18V for APJ-1s?
- Thread starter two4two
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Re: 18V for APJ-1s?
Thank you for your reply. So, I called tech support and they said the APJ-1s can definitely be wired with 18V, and that there is a small bit of advantage concerning headroom and gain, but nothing like night vs day. So, is it worth it? I guess that's player's choice.
Thank you for your reply. So, I called tech support and they said the APJ-1s can definitely be wired with 18V, and that there is a small bit of advantage concerning headroom and gain, but nothing like night vs day. So, is it worth it? I guess that's player's choice.
Re: 18V for APJ-1s?
OK, I did what Seymore tech said was OK to do and wired up two batteries in series to get 18V. No sound and the batteries started cooking -- real hot. So I pulled them, checked the wiring of the batteries and it was correct in series. So I cut out the new one and went back to single battery 9V. I got sound for about 5 seconds, but it faded, along with hiss and crackling, and then the battery started cooking again. I checked all the wiring and the soldering at the pots to see if there might be a short from red wires (battery + supply and red wires from pickups) to bare wire or black wire (ground). I can't see any, but hey, I guess something's wrong. Is it possible I fried the pre-amp in the APJ-1s? Or fried the pickups? I am not having fun at what should be a very simple thing. :smack:
OK, I did what Seymore tech said was OK to do and wired up two batteries in series to get 18V. No sound and the batteries started cooking -- real hot. So I pulled them, checked the wiring of the batteries and it was correct in series. So I cut out the new one and went back to single battery 9V. I got sound for about 5 seconds, but it faded, along with hiss and crackling, and then the battery started cooking again. I checked all the wiring and the soldering at the pots to see if there might be a short from red wires (battery + supply and red wires from pickups) to bare wire or black wire (ground). I can't see any, but hey, I guess something's wrong. Is it possible I fried the pre-amp in the APJ-1s? Or fried the pickups? I am not having fun at what should be a very simple thing. :smack:
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: 18V for APJ-1s?
To see if the pre-amp is fried, you'll just need a technical person to make some measurements. There is one other long-shot, though. Is it possible that you added a fresh battery to an existing old one? One of the caveats of alkaline batteries is you should never mix old and new. The new one will try to recharge the old one . . . which will "cook" it. Once cooked, it may be internally damaged.
I'd start by trying a new battery, then go from there.
To see if the pre-amp is fried, you'll just need a technical person to make some measurements. There is one other long-shot, though. Is it possible that you added a fresh battery to an existing old one? One of the caveats of alkaline batteries is you should never mix old and new. The new one will try to recharge the old one . . . which will "cook" it. Once cooked, it may be internally damaged.
I'd start by trying a new battery, then go from there.
Re: 18V for APJ-1s?
They were both new batteries.
But after they both overheated and I went back to single-battery mode, I didn't try a new one then. I put one of the two that overheated in. It overheated again when it was installed all by itself, so I tried the other of the two and it also overheated. The pots still make a tiny bit of crackling noise, but mostly there is dead silence.. If I fiddle with them they will crackle or pop slightly. Not a sound from the pickups. I'm going to de-solder everthing and re-do it all very carefully and use a new battery. If that fails, I'll try new pots. If that doesn't work I guess I'll kiss the pups goodbye and have to order up new ones.:headbang:
They were both new batteries.
But after they both overheated and I went back to single-battery mode, I didn't try a new one then. I put one of the two that overheated in. It overheated again when it was installed all by itself, so I tried the other of the two and it also overheated. The pots still make a tiny bit of crackling noise, but mostly there is dead silence.. If I fiddle with them they will crackle or pop slightly. Not a sound from the pickups. I'm going to de-solder everthing and re-do it all very carefully and use a new battery. If that fails, I'll try new pots. If that doesn't work I guess I'll kiss the pups goodbye and have to order up new ones.:headbang:
