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New member Username: Roberto_cruzPost Number: 6 Registered: May-10 | My Caver Amplifier has has been doing some weird things. When you turn the amp on the lights in front start turning on and off along with the fan so i'm wondering if there's a problem with the power or what? If some one can help me i would really appreciate it. |
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Platinum Member Username: PlymouthCanada Post Number: 15428 Registered: Jan-08 | Roberto Unhook the speakers and see if the problem still there! This amplifier has many issues with the power supply, Capacitors, resistors and régulator has to be tested! |
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Silver Member Username: SuperjazzyjamesPost Number: 296 Registered: Oct-10 | It could be as simple as a lose wire anywhere along the line getting power to the amp (the first thing I'd check) or it could be a serious issue requiring professional service. My advice is check all the simple stuff first; any loose wires from AC to fuses, to power switch to primary side of the transformer? Any loose wires from secondary side to diode bridge, from diode bridge to regulator, etc? Is the fan on the same circuit as the lights? Loose connection there? Eliminate all of the simple stuff that's easily fixed first. If you still have a problem, then it's time to decide if the amp is worth having fixed or not. |
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Silver Member Username: SuperjazzyjamesPost Number: 297 Registered: Oct-10 | Just make sure all power is disconnected and capacitors are discharged first! |
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New member Username: Roberto_cruzPost Number: 7 Registered: May-10 | i disconnected the speakers but the problem still there, something i notice is that the amplifier is somewhat dirty in the inside and the protection light is on all the time and you can hear this clipping sound when you turn it on. |
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Platinum Member Username: PlymouthCanada Post Number: 15434 Registered: Jan-08 | Roberto This amplifier is very hard to repair due to its complexity, I suggest that you send it to an Carver autorized repair shop. Usualy the clipping sound come from the power supply capacitors, the voltage come up too faster which active the protection. This amplifier use too much different voltages for the amplification, the power supply capacitors are too small for the capacity then are not reliable for this reason, also the resistors overheat. Note that this amplifier is not reliable, a new amplifier would be the best solution! |
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Silver Member Username: SuperjazzyjamesPost Number: 298 Registered: Oct-10 | Now that you mentioned dust, you should try cleaning out the dust, then see what happems. If that doesn't solve the problem, then repair or replacement may be in order. I had forgotten to ask if it was a rythmic flashing or flickering. Flickering would indicate a loose wire. Rythmic flashing like what you are describing could mean too much dust or a serious problem. Do you have the owner's manual handy? |
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New member Username: Roberto_cruzPost Number: 8 Registered: May-10 | I do have the owner's manual, but i will clean the amp and see if anything changes. I think is flickering because the protection light comes on but doesn't turn off and sometimes the power level lights turn on without any speakers connected to them but they only last for like a sec or two and when the power level lights turn of the fan turns on too but just for a sec. |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 15538 Registered: Dec-04 | That reads like a problem in the protection circuit, certainly. Unless you own and know how to use a meter, my friend, I suggest that you do not attempt the repair, or cleaning, yourself, in the interest of self preservation. |
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Gold Member Username: MagfanUSA Post Number: 1783 Registered: Oct-07 | That dust, if a LOT of it would be bothersome. Possible low grade short? Triggering the protection circuit. Any weird smells? ozone is where I'm heading. Any 'burned electron' smells? Any sound when it flickers....little 'zapping' noise....like a bug machine? only real low level? If the M1.5 (the 'P' is professional) is of similar build to my old M-400t, than it is indeed a tough disassemble. My cube was a Chinese Puzzle box held together with nuts+bolts and machine screws. |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 15542 Registered: Dec-04 | Let's go shopping! After Bob lost his, err, bearings, he came up with some Dr. Emmitt Brown designs, all of wich mostly worked, and none of which could ever be repaired, so best advise is to either move on, or do acid and figgur it out from the outside in. Neither has worked so far as I can tell. |
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Gold Member Username: MagfanUSA Post Number: 1788 Registered: Oct-07 | Let's! I'm flyin' if you're buyin'. |
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New member Username: Roberto_cruzPost Number: 9 Registered: May-10 | there are no weird smells at all and the sound doesn't sound like zapping it sounds like is clipping. I been looking at it and that thing looks like a puzzle i don't even know were to start at. Is this amp worth all this work? |
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Platinum Member Username: PlymouthCanada Post Number: 15463 Registered: Jan-08 | Roberto For me no but for Carver fan yes! |
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Gold Member Username: MagfanUSA Post Number: 1795 Registered: Oct-07 | http://www.carveraudiorepair.com/ When I gave up on my M400t, this is where I sent it. Pretty much the best / only Carver repair specialist around. Good reputation for what LITTLE I've heard. Check around, write or call and find out. I think the connect person here is Roland..... |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 15544 Registered: Dec-04 | For me no but for Carver fan yes! +1 |
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New member Username: Roberto_cruzPost Number: 10 Registered: May-10 | well i'll try calling the carver people and hope its not that expensive. still i'll try to do something myself. Thanks... |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 15552 Registered: Dec-04 | Caution is the word, Roberto, and wear a ground strap. If you like a vacuumn cleaner, be sure that it is bonded. |
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Gold Member Username: MagfanUSA Post Number: 1798 Registered: Oct-07 | Roberto: Just my Opin, but think up a not-to-exceed price for fix. I'd guess a total racap / tuneup will go 300 or 400$ minimum. Could go 600$ depending on other factors. I know my cube was a mechanical nightmare but the 1.5 looks a little more....conventional. I remember an ask of 375$ for my cube...total recap and tuneup. A nice hi-end store in my city has a great selection of pre-owned gear...from modest Rotel / Adcom(older) all the way to Krell. I haven't seen a Mac there.....too bad. But, the bottom line is that they will check out whatever you want. I think they'll pretty much service what they sell. The bench guy is pretty good and has a good, well equipped shop. Try to find prices on proposed replacements. Keep in mind that stuff only lasts so long...so I'd personally avoid amps like 20 year old Adcom and other Carver of similar vintage. I was tempted once by a Adcom 555 which was about as old as the amp I was selling. No sale. It would have needed caps sooner than later. Anyway, do the math. Your PM1.5 has resale value even needing a fix. Be careful when inside the amp. Leave it unplugged over nite before cracking into it. Carver amps do not have large PS caps which works in your favor, but even smaller caps....say 2x film can size, will still deliver a nasty shock. |
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Platinum Member Username: PlymouthCanada Post Number: 15478 Registered: Jan-08 | Leo Adcom is much much more reliable than Carver, no degradation after several years. Carver Caps are too small for the power then are not reliable, also hard to find a equivalent size to fit in the enclosure. |
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Gold Member Username: MagfanUSA Post Number: 1802 Registered: Oct-07 | Plym, The reason Carver gets away with such small caps is the PS is not traditional. The t-mod amps were the first versions of his magnetic field PS and later the tracking downconverter. A lot of energy was being held in the magnetic field of a choke. The idea was to turn the PS off / on in time to the music and NOT store a lot of energy in huge coke-can caps. One (among many) of Bob's better ideas. I don't know.....seemed to work. My cube did have a lot of power, though no double down into 4ohms. It also made the lights in the house flicker in time to the music when REALLY pushed, something I couldn't do with either a Rotel (std PS) or my 'd' amps.....(SMPS). I think the Carver would benefit most from a real stiff power line on its own circuit. The Carver, FWIW, also sounded better thru a power conditioner while the Rotel sounded worse. Reliability? Ask the service people. Maybe factory records of returns / warranty claims exist somewhere. The ONLY Adcom I was ever tempted by was the 555....a Pass design. (here we go again!). By the time I had a shot at buying the Adcom, it was only a few years newer than my cube, and they wanted top-dollar for it....so I passed. Besides, big PS caps, even best case, only last so long. I'm sure the Adcom had easier to source parts....at least those big caps. I would be surprised if the Adcom wasn't easier to work on, too. OH, not that it means much, statistically, but my cube needed repair ONCE before I sold it. The result of a huge brownout, several output devices needed to be changed and other unknown repairs to the tune of about 150$....years ago. |
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Platinum Member Username: PlymouthCanada Post Number: 15482 Registered: Jan-08 | Leo I was talking about Cap dimension compared to the capacity, too small size is not reliable, a identical capacity for replacing Carver caps do not fit in the enclosure, you must found special small dimension to fit in it! I was not talking about MicroFarads capacities. |
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Gold Member Username: MagfanUSA Post Number: 1803 Registered: Oct-07 | Never took one apart to read MFD of PS caps. My cube was neat packaging, but difficult to take apart and fix. and yes, Big capacity in small package is a problem. I've never gone on a search. The last caps I used were 330mfd small electro for a headphone amp. Look up CMOY for what I did......I pretty much followed the book. |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 15560 Registered: Dec-04 | Bob being Bob. Nothing can be conventional, and nobody can figgur the thing out..fun while it works. |
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Gold Member Username: MagfanUSA Post Number: 1810 Registered: Oct-07 | Sell The Sizzle. Quote from book 'Be A Great Car Salesman' |
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Silver Member Username: EzntnGreeneville, TN Post Number: 201 Registered: Apr-09 | I liked my 2000 ... now it's a great boat anchor. It was a real good friend for over 15 years. |