replacing amp swithch

[popfizz]

Just tried to replace an on/off switch on amp. was all good but tested before soldering and went on fine, until I moved it and wires must have touched. have I broken the whole thing or just fussed it?

[Enzo]

Hard to say, you have not reported anything about what the amp does and does not do. What is wrong with it?

[popfizz]

Hard to say, you have not reported anything about what the amp does and does not do. What is wrong with it?

Thank you for your reply. The on off swithchh was broken so just wanted to replace it. When I connected the new swithch the amp came on but then I moved it and got sparks, the amp went off and did not come back on. I had not soldered the wires so I think they must have touched. I took off the new switch and just connected the correct wires and still no response.

[52 Bill]

Thank you for your reply. The on off swithchh was broken so just wanted to replace it. When I connected the new swithch the amp came on but then I moved it and got sparks, the amp went off and did not come back on. I had not soldered the wires so I think they must have touched. I took off the new switch and just connected the correct wires and still no response.

When the sparks flew, the fuse was probably blown. Look for a fuse either inside or outside the chassis. It might help us to know what amp you are talking about.

[DRH1958]

When the sparks flew, the fuse was probably blown. Look for a fuse either inside or outside the chassis. It might help us to know what amp you are talking about.

Yes, and maybe even a pic or two of the damage. Also, if you have a newer 3-prong grounding cord, you can get by with just switching the black(hot) wire. This way you don't have 120 volts sitting next to each other on the switch if you had the type that switches both hot and neutral and there is less chance for a short. The power switch doesn't have to switch the neutral(white) in guitar amps. You can just hook the incoming white directly to one of the PT leads and use a single pole switch to switch the black. In fact, it's against the National Electrical Code to switch the neutral in house wiring. A wall switch only switches the hot. Also, see this thread about fusing. This guy is right on: Amp Builders, do not fuse the neutral ! | The Gear Page

[popfizz]

When the sparks flew, the fuse was probably blown. Look for a fuse either inside or outside the chassis. It might help us to know what amp you are talking about.

Thanks I have removed fuse and will get a replacement and see how that goes, may take a few days as leaving Wednesday touring Egypt till 8th April. The amp is a Peavey Base micro.

[Jazz P Bass]

Hard to believe that Peavey would pull a bonehead stunt like that (switching both mains legs).

When in fact, the MicroBass schematic shows that they only switch the black lead.
Yay!

microbass.pdf

[DRH1958]

Hard to believe that Peavey would pull a bonehead stunt like that (switching both mains legs).

When in fact, the MicroBass schematic shows that they only switch the black lead.
Yay!

[ATTACH]38382[/ATTACH]

Yes, definitely good to know what amp we are talking about now and a schematic as well. Thanks, Jazz. And yes, good to see only the hot switched. Not sure why some amps did this(switch both) except maybe to insure the hot was switched if the user somehow defeated the polarity orientation. Switching both insured the hot did indeed get switched. OP must have had a hot to chassis short, no doubt?

[Jazz P Bass]

Quote:"OP must have had a hot to chassis short, no doubt?"

That is what I was thinking.