Power Acoustik RCA Input Stopped Working

[Bigpatallo]

So for a while now I've been having problems with one channel input (left) not working on my amp. At first spinning the RCA cable would make it work, so I dissmissed it as simply a bad connection. However now it doesn't work at all. Only my Right channel works.

I took it apart and unsoldered the RCA Jacks, tested for continuity, and so on. The amp was a gift and I've had it for years now so warranty didn't concern me. Anyway the RCA Jack is solid outside the board, no one ground/signal has continuity with another. However on the board itself the grounds of the two channels have continuity.. Interesting.. Pass-through RCA jacks are the same. Continuity on the grounds from the separate channel plugs to eachother. I have to assume this is on purpose to create a single stronger ground for each connection..

So while I think my only hope at this point is that PowerAcoustik still makes the sound board for my amp, but Im open to suggestions on any fixes or ways to test my problem.. And I was wondering if this was common among these amps..

Here's some pics of the board, thanks for any help

Click to read more...

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

the shields on the RCA's will be tied together to signal ground, that is normal. plug an RCA into the suspected jack and measure continuity between the RCA tip (on the other end) and the point on the board where the corresponding RCA pin solders to the board. that will test the entire path to the board. set the DMM for ohms and compare with the resistance of the RCA cable itself.

did you ever try swapping the left and right RCA's to see if the problem switched sides to rule out the RCA cable itself?

the inside of the jack can become loose - it's a pressure-fit. sometimes you can simply pry the inside contacts down to make contact again.

 

[Bigpatallo]

**** testing resistance, great idea. I'll try it right now.. And if the jacks don't have a solid enough connection like you say I'll just use the ones from the pass through. Since I don't use them anyway.

And yea I've tries the other channels' cable, it didn't work.

 

[Bigpatallo]

Okay just checked, resistance is the same on the board to tip of cable as it is from cable tip to cable tip, so it's not the jack itself.

Any other thoughts?