Blue lamp Carver TFM-25 mod

Fongolio

I just finished installing the blue replacement lamps on my Carver TFM-25 but I find they aren't bright enough for my liking. They look cool but not quite bright enough. Does anyone know of where I can get brighter blue lamps or is there a mod I can do to brighten the existing blues. I noticed even the original lamps in the unit were kind of dull. I see that on the little lamp circuit board there is provision for resistors on both lamps. I'm looking for input from anyone who may have done this mod on this unit or a similar one. I have looked on the Carver forum but found very little. Thanks.

Kelvin

F1nut

There's nothing worse than bright lights on hifi gear.

Fongolio

It has a dimmer dial so I can take the intensity off but I can not even see the vu meter needles until up very close. I just want it a little brighter not nuclear flash bright.

F1nut

In that case, you'll probably have to use LED's, but you'll have to figure out voltage requirements and if resistors and/or diodes are needed with the LED's.

Fongolio

My first try was with low wattage LED's but they went poooof!! I need some that are 9V capable and I think they may be AC. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here please. Does anyone know where to find such a beast? Thanks.

Fongolio

I found a solution....and at this time of year it's obvious. LED christmas lights! I bought a package of 5V replacement LEDS (superbright's) for $.59, modified the wires slightly to be long enough to solder onto the lamp board and voila!! Beautiful blue glow from the VU meters now. The LED's are AC so all is well. Super cheap super cool mod for Carver TFM's with the VU meters. I've been trying to take pics but with the low light and my slightly older digital I can't quite get them right but I'll keep trying and post if I get a good one.

Fongolio

Actually it does have a built in potentiometer and it will dial down to very dim.

Fongolio

Pics of the mod. They don't do it full justice though. It's much cooler looking in person but you can get the idea.

F1nut

Good job!

Fongolio

Thanks.

mmadden28

Shouldn't those needles be more to the right?

Thephile

Fongolio wrote: »

I found a solution....and at this time of year it's obvious. LED christmas lights! I bought a package of 5V replacement LEDS (superbright's) for $.59, modified the wires slightly to be long enough to solder onto the lamp board and voila!! Beautiful blue glow from the VU meters now. The LED's are AC so all is well. Super cheap super cool mod for Carver TFM's with the VU meters. I've been trying to take pics but with the low light and my slightly older digital I can't quite get them right but I'll keep trying and post if I get a good one.

Hello,
I know this an old post but I an interested in trying the colored lights in my Carver TMF-55X. I took a voltage reading at the input of the circuit board and I got 19 volts DC.
Were there any modifications you did to use the 5 Volt AC bulbs? I always thought all the TMF series amplifiers used the same bulbs.

Fongolio

I believe the 19 volts gets split between the two lamps so each gets around 9 on my TFM-25. A word of caution. I read that some of the lamp circuits are somehow connected to the output circuit and if a lamp blows the whole output is killed. I tested mine first and it was not like that. However when one lamp is gone they both go suggesting a series circuit on the lamp pc board. I experimented with various led voltages but found the 5V super brights gave the best effect. My amp has a dimmer dial so I can shut the lamps right off if I want but even run at full for hours neither led has blown yet. Hope this helps. Good luck and welcome to the Club.