Cold solder from being packed down?

[nervewrecker]

I have a question about storing amps..
This is the second amp I have gotten a cold solder on and its the third time. All three times I have removed said amp in perfect working condition and put it away safe. Well maybe not the third time, amp riding around in a car 2 years now.

I have another amp put away amd wont like to have it repaired. Removed it a few weeks now.

Is there a proper way to decommissionin an amplifier or do I need to leave it hooked up to a 12v supply and remain in occasional use?

Thanks tuners

[kavaninho]

Few things can cause a failure as you described above:
*Thermal shock- not likely to happen in your case as the temp. variation while the amp is in commission would be more harsh and adverse than when not in use.
*Poor soldering technique-very much doubt.
*Vibration-Amp riding around not mounted?

[nervewrecker]

I will like to think is the second..

Amp was just rest down under the seat. Cant be that harsh as a screwdriver was resting on the gearbox for months and never fell off with my mad max driving style.

[VexXx Dogg]

Seriously never saw this.
I've had a number of new and used equipment that never faced this.
Have they ever been repaired locally?

[nervewrecker]

The orion was used and the powerbass I owned from new

[kavaninho]

You sure you diagnosed right? Play with the HPF switch and gain knob and sometimes like magic the channel starts to work again. I'm sure you cared well for your amp in the past so it shouldn't be a major issue.

[goviboo]

Most of the amplifiers I own and repaired in the past with similar failure symptoms:
- all had component failure, this I’m guessing as mentioned above “thermal shock” when initial power up after the “prolonged storage” I’ve come across defective caps, transistors and ICs. Coming through the years I’d hear a lot of people say “cold solder” but very rare a faulty solder connection.
- I believe the atmosphere the equipment is exposed to is the primary root cause, as the humidity condenses on the electronics along with other chemicals ( eg salt- crystalizes) this in turns attracts dust which all increases the static build up along the pcbs affecting the electronic components.
- caps degenerate with age wether used or not, higher temps not favorable.
-just my $0.02 fellas

[nervewrecker]

I think the last post may have nailed it.

Opened it, leme get some pics.

See if you see what I see.

Caps look good though.
No sign of any swollen. Board looks mint from on top but not sure what under looks like..
This board shows some signs of what was mentioned above.
What gets me is the broken piece of solder on the board by where that rj45 looking jack goes in.

[goviboo]

Yup, I use the QD contact cleaner or alcohol and toothbrush to clean them up prior to rework...

[nervewrecker]

Have me contemplating if to try that.
But next thing I screw it up..

[SR]

Over time caps are the main failure in amplifiers as age and heat changes its values even though they "appear" to look good. Same goes for soldering on boards that expereince heat and vibration. Somtimes its not the soldering point but the actual circuit track that has either lifted or become cracked. This is the difference between a good quality circuit board and a cheaper made one. Also big difference in cost

[adnj]

Cold solder joints usually show up as a blob with a halo of rosin flux that didn't vaporize.

Higher heat and humidity provide an environment where basic chemical processes don't slow down. This causes premature failure of many things from electronics to canned foods to the glue on shoe soles. The amount of salt in the air is not always a factor.

You should expect to see an increase in capacitor plastic film degredation, soldered joint corrosion and trace to board separation.

ANSI publishes specs that address these issues. It's expensive to meet those specs so many manufacturers don't bother.

[nervewrecker]

Well I dropped it off by a dude rovin recommended.
Will let you guys know what play off.

[Ted_v2]

Lemme know how it works out. Have a amp to repair as well one channel faulty. Not a

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