Cambridge A5 amp crowbarring?

Headscratching time. On first receipt tried the amp out as owner had been using 1 channel only , after having blown the other by shorting it. Both LV ac fuses ok but one SAP15 p-type blown. Had to cross-over power Darlington terminals as mirror footprint from the usual BCE orientation. Cleared out and replaced with that fudge for the SAP and other blown

1/8W Rs and tried out at 50% mains. Variac meter swung right over to the right and both LV fuses blew. Replaced fuses and tried at 20% mains, half amp or so of mains draw. Diconnect mains and main +ve and main -ve rail measure 0 ohm to ground for 10 or 20 seconds and then goes high impedance. Tried at 10% mains and sometimes +ve rail would be at zero ohms for 20 seconds or so and sometimes -ve rail like that, on repeating this game. Cannot see anything in the way of a crowbar SCR anywhere or relay and circuit looks much as the A500 that is out there , including overlay numberings. There is conductive brown glue to the main caps but that measured 2 meg or so minimum, with close DVM probes. All output devices and my fudge cross-compare DVM-D cold fashion, fine still. When I say 0 ohms I do mean that , well 0.1 ohm or less resistance. Unless anyone has an idea what is going, the next will be to remove my fudge and power up again.
Reply to
N_Cook
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Thats enough of this malarkey for today. About 10% mains for 20 seconds or so , the only thing warming up on IR thermometer was the 2 fuses, so something big presumably taking the power. That with about .2 amp mains current draw, 5V ac over secondaries and +/-1.8V on the DC rails

Reply to
N_Cook

** Bet you have revered the positions of the PNP and NPN Darlingtons - causing the internal C-E diodes to conduct soon a power is applied.

.... Phil

Reply to
Phil Allison

I'd wired in the train of 5 Shottky SMD diodes , the wrong way round so no biasing, doh!

Reply to
N_Cook

So far good output level match and sinuosity with no load ,with 1KHz input at 60% mains ,and reasonable biasing DC levels match between L and R channels with original preset setting. Will add 8R loads and repeat these tests and adjust bias while still at 60% mains ,interim, before going up to 100% mains

Reply to
N_Cook

Required 6 diodes of the SM" 2 in 1 pack BAT54S type I used, not 5, to get the right bias zone for the preset, 100% mains and stable wiht load, just quality of sound check to go

Reply to
N_Cook

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