I'd have to ship it

.

I'll check out the fan before I do anything. I dont know anyone that works on solid state amps near me, so i have to do some looking.

I sometimes hook a 1x15 cab to it, but not today.

I have played this amp for 2 plus hours more than once. I have done about all you can with an amp and never had this problem.

tomhanzo · #9 03-31-2011, 03:17 PM

OK acoustic users, should the fan always be running when the amp is on?

I turned it on and the fan wasn't running. I could move it freely with a pick, but it doesn't run.

BigOldHarry · #10 03-31-2011, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamonkey

GC has a great return policies on Acoustic amps. Just take it back.

Yes, I imagine they *have* to, based on everything I've read here on TB!

Ibanez Bassist · #11 03-31-2011, 04:40 PM

Thats exactly what the problem is.. If you have a meter check for power right at the fan itself.. dont take readings elsewhere because there could be temp discs interrupting the power to the fan.. obviously if there is power there its a bad fan motor.. order a new one and your good but make sure you can get the fan wheel or blade off first.. you might need that as well..

tomhanzo · #12 04-01-2011, 01:14 PM

Well crap. I don't know if I want to take it apart myself. I'll end up getting electrocuted. I have no amp experience.

Ibanez Bassist · #13 04-01-2011, 01:23 PM

LOL, Sorry I didn't know what your capabilities were.. I deal with electricity every day so to me its no big deal.. but I think thats what has to be done to check it out..

tomhanzo · #14 04-01-2011, 02:34 PM

Well I'm sure I can crack it open and just check the leads to the fan. I just have to not touch anything.

I guess I could just look online how to drain the left over power out of an amp.

craig.p · #15 04-01-2011, 02:46 PM

If we assume that fan pulls air in from the rear and exhausts out the top vents, then you can try setting up a small personal fan to blow air into the rear fan vent. You'll get partial blockage from the internal fan's blades, of course, but the amp guts should get at least some air regardless. Several times over the decades (I'm old) I've yanked dead internal fans, to clear the airway, and just mounted something external. Even did this with a laptop that had a dead fan. Made up a funnel out of cardboard and duct tape. Worked like a champ. You do what you have to do when no "correct" parts are available.

BassmanPaul · #16 04-01-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibanez Bassist

I deal with electricity every day so to me its no big deal..

Complacency will get you killed. You ALWAYS have to respect what you are dealing with!!!!

tomhanzo · #17 04-01-2011, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Complacency will get you killed. You ALWAYS have to respect what you are dealing with!!!!

lol +1

I got knocked by an electric fence once. I have grown up on a farm and the one time i got careless setting some posts i got knocked down.

Ibanez Bassist · #18 04-02-2011, 05:17 AM

I wouldn't try to improvise and make shift something, get to the bottom of whats really wrong, chances are that fan runs all the time and if not you will see other wires on it, If there are three wires on it , then you might have a temp. disc that brings the fan in so it might be wired in parallel , but look at the schematic diagram sometimes it gives you foot notes as to what you actually have.. I have an Acoustic B-200 book im going to look and see if it gives and info on it..

tuba4 · #19 04-02-2011, 07:34 AM

The fan on my Acoustic B-200 comes on each time that I turn the unit on. Although the amp does come with a manufacturer's 3-year warranty, not having a GC in West Virginia would be an issue.

You may want to check out suggestions on the Acoustic Club on TB:

The Acoustic Club: Acid Reflux-It's Always Better The Second Time Around!

Good luck.

nocontrols · #20 04-02-2011, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamonkey

GC has a great return policies on Acoustic amps. Just take it back.

I agree with this. I LOVE the sound of my B20 (relative to most low-wattage practice amps) but I was kind of iffy on whether or not it would last... BUT... the warranty is so good that if it dies forever the day after the warranty expires, I will still have gotten MORE than my money's worth. They're a great value that way.