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is ok to cut vent holes under amp head? [message #20648]

Sat, 24 May 2014 01:51

vintagefan
Messages: 166
Registered: March 2014
Location: Dallas

Senior Member

Regarding my K100C-8 4x10 combos....

I'm noticing the power supplies seem to be melting some slight rusty goo of some sort on them. Not sure what it is. And one of my combos may have a power supply gone bad, but I won 't know until the tech let's me know for sure. Has anybody cut any vent holes to get some ventilation in? Maybe cut in the wood under the amp head near the power supply and cut vent holes in the bottom of the metal case near the power supply? Maybe 6"x6" out of the wood and drill several holes in the metal case near the power supply? Good idea or bad idea?

thanks.

[Updated on: Sat, 24 May 2014 01:53]

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Re: is ok to cut vent holes under amp head? [message #20649 is a reply to message #20648]

Sat, 24 May 2014 02:37

chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

I've never seen a correctly working power supply get hot on any of these amps. What is melting?

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Re: is ok to cut vent holes under amp head? [message #20650 is a reply to message #20649]

Sat, 24 May 2014 03:28

vintagefan
Messages: 166
Registered: March 2014
Location: Dallas

Senior Member

I don't know what is melting, or if something is actually melting. But when the power supply has been on a few hours, it seems there's a slight rusty oily like film on top of the power supply. Slightly gooey and smudgy. Like maybe old rust or old dirt fried to where it smudges slightly. Not sure if it's 45 year old grime gelling or if something is bubbling out. So I'm curious if cutting some vent holes near the power supply might prolong the life of the power supply.

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Re: is ok to cut vent holes under amp head? [message #20651 is a reply to message #20648]

Sat, 24 May 2014 06:32

stevem
Messages: 4733
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

The power supply as you call it in all Kustom amps is made up of 3 or 4 major items.
The power transformer, in the case of your amp a round rectifier bridge mounted on the floor of the amp next to the power transformer, that power transformer feeds, 2 large main can type filters that the output of the bridge feeds and in some very late K100-8 amps a choke which is like another smaller power transformer in the way it looks.
I as guessing that the crud you are describing is on top of the power transformer and a power transformer when they do get hot enough to leak stuff, leak out the bottom in the case of how its mounted in a Kustom amp.
In light of this I think that the stuff you may have on top of your( PT for short) power transformer is not a problem.
What may be a issue is that the PT is getting hot enough to heat crap to that degree that you may smell it!

When a Kustom amp is biased right ( idling right) the PT should only be warm to the touch, not more than some 25 degree above body temperature.
If the tech you have taken the amp to has any questions have him post us here.
Be for warned, a lot of so called techs at music stores have no circuit knolage, or a very limited amount, if it does not involve changing a fuse, an IC chip type output stage, a speaker or swap a tube out they can`t fix it.

I would ask the person if they have ever worked on a old amp like these before.
Good luck and keep us informed on how things go!

[Updated on: Sat, 24 May 2014 06:37]

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Re: is ok to cut vent holes under amp head? [message #20652 is a reply to message #20651]

Sat, 24 May 2014 09:00

vintagefan
Messages: 166
Registered: March 2014
Location: Dallas

Senior Member

Thanks Stevem. The power transformer is what I've been trying to describe. There's no smell. But it's somewhat hotter than I can touch for more than a few seconds.

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