SVT 1000

[lowell]

This amp came in w/ a blown circuit breaker. I replaced it and it seemed fine. Owner brought it back. The amp was then shutting down after 5-10 minutes of playing. Power light stayed on but domething would make a popping noise and then there'd be no sound coming out.

I disconnected the preamp chassis from the power amp chassis and plugged my guitar in the power amp in. The amp was not shutting down during this test. I then reconnected everything out of the cabinet on my bench and noticed the fan frame was cracked - allowing the blades to spin off-center and not allowing the fan to spin. I fixed the crack w/ some super glue and the fan works as well as the amp. It's been on for 1/2 hour now w/ no issues. Could it be that the thing was getting just hot enough w/o a fan that it would shut down? Seems extreme but maybe someone has experienced this?

[Enzo]

Perfectly reasonable, after all, that is why they put fans in them.

Plug the amp into a metered outlet and see if the thing draws increasing current as it warms up. Just to be sure.

If the fan had been held and unable to turn, I think I might have replaced it. WHo knows how hot the stalled fan might have made itself.

[lowell]

Ok thanks Enzo. I forgot to mention that I had metered the wall current and wasn't getting much of a reading and it didn't seem to be rising at all. I cannot get the amp to act up now, even when I stall the fan w/ a chopstick..?? Now I'm worried it'll just start happening again if I give it back to the owner.

[Enzo]

If the fan stops, it won;t instantly overheat.