laka
Seeker Of Truth
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Post by laka on May 2, 2024 1:18:12 GMT -5
Hi,
I have this Emotiva XPA-3 Gen 2 amplifier with a shortcircuited transformer. My problem is that Emotiva do not have replacement transformers any more. I would be so happy if anybody could help find a used one.
Greetings from Finland
Lauri
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Post by 405x5 on May 2, 2024 12:04:30 GMT -5
Hi, I have this Emotiva XPA-3 Gen 2 amplifier with a shortcircuited transformer. My problem is that Emotiva do not have replacement transformers any more. I would be so happy if anybody could help find a used one. Greetings from Finland Lauri You have two choices…… Number one: Finding a qualified technical service repair in Finland that would be willing to take this on. Number two: Time to go amplifier shopping |
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Post by localnet on May 4, 2024 9:19:17 GMT -5
Sign up over at AudioKarma.com, one of the guys over there may be able to help locate a suitable replacement.
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Post by leonski on May 4, 2024 12:30:19 GMT -5
Will EMO part with specifications of transformer? Or even, maybe, the source / vendor?
Finding a replacement may be tough. But you ALSO might be able to get YOURS rewound.
Finding another XPA 3 G2 is NOT impossible, but shipping to you will cost a bundle.....
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Post by leonski on May 4, 2024 14:41:03 GMT -5
Personally? I'd target one of the transformers from PLITRON.....which has been rebranded to another name......
These guys make a huge line and I'd be surprised IF you didn't find an electrical match for what you need.
Don't forget that EMO simply cna't afford a 'dedicated run' of almost anything but the sheet metal / cases.......
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Post by 405x5 on May 5, 2024 7:41:31 GMT -5
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on May 5, 2024 9:48:31 GMT -5
I think you REALLY need to call and talk to someone in the Support Department.
It is really unlikely that your XPA Gen2 amp has a shorted power transformer.
It can happen but:
1. It is very unusual for a big power transformer to fail... 2. And even more unusual for one to fail by short circuiting... (On the rare occasion when one fails it usually would not be by short circuiting.) 3. There are other possible faults that would be far more likely.
Also... It's going to be difficult or impossible to find an exact replacement... If you do find a new replacement it will probably be expensive (unless you are very lucky)... It is the heaviest thing in the amplifier (so expensive if you had to ship it)...
It is a bit complicated to replace...
So you really need to know what's going on before going down that road...
(Very specifically... if it's "blowing fuses" than it's probably not a shorted transformer.)
Hi, I have this Emotiva XPA-3 Gen 2 amplifier with a shortcircuited transformer. My problem is that Emotiva do not have replacement transformers any more. I would be so happy if anybody could help find a used one. Greetings from Finland Lauri |
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Darek
Minor Hero
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Post by Darek on May 5, 2024 11:25:00 GMT -5
Lauri, greetings from beautiful Warsaw, Poland. I think I have a good solution for you. There is a company in Poland, which is quite close to Finland :-) that has been producing transformers for many years, also for individual needs and orders, including for audio purposes. I've never heard anything bad about them. In my opinion, you can contact them and present the exact parameters of the transformer and your needs. I would be surprised if they refused you... Their address is sklep.toroidy.pl/en_US/indexI wish you luck! And here's another interesting fact. Father has been dealing with transformers for many years. His two sons are designers and producers of tube audio devices, also of good quality. Good team, right? Father and sons. fezzaudio.com/en/ |
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Post by 405x5 on May 5, 2024 11:52:27 GMT -5
Hi, I have this Emotiva XPA-3 Gen 2 amplifier with a shortcircuited transformer. My problem is that Emotiva do not have replacement transformers any more. I would be so happy if anybody could help find a used one. Greetings from Finland Lauri How do you know? |
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Post by vcautokid on May 5, 2024 12:19:51 GMT -5
Until you isolate everything after the power supply, you're just guessing. It does take allot to take out a transformer, though again not impossible. It is a must to get the power supply isolated and see how it does. Not sure how nice that would play as some power supplies require loading. Sorry about your troubles. But reach out to support at Emotiva for next best steps. Power supplies and the like are things we want to take the safe path on.
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Post by leonski on May 5, 2024 13:57:01 GMT -5
Finland is 230v / 50hz. Is the PS on the G2 switched? If so? What would happen if you plugged it in to 230 with the switch set to 120? Agreed. Transformer is maybe Least or 2nd Least Likely problem here. Blown bridge? Lightning / surge damage? Has the case even been cracked yet...inspecting for blown caps or 'other'  |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on May 5, 2024 14:11:11 GMT -5
The XPA-3 Gen2 automatically switches between 115 and 230 VAC. It switches using detection circuitry and relays... and a pair of LEDs on the rear panel will show which voltage the amp has selected.
If the amp is consistently blowing fuses then that could be caused by a fault in the line voltage switching and detection circuitry. Or it could be caused by one or more bad filter capacitors, or a bad bridge, or something else in the main power supply (pretty much in that order). However, if the amp is NOT blowing its main fuses, then there are several other things that could be going on. And, in order to even guess, we would need to know the exact symptoms.
(And, as I said, a bad transformer is possible, and could cause either of those, but really is extremely unlikely.)
Finland is 230v / 50hz. Is the PS on the G2 switched? If so? What would happen if you plugged it in to 230 with the switch set to 120? Agreed. Transformer is maybe Least or 2nd Least Likely problem here. Blown bridge? Lightning / surge damage? Has the case even been cracked yet...inspecting for blown caps or 'other' |
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Post by leonski on May 5, 2024 16:43:18 GMT -5
Keith....You know I worked a very technical industry for most of my career.
You'd come upon a fault or problem. Than spend the next half hour trying to get a CLEAR PICTURE of what did or
didn't happen.....The order of events and without blame, what did WHO DO?
Examination of wreckage may not tell entire story.
Finding a post 'Transformer Blown' is exactly a ZERO. I'd expect a REAL transformer death to result in the stink of a lifetime
and maybe some other issues. If the primary? Popped breaker.
You know the drill......
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on May 5, 2024 21:47:58 GMT -5
That's pretty much it...
The only exception that I know of is that some transformers actually have an internal "thermal fuse". It's a sort of internal fusible link that will blow - permanently - if the transformer just plain gets too hot. They're specifically included to avoid actual fire if something goes badly wrong.
And, under some conditions, those can go open, and leave you with an open winding before anything actually burns.
To be quite honest... it's something you almost never see... and I don't even know which of our transformers have them. I suspect that a lot of modern transformers do include them... and it's why you don't see actual fires very often...
(But, if that was what happened, the result would be an open winding, just like from any other cause.)
Keith....You know I worked a very technical industry for most of my career. You'd come upon a fault or problem. Than spend the next half hour trying to get a CLEAR PICTURE of what did or didn't happen.....The order of events and without blame, what did WHO DO? Examination of wreckage may not tell entire story. Finding a post 'Transformer Blown' is exactly a ZERO. I'd expect a REAL transformer death to result in the stink of a lifetime and maybe some other issues. If the primary? Popped breaker. You know the drill...... |
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Post by leonski on May 6, 2024 0:16:15 GMT -5
That's pretty much it...
The only exception that I know of is that some transformers actually have an internal "thermal fuse". It's a sort of internal fusible link that will blow - permanently - if the transformer just plain gets too hot. They're specifically included to avoid actual fire if something goes badly wrong.
And, under some conditions, those can go open, and leave you with an open winding before anything actually burns.
To be quite honest... it's something you almost never see... and I don't even know which of our transformers have them. I suspect that a lot of modern transformers do include them... and it's why you don't see actual fires very often...
(But, if that was what happened, the result would be an open winding, just like from any other cause.)
Keith....You know I worked a very technical industry for most of my career. You'd come upon a fault or problem. Than spend the next half hour trying to get a CLEAR PICTURE of what did or didn't happen.....The order of events and without blame, what did WHO DO? Examination of wreckage may not tell entire story. Finding a post 'Transformer Blown' is exactly a ZERO. I'd expect a REAL transformer death to result in the stink of a lifetime and maybe some other issues. If the primary? Popped breaker. You know the drill...... Give me a DVM and 30 seconds and I'll FIND the 'open winding' if such exists....... Remember!!! The Nose Knows........use it...... |
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laka
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 2
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Post by laka on May 9, 2024 7:42:06 GMT -5
Thank you everybody for expert advice. Really appreciate it.
I took the amplifier to a professional repairshop. They told me the short circuit occurs once the amp warms up. It blows the house fuse, not the amp fuse.
Maybe I’ll take it somewhre else for a second opinion because some of you think it highly unlikely that that the transformer is at fault. Also I will copy them this thread for additional hints, if that is ok.
I’ll keep you posted about any new developments.
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Post by leonski on May 9, 2024 12:33:40 GMT -5
That is interesting. I can't imagine NO TRACE of such an event in the amp. No smell? A burned trace on a board? A bulged PS capacitor?
My CARVER CUBE did the SAME thing....but instantly, not 'after warm up'.......Turned out to be caused by a surge in the power line which popped
a couple output devices. Fixed at power company expense!
Later when the amp finally died forever? A power supply problem. I think a choke shorted......Amp had a very odd power supply which Bob
claimed turned the amp on and off in time to the music......
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Post by 405x5 on May 9, 2024 14:25:01 GMT -5
The news here so far is not very encouraging.  |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on May 9, 2024 16:20:00 GMT -5
As I said a shorted power transformer would be pretty rare...
The most likely culprit would be a shorted filter capacitor or a blown amplifier module.
I don't have full detailed specs on the power transformer in the XPA-3 Gen2.
However it appears to be rated at 850VA (or 850 watts).
It has dual 115V primary windings.
(They are wired in series for 230VAC and in parallel for 115VAC.)
I see two variations of the transformer used at different times.
One variation has
- a winding rated at 29V center tapped at 0.5A
- a winding rated at 98V center tapped at 7.6A
The other variation has
- a winding rated at 29V center tapped at 0.5A
a winding rated at 100V center tapped at 10A
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Post by leonski on May 10, 2024 0:33:20 GMT -5
First Two mentioned by Keith should SMELL and be obvious. Blown PS caps should never happen, but
in the case of non-tier 1 parts. Pass mentioned some wacky long lifetime......especially for those in regular use.
Blown PS caps should be easily seen, too.....and you may have some 'goo' spilled around the interior.
As for the transformer? VA is as near as I can tell not the same as watts....taking into account phase of the load.
The 850 would be for a pure resistive load. Not a real big deal......
As for what Keith lists? Wouldn't surprise me to find out this was enough information to purchase a new tranny
or get the old rewound....if such a thing is possible?
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