Power Supply Technical Question

AsSiMiLaTeD
AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,727
edited June 2012 in Electronics
I have a Squeezebox Touch and use an ELPAC power supply with the Bolder mods. Recently I've started hearing a buzzing sound from withing the power supply itself. I sent an email to Bolder Cable and received the following response:
If you are hearing a buzzing sound, it is most likely the laminations on the transformer have dried out. There is nothing that can be done, at this point. The ELPAC WM-220 is not made any longer and there are no parts available for it.

Can someone translate that into English for me? Can I still safely use this power supply, or should I toss it and start looking for another one?
Post edited by AsSiMiLaTeD on
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  • bmbguy
    bmbguy Posts: 416
    edited May 2012
    Transformers do sometimes buzz. Though it isn't really unsafe, it can be quite annoying.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,171
    edited May 2012
    AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »
    I have a Squeezebox Touch and use an ELPAC power supply with the Bolder mods. Recently I've started hearing a buzzing sound from withing the power supply itself. I sent an email to Bolder Cable and received the following response:



    Can someone translate that into English for me? Can I still safely use this power supply, or should I toss it and start looking for another one?

    ELPAC's are notorious for humming and there is nothing that can be done and I believe if you read Boulders disclaimer you'll find they are not responsible for a "hummer".

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,171
    edited May 2012
    It's safe to use, but you may need to bury it if the hum bothers you when listening. I am assuming the hum is at the transformer and not through the speakers. You could try opening it up and sometimes tightening it to whatever it's mounted on can reduce the hum. My Welborn Labs has a very slight hum, it just needs to be tightend down a bit.

    No English translation needed. Iron Core transfomers have a higher instance of humming (actually the windings vibrating) than torrodial transformers.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,727
    edited May 2012
    I'm not blaming Bolder or asking them to do anything as they've already said nothing can be done, I just wantedto know if its safe to use. The buzzing doesn't bother me at all because it's hidden away, I only found it this weekend because I was cleaning back there.

    Thanks for your replies, I may open it up this weekend and take a peek
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,727
    edited May 2012
    And yes, the humming is inside the unit itself, nothing coming through the speakers
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,171
    edited May 2012
    AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »
    I'm not blaming Bolder or asking them to do anything as they've already said nothing can be done, I just wantedto know if its safe to use. The buzzing doesn't bother me at all because it's hidden away, I only found it this weekend because I was cleaning back there.

    Thanks for your replies, I may open it up this weekend and take a peek

    Yes, it's fine to use. The windings are glued and when the glue dries out sometimes the windings vibrate slightly. The reason they usually can't be repaired is typically the glue dries out closer to the iron core where there is more heat generated so it's several layers beneath the surface.

    That's my understanding anyway, I'm sure if I'm partially incorrect someone will come along and explain it.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited June 2012
    daubyPaky l'ordure thai escroc a ?t? rapport
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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