Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Post by **NightProwler** » 22 Dec 2016, 22:51

Hey all, Switched the ole Bremi on last night but after a couple minutes the valve wasnt glowing like it used too just really really dim. Anyway I went to grab something from behind the radio and accidentally hit the deskmic causing it to key up...This was followed by a hell of a flash that made me scream like a school girl. The 2A fuse inside was dead so I changed it, The amp powers up again but the valve is not glowing at all. Is this a dead valve or something else? Never owned valve gear before and to be honest it scares me stupid

Cheers all...Rich

Oh forgot to mention it's freezing in my shack so I dont know if thats anything to do with it.

Post by **timbob58** » 22 Dec 2016, 23:43

Oh forgot to mention it's freezing in my shack so I dont know if thats anything to do with it.
bet you were only useing it to heat the shack up

Post by **ghost123uk** » 23 Dec 2016, 07:34

NightProwler wrote:but the valve is not glowing at all. Is this a dead valve or something else?

First thing to do is remove the valve and make sure the heater is in one piece. Test pins 4 & 5 with your meter, set to read Ohms on a low (200ish) range. I'm not sure what exactly is the resistance, that doesn't really matter, you are checking that it's not open circuit or a dead short.

Pins =

Pic courtesy of http://www.tubeampdoctor.com

If the heater appears ok, next, with the valve still out of the unit, carefully measure the AC voltage on the valve socket pins 4 & 5. It should be close to 6.3 Volts (assuming your valve number starts with EL).

Let "us" know your findings.

NightProwler wrote:Never owned valve gear before and to be honest it scares me stupid

Yes, do be careful. The Anode voltage is in the region of 800V DC. The associated capacitor can (and does) store high voltages for a while after the unit is powered down. Check the Anode to chassis voltage with your meter, set to it's highest DC range, 10 minutes after powering down, to be on the safe side.

NightProwler wrote:Oh forgot to mention it's freezing in my shack so I don't know if that's anything to do with it.

Unlikely unless A) - You had not powered that unit up for many months or B) - it is damp in there.

Post by **cb4ever104** » 23 Dec 2016, 08:36

All good info there ghost123uk .

So we now all know who to come to when our valve amps die

Sammy

Post by **NightProwler** » 26 Dec 2016, 19:09

Cheers everyone I'll take a look when I got 5 minutes free and report back

Post by **Transwarp** » 26 Dec 2016, 19:55

NightProwler wrote:Cheers everyone I'll take a look when I got 5 minutes free and report back

Yes you'll have to report back as soon as so we know you're safe and haven't accidently fried yourself by probing around in a live tube amp!

Post by **NightProwler** » 26 Dec 2016, 20:59

Thanks for making me even more paranoid

Post by **radio pete** » 27 Dec 2016, 00:22

My guess is the valve has gone heater cathode short

Post by **andymuza** » 27 Dec 2016, 02:54

My guess is it's broken with a capital F.

Post by **The Collector** » 28 Dec 2016, 14:32

FUBAR

I think we need a Youtube video done. Not of the amp problem, but of NightProwler squealing like a girly

Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Re: Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Re: Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Re: Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Re: Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Re: Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Re: Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Re: Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Re: Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom

Re: Bremi BRL210 goes bang flash boom