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Avalon U5 burning smell

ShowKing

ShowKing

Jul 14, 2006
1,793
860
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Auckland, New Zealand
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#1
Hey guys

I just got a used Avalon U5 which isn't very old and in mint condition.

I've only played it for a little bit but each time, there was some sort of burning smell coming from it. It's not very strong but it makes your nose wonder what it is.

I've switched the internal voltage to 230V for New Zealand voltage which is where I am.
I'm also using a 10A 250V power cable instead of the overseas 7A 125V cable that it came with.

Anyone have any idea what it is or know if this is fairly normal?
 
#2
Don't know about that particular piece of equipment...

but I get a smell sort of like that off my old stereo amps sometimes.....

Kind of a heavy "ion", faintly burning odor......

Been using them like that for decades.....

I always thought it was "normal"

Maybe not..............:eek:
 
#5
Clouz said:
tube smell is what you're smelling. perfectly normal. savor the smell of tubes it is like aroma therapy to bass players.
Click to expand...

What Tube Smell? The Avalon U5 does not have any tubes in it. :/

OP, my U5 does not produce the smell you're describing. Mine also runs @230V 50Hz

Does the smell appear right after you turn the unit on, or does it take a while for the smell to be noticeable?
 
#7
Thanks all for the replies.

Hellbastard said:
What Tube Smell? The Avalon U5 does not have any tubes in it. :/



OP, my U5 does not produce the smell you're describing. Mine also runs @230V 50Hz



Does the smell appear right after you turn the unit on, or does it take a while for the smell to be noticeable?
Click to expand...


It appeared a short while after turning it on.

I think the smell started when the boost knob was set high. Maybe it made the unit work harder causing the smell.

I've used it today at low boost settings and didnt notice the smell.
 
#9
Maybe the Unit was working too hard, and it started to heat up more than it normally would. The Burning smell could have been one of the many glue points, that are normally used to hold some of the largest caps in place.

FYI, I bought my Unit here in Germany and the cable it came with it is rated @250V 10A as well, so the cable you're using can should work just fine in NZ as well.

One thing I would check is if the Fuse is rated for 250V as well.
 
#10
Hellbastard said:
Maybe the Unit was working too hard, and it started to heat up more than it normally would. The Burning smell could have been one of the many glue points, that are normally used to hold some of the largest caps in place.

FYI, I bought my Unit here in Germany and the cable it came with it is rated @250V 10A as well, so the cable you're using can should work just fine in NZ as well.

One thing I would check is if the Fuse is rated for 250V as well.
Click to expand...


Awesome. Yes, I have a feeling it was working hard as I was testing the boost settings above 12 oclock.

Good to have reassurance, thanks.

Above the power socket on the unit, it says in small writing that the fuse is rated for 250v even though the unit is from japan.
 

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