Johnson Millennium 150 and computerized amp thoughts

[Audiotexan]

Agree with everything that's been said previously, and in addition, any time I see a digital piece lit up like a christmas tree...I do two things:

1. Check the PSU section.
2. Bin it (or return no charge) after scavenging useful parts/accessories.

IME, it's been quite often lightning/surge related, OR CPU/code failure. Neither worth bothering with unless the customer wants to eat the R&R for a new mainboard.

And the more I think of it, this type of problem is akin to losing a motherboard on a computer. Who tries to fix a motherboard?

I did once. Once.
Though it was mainly just for giggles to see if I could (incidentally and FWIW, a PSU issue). Even if I had been able to fix it, I seriously doubt that I'd have trusted it enough to use as my everyday driver (assuming more than just the "fixed components" were stressed during the failure).

[Mick Bailey]

Who tries to fix a motherboard?

Me. Or at least, when the original IBM PC came out I did. The same with expansion cards. Those early machines were so expensive compared to labour costs that they could (up to a point) be repaired economically. That didn't last long though.

The main thing wrong with the durability model is the low cost of manufacturing in the Far East. It seems to me that most consumer electronic products are a one-way ticket to landfill or whatever. It cannot be economical to repair a product where the major part of its construction is manufactured for less than an hours bench time at Western rates. So, how much would it cost to repair a PC motherboard right now? Much more than just replacing it almost every time, I'd guess. The same with a lot of audio equipment if you're the manufacturer or distributor and have access to factory-gate priced spares from China.

[hodgy]

I've got one of these (2 actually, one is for parts- just in case). They are great amps as long as you have a stock of encoders on hand. I had the same problem with the lights and it turned out to be in the power section. I didn't even have to break a sweat getting it back up and running.

[Randall]

The PS seems to be putting out the correct voltages on this one. Also, I just found out they went out of business in 2002, but someone (Digitech?) maintains a website for support. Not holding my breath, but I sent up a smoke signal to see if there are any factory repair/replace options.

[Jazz P Bass]

The PS seems to be putting out the correct voltages on this one.

Care to share what voltages you found?

[J M Fahey]

Me. Or at least, when the original IBM PC came out I did. The same with expansion cards. Those early machines were so expensive compared to labour costs that they could (up to a point) be repaired economically. That didn't last long though.

The main thing wrong with the durability model is the low cost of manufacturing in the Far East. It seems to me that most consumer electronic products are a one-way ticket to landfill or whatever. It cannot be economical to repair a product where the major part of its construction is manufactured for less than an hours bench time at Western rates. So, how much would it cost to repair a PC motherboard right now? Much more than just replacing it almost every time, I'd guess. The same with a lot of audio equipment if you're the manufacturer or distributor and have access to factory-gate priced spares from China.

That's the point.

A friend of mine charges as much as he wants: he flies all over the Country (and neighbouring Countries too) fixing Medical equipment, such as Gas in Blood Analyzers, Intensified Image X Ray machines, CAT scanners, Ultrasound imaging machines, etc.

Another one repairs magazine and newspaper printing plants, those with a half block (or longer) series of printing machines in series, where you feed them barrels (literally, 200 liter drums) of 4 colour inks plus half a ton paper rolls and out come magazines and newspapers from the other end.
Every hour they are stopped costs tens of thousands; 24 hours off can crack the company so .... they pay.

Another, smaller one, "only" repairs, calibrates and certifies Plane equipment Radio, VOR, landing, Radar, etc.).

I'm the only idiot who got stuck with repairing $199 stuff

[Randall]

Care to share what voltages you found?

The PS connectors have the pins ID'ed on the board, everything looked good. It's buttoned up and gone. Done.

[Jazz P Bass]

It is such a help when the board layout has that kind of information silkscreened on the board.

[bsco]

You'd be surprised what you can find on the bay or Craigslist.
My friend got a nice Pace soldering station with vacuum and all the smd tips for like $50.

I never saw anything like that on Ebay....I saw Pace stations with no attachments for two hundred plus....probably not working either.....

[bsco]

Me. Or at least, when the original IBM PC came out I did. The same with expansion cards. Those early machines were so expensive compared to labour costs that they could (up to a point) be repaired economically. That didn't last long though.

The main thing wrong with the durability model is the low cost of manufacturing in the Far East. It seems to me that most consumer electronic products are a one-way ticket to landfill or whatever. It cannot be economical to repair a product where the major part of its construction is manufactured for less than an hours bench time at Western rates. So, how much would it cost to repair a PC motherboard right now? Much more than just replacing it almost every time, I'd guess. The same with a lot of audio equipment if you're the manufacturer or distributor and have access to factory-gate priced spares from China.

My desktop went south on me...had a quick look...bad caps by the looks of it....I am going to give it a go to see what happens......

[guitardad]

Found great deals on SMD/SMT stations for my shop. Circuitspecialists.com. They look like Hakko knockoff's but I have been using their soldering desoldering stations for about 5 years now. Works great. 1/5 cost