Is my TFM-15CB really dead...?

[rhimbo]

Hello folks,

Carver CT-23 pre-amplifier/tuner
TFM-15CB power amplifier

I fear one of my two TFM-15CB amplifiers has "died....." Now, when I turn on the tuner/pre-amp and amp units, I get no sound out of my speakers. If I hook up my second amp everything works fine.

For about a month leading up to the failure, I noticed that there was some delay between the time I turned on the rig and the time sound emanated from the speakers. This period increased from about a minute to about 2 hours before total failure.

There is no "pilot error" of which I'm aware. That is, the speaker select button is properly set, the input level knobs are set to maximum, and the unit has power (the power meters light up).

What do you think? Is my amp just dead?

I'm wondering how/why it died. I don't know if others in my house have turned the unit on/off too frequently (I set this up for my mom to listen to, and she is wont to turn the unit off when not actively listening).

Many thanks in advance....

[kingman]

What do you think? Is my amp just dead?

...YES!!!!!

I'm wondering how/why it died.

...Because it's OLD!!!!! You need a repair service to go through it.

[mbskeam]

most likely the caps are going bad, there is one in the protection circuit, when it goes bad the output relay does not kick in.
this is most likely why it started taking more and more time to latch up.
if you can solder these amps are very simple to recap, maybe 15 bucks in parts

[cring08]

I'm not sure where you are located, but here's one in Cincinnati.

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/ele/3361589468.html

[rhimbo]

most likely the caps are going bad, there is one in the protection circuit, when it goes bad the output relay does not kick in.
this is most likely why it started taking more and more time to latch up.
if you can solder these amps are very simple to recap, maybe 15 bucks in parts

Yes indeed I can solder!! But perhaps I should get a diagnostic service to determine that the caps are in fact the problem....

Given the age of this equipment, is it worth repairing? I mean, are there still audio places that would know how to diagnose this equipment? I'm in Southern California....

Thanks....

[angelod307]

there is not that many, replace them all. all electrolytics in the power supply, audio path ,etc. i did it and i think it was less than a dozen total.

[cring08]

What speakers are you using?

Maybe it's time to step up the power!

I know I don't regret it!