RoHS gone MAD

Hi to all,

I have a near new, Fender " Deluxe Reverb-Amp " on the bench.

This is a so called " Reissue " of a 22watt, all valve guitar amp first sold back in 1965.

The circuitry is identical to the original except for one low cost component that has been substituted .... like Vince Sorrenti famously says: I see it, but I doooaann believe it !!!!

Inside the amp's chassis has been fitted an SMD board, about 50mm x 100 mm, that does just *one* job - it replaces the usual CdS photo cell in the tremolo circuit !!!!!

On the back of the SMD board, in copper, it says " ROHS TREMOLO ".

The 12AX7 valve responsible for the tremolo effect is still fitted and fully wired - but the connections that usually go to the Ne2 lamp and the CdS cell are now routed the SMD board instead.

The main IC on the SMD board is an LM13700 transconductance amp - plus a TL072 and numerous transistors, caps etc. It does the job of mimicking the CdS characteristic rather well.

But WHY ??

How much EVIL cadmium is inside one, tiny CdS cell ??

Remember: NiCd batteries are still being sold and still fitted to many power tools - even in Europe.

How completely bonkers !!!!

.... Phil

Reply to
Phil Allison
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Batteries are exempt from ROHS though.

You're not wrong. ROHS is all about "reduction", not total elimination, strange that a single CdS photocell would put you over. Interestingly, Digikey actually sell some CdS photocells that are "ROHS compliant by exemption", whatever that exemption means.

Perhaps the CdS cell wasn't replaced because of ROHS?, it might just have been a discontinued part which they could not find a suitable alternative? The board is ROHS compliant, because, well, that's what they all are these days as standard.

I'm surprised marketing didn't get a hold of the "solid state" update...

Dave.

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Reply to
David L. Jones

"David L. Jones"

** Shame about the " Battery Directive ".

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Note how NiCds are still allowed in power tools.

** The RoHS cadmium ban applies to the percentage ( max 0.01%) of cadmium in any identifiable material or coating.

" The maximum permitted concentrations are 0.1% or 1000 ppm (except for cadmium, which is limited to 0.01% or 100 ppm) by weight of homogeneous material. This means that the limits do not apply to the weight of the finished product, or even to a component, but to any single substance that could (theoretically) be separated mechanically-for example, the sheath on a cable or the tinning on a component lead. "

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** There is a general exemption for CdS photo cells used in professional audio equipment (obtained by request from Marshall Amplification of the K) - it expires end of this year - subject to review no doubt.

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Makes what Fender have done impossible to comprehend.

** Bollocks.

The US market versions still have the CdS cells.

The SMD board is LABELLED: " ROHS TREMOLO " !!!

** Massive red-herring.

** Not likely Fender will publicly reveal their premium priced "Re-issue" models have a stinking SMD board hidden inside. Tube purists would all puke.

..... Phil

Reply to
Phil Allison

"Phil Allison" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net:

Is the fault in the tremolo section or somewhere else?

Reply to
GeoffC

"GeoffC"

** The problem that I had to deal with was not related to the tremolo circuit.

However, if that wacky SMD board ever fails, I know exactly what service techs will do.

..... Phil

Reply to
Phil Allison

LOL, probably replace it with a lamp and a CdS cell ...

Reply to
Swanny

Funny that :)

Reply to
kreed

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