MOD 102 Kit not powering on at all. Any suggestions?

[vipor3D]

Tried building my first amp over the weekend with the MOD 102 kit and carefully followed the instructions, but of course it's not working. I somewhat expected it to not fire up and be 100% on the first try, but I'm getting no signs of life. The jewel light doesn't even come on. Does anyone here have any ideas/suggestions of things to try/check?

[Phil_S]

Schematic, layout, pictures? Any or all of the above will help you get a reply.

[vipor3D]

Apologies, here is the link to the instruction packet that comes with the kit. This contains the instructions, layout, and schematic

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... SjLuyUPqOa

[vipor3D]

Schematic, layout, pictures? Any or all of the above will help you get a reply.

Apologies, here is the link to the instruction packet that comes with the kit. This contains the instructions, layout, and schematic

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... SjLuyUPqOa

[vipor3D]

Schematic, layout, pictures? Any or all of the above will help you get a reply.

Not sure if it helps, but I've attached a picture of the assembled chassis. I've spent so many hours working on this thing, I'm probably just overlooking something

[Stevem]

The first thing to do is to remove the output tubes.
Next turn the amp on and see if you have AC wall outlet voltage across the two black wires of the power transformer.

If you do then next see if you have a much higher AC voltage across the two red wires coming off the transformer.

Make these two test and report back.

You can also go Aiken amps site a read his start up/ check out procedure for firing up Newly built amps and print that off.

PS,actually now that I look at your wiring on the primary side of the power transformer you have those items wired up wrong,
Go back and recheck all of that wiring from the power cable to the transformer.

[Stevem]

The first thing to do is to remove the output tubes.
Next turn the amp on and see if you have AC wall outlet voltage across the two black wires of the power transformer.

If you do then next see if you have a much higher AC voltage across the two red wires coming off the transformer.

Make these two test and report back.

You can also go Aiken amps site a read his start up/ check out procedure for firing up Newly built amps and print that off.

PS,actually now that I look at your wiring on the primary side of the power transformer you have those items wired up wrong,
Go back and recheck all of that wiring from the power cable to the transformer.

[vipor3D]

The first thing to do is to remove the output tubes.
Next turn the amp on and see if you have AC wall outlet voltage across the two black wires of the power transformer.

If you do then next see if you have a much higher AC voltage across the two red wires coming off the transformer.

Make these two test and report back.

You can also go Aiken amps site a read his start up/ check out procedure for firing up Newly built amps and print that off.

PS,actually now that I look at your wiring on the primary side of the power transformer you have those items wired up wrong,
Go back and recheck all of that wiring from the power cable to the transformer.

So I just checked and the fuse is blown. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe I can do much else as far as checking voltages until I replace it?

[Stevem]

Yes you will need a fuse, and I think I see your problem,
The green wire coming off of your power cable looks to be burned thru and shorting out by the power supply filters .

[vipor3D]

Yes you will need a fuse, and I think I see your problem,
The green wire coming off of your power cable looks to be burned thru and shorting out by the power supply filters .

I see what you're talking about. I accidentally nicked that green wire with the solder iron, but it didn't burn through the outer layer. Not sure if the picture shows it, but I just checked it and can see the burn didn't go all the way to the inner wire

[romberg]

Since you have already blown one fuse, I'd save yourself the cost of additional fuses (and other more expensive parts) by building a lightbulb current limiter. There are instructions on this forum as well as elsewhere on the net on how to do this.

Mike

[vipor3D]

Since you have already blown one fuse, I'd save yourself the cost of additional fuses (and other more expensive parts) by building a lightbulb current limiter. There are instructions on this forum as well as elsewhere on the net on how to do this.

Mike

I hate to admit to this level of stupidity, but I actually have one. I just didn't have it when I finished building the amp and was too eager to try it out. I knew it'd be a mistake before I did it

[Stevem]

Do yourself a favor and besides getting another 1 amp fuse, get a 1/2 amp fuse and use that first until you get everything to be normal.

If the issue is on the secondary side of the transformer this fuse will blow super fast and save you from harming the power transformer.

[LOUDthud]

Isn't one of the Red wires from the power transformer going to the wrong place ? Looks like it doesn't go to one of the diodes like it should.

[vipor3D]

Isn't one of the Red wires from the power transformer going to the wrong place ? Looks like it doesn't go to one of the diodes like it should.

You're right. I think I mixed up the 6th terminal strip lug with the 7th