cause or effect?

Boulderguy
10+ year member

Registered User
Below are pics of a cooked SS ref 5 amp, around 10 yrs old. Just died on me. Inspection reveals 2 (totally) blown caps.

Question is, are the cooked caps the cause of the problem or only a symptom?

Overview:

IMG_2645-1.jpg


Input section, blown up cap, literally:

IMG_2641.jpg


Maybe the output section? Cap melted completely, no remaining evidence:

IMG_2643.jpg


Two from the top:

IMG_2647.jpg


IMG_2648.jpg


Remaining bits of exploded cap:

IMG_2649.jpg


Amp was driving a single pair of 4 ohm speakers (3.6 DVR), tended to run very hot (more than usual) for several months but sounded fine. Now both input overload LEDs are lit when powered, obviously no sound output anymore but has a wonderful burning aroma.

Assume install was bombproof (it was) and amp wasn't being overtaxed (it wasn't).

 
Output stage was probably failing because it was getting hotter, once the cap melted it probably drew a ton of current from the input stage and literally blew up the cap.

 
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