Can someone tell me what I did wrong????

[will33]

Tech has a good reputation, lots of business, and is well respected. Ok, those are all good things.


Then he should also know that in order to make your amp "whole" and reliable again, a new output transformer, or a rebuild of this one, is likely going to be on the work order. That means he should also know that "just playing it if it's not crackling" isn't the best idea, because whenever it does short all the way (and at some point it will), it will take out other expensive components with it, like power tubes or speakers, possibly making the repair too expensive to make sense. Meaning you may be able to just buy another used amp for the same or less as it would cost to fix this rig if you followed his advice. Meaning he won't have a job on his bench earning money anymore because you took his advice, blew up a bunch more stuff, and just ended up buying another amp instead.

Guy might know what he's doing. He might have more work than he needs already and doesn't need your amp in there to put dinner on the table. But still, none of this seems very smart to me....and could get a lot more expensive for you if you don't just shut the thing off and stop messing with it until this guy, or some guy, can have a look at it.

He should be checking things like resistance, continuity, etc. in the transformer windings and putting a load on it on his bench. Not telling somebody over the phone, "if doesn't crackle, play it".

 

[CL400Peavey]

Well say I do continue using it like I have been the last hour....whats the worst thing that can happen? the transformer is gone and I have to get another?
I guess I just dont understand if I fried that and it stopped working I buy another? what can they do for me that would cost me less money? I am serious I know nothing about electronics I dont mean to be "trolling" If it breaks could it destroy everything?? or if it breaks I get another trasformer?

It could fry the rest of your amp, and your cab. Possible catch on fire. Burn down your house. If someone was dumb enough to keep playing a damaged amp, they may even be dumb enough to get caught in the blaze, and die.

 

[hover]

What is being suggested is the OT being what it is, and failures end up backflowing up the signal chain progressively...so by this account, sure, it may only be a potential issue with the OT now, but as IT degrades, it throws something else in line to bear the brunt of the OT's troubles, and so on and so on. And it *could* take time, or instantaneously, and it's a risky prospect.

You're doin the right thing by having it checked out. I wish you the best with it.

 

[will33]

Well say I do continue using it like I have been the last hour....whats the worst thing that can happen? the transformer is gone and I have to get another?
I guess I just dont understand if I fried that and it stopped working I buy another? what can they do for me that would cost me less money? I am serious I know nothing about electronics I dont mean to be "trolling" If it breaks could it destroy everything?? or if it breaks I get another trasformer?

When one part goes, it can make the electricity do things it isn't supposed to do/go places it isn't supposed to go in other parts of the circuit, taking out more expensive parts along with it as it fails, causing more destruction as it fails.


Car analogy: if the wheels come off your car when speeding down the highway, it will cause other problems leading to you needing to buy more stuff than just new wheels.

Fix the wheels while she's parked before taking her back out on the road again.

Meaning shut it off, leave it alone, and take it to a tech.

 

[bass10bfb]

Well say I do continue using it like I have been the last hour....whats the worst thing that can happen? the transformer is gone and I have to get another?
I guess I just dont understand if I fried that and it stopped working I buy another? what can they do for me that would cost me less money? I am serious I know nothing about electronics I dont mean to be "trolling" If it breaks could it destroy everything?? or if it breaks I get another trasformer?

Well, you just admitted that you know nothing about electronics. Maybe now would be a good time to start listening to people who know a little about electronics or have some experience with electronics. Not saying we are all rocket scientists by any means, but it does not take a rocket scientist to know that when there is smoke coming from an amp, that means there is a problem, and it needs check out. We are just trying to help you and save you money in the long run bro. That is all we are trying to do is help.

 

[Dredmahawkus]

I fixed cars for a living! lol I am stupid!

 

[BurningSkies]

I say keep playing it.

Do you have a camera?

 

[CL400Peavey]

I say keep playing it.

Do you have a camera?

Yeah lets get this on video. Make sure there are no open containers of flammable substances around.... Or not.

 

[Dredmahawkus]

I just talked to my old man who did electronics in the 60s back when it was just tubes and transformers....he said if it sounds fine for a couple days then it will be fine! lol

It was just a tiny wisp of smoke so most likey I just heated it a little when I cranked it.

He told me its a waste of time and money bringing it to get checked! lol

I am bringing it anyway....but the Tech pretty much told me the same thing my old man did.

dont worry I am not listening to them I am bringing it in saturday.....but just wanted to give you guys those guys opinion. I shut it off. going to use the micro head.

 

[The_Janitor]

Yeah, I have no personal stake in this one way or the other. The amp might be ok if you continue to play it, but chances are it won't be.

I'd just hate to see someone have a total amp failure that could have easily been prevented. Seems like you don't have an issue shelling out a $300-$500 for a new transformer install, if so then more power to you. My wife and I both have good jobs and make decent money, but that's still a sizeable chunk of change to shell out, especially for a problem that could have been prevented.

There's only so many of these amps left, they aren't making any more of them. If maintained properly the SVT-II could easily last several decades, skip one trip to the tech and it could be gone forever. Replacements aren't going to get any cheaper, either.

 

[BassmanPaul]

In essence the signal that you sent from the micro into the cabinet and the secondary of the SVTs OPT is induced into the primary of the SVT. In the primary it will be a much higher voltage due to the OPT turns ratio. With the amp off it can't do anything to bleed off that excess voltage and parts smoke. With an amp like the SVT I would definitely get it checked out as damage has been done. It will show itself at the most inopportune moment!

Now. go forth and sin no more!!

 

[will33]

I fixed cars for a living! lol I am stupid!

Not stupid for asking. Smart for asking.

Stupid would be ignoring the vast majority consensus/prevailing wisdom and costing yourself a lot more money.

If it turns out they do the appropriate diagnostics and it really is Ok, you're only out a bench fee and have gained some knowledge in the process.

If you ignore all this, play it anyway, and it turns out it really isn't Ok, you'll be out hundreds and probably feel stupid about it.

 

[wisconsindead]

dont worry I am not listening

I think this about sums it up.

Borrow someone elses amp. Grab an acoustic. Go have sex. See a movie. Do you really need to play your SVT that bad?

 

[ahc]

As the "Old Man" often says "Some people's children".

OP... why open a thread, ask for advice, get an overwhelming response to turn the amp off and leave it off till it's checked out, and refuse to accept the advice you asked for???

I think Letterman has an opening on "Stupid Human Tricks".

 

[Dredmahawkus]

I think this about sums it up.

Borrow someone elses amp. Grab an acoustic. Go have sex. See a movie. Do you really need to play your SVT that bad?

Nice quote out of context....I said I wasnt listening to my old mans opinion not to anything. you must work for the press!

 

[will33]

Also included in this bench fee will be a general sort of "health checkup" of your amp, which should be done anyway with any old tube amp.

You know cars. Your SVT is an old muscle car. It'd be like checking the tires, checking all the fluids, checking and adjusting if necessary the gap on the points and the timing (that's like setting the bias in a tube amp), and generally just seeing things are tuned up and running good, as well as alerting you to things that might be getting "worn" or possibly need servicing somewhere down the road.

You are like your customers who don't know how to work on their own cars. Standard bench fee is a small price to pay for good health/peace of mind on a classic they don't make anymore.

 

[Slevage]

I already turned them both on both are working ok....except the tube amp made a pop when I took it out of standby...but then worked ok.

You put a load on the micro amp with the SVT (even though it was off). The smoke was likely the transformer windings in the micro (or some other component). If it still works--- you got lucky. Keep using it and carry a spare OR have it checked out. Tell the tech what you did---- the best way to test it would be to load down the amp (4 ohms or 2 ohms if it's rated for it) and play some loud, bass heavy stuff through it for a while.

 

[RAMUSIC]

Also included in this bench fee will be a general sort of "health checkup" of your amp, which should be done anyway with any old tube amp.

You know cars. Your SVT is an old muscle car. It'd be like checking the tires, checking all the fluids, checking and adjusting if necessary the gap on the points and the timing (that's like setting the bias in a tube amp), and generally just seeing things are tuned up and running good, as well as alerting you to things that might be getting "worn" or possibly need servicing somewhere down the road.

You are like your customers who don't know how to work on their own cars. Standard bench fee is a small price to pay for good health/peace of mind on a classic they don't make anymore.

Well said.

 

[Dredmahawkus]

You put a load on the micro amp with the SVT (even though it was off). The smoke was likely the transformer windings in the micro (or some other component). If it still works--- you got lucky. Keep using it and carry a spare OR have it checked out. Tell the tech what you did---- the best way to test it would be to load down the amp (4 ohms or 2 ohms if it's rated for it) and play some loud, bass heavy stuff through it for a while.

I was using the mico amp when it happend....the SVT was off and was the amp that smoked a wisp...and when it did happen it was when I overdrove the crap out of the micro for a second.


yeah I just had the SVT retubed and checked over like 2 months ago!

 

[David Jayne]

In essence the signal that you sent from the micro into the cabinet and the secondary of the SVTs OPT is induced into the primary of the SVT. In the primary it will be a much higher voltage due to the OPT turns ratio. With the amp off it can't do anything to bleed off that excess voltage and parts smoke.

What's connected to the primary? Output tubes? Just curious. Not exactly sure how these beasts work. I'm thinking if it's the tubes, sending high voltage there might arc them but if they didn't arc the damage would be limited to the transformer.