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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
 Posted - 09/02/2005 : 14:09:27
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Anyone experienced bad performance from a Boss pedal caused by old electrolytics?
Electrolytics are fresh for around 15 years then they goes bad, the construction is this way.
One of my last buys, PS-2, is making strange noises so I suspect (well, my guess) bad electrolytics. I hear the noice when I�m not striking the strings.
What to expect soundwise from bad caps??? |
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pawnshop_trash
Gold Member
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2005 : 18:05:07
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I think I remember reading about electrolytic caps (in the context of a tube amp) in one of Ritchie Fliegler's books... if I remember correctly, filter caps on amps help convert AC to DC voltage, and as a filter cap fails, some of the 60-cycle AC hum leaks through as a periodic drip-drip-drip-drip-kind of extraneous noise. dunno how this would relate to a stomp box, though.
is this problem only when you use an AC adaptor (e.g., does the noise go away when you use a battery)? |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2005 : 18:41:19
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| I don't know about the average life of electrolytics, but I have read that if the pedal is not used for some time the electrolytics can "dry up" and cause the pedal to malfunction. |
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pawnshop_trash
Gold Member
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2005 : 07:03:59
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| I think boss freak is right on about electrolytic caps 'drying up' if not used regularly... have you had a chance to open up your PS-2 and see if any of the caps are obviously burned out or oozing a dark colored goo? if so, get thee pedal to a repair shop quickly, lest it take out other parts in the circuit.... |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2005 : 07:36:54
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I opened my PS-2 and was impressed by what I saw, I�ve read in the Boss book about the twin PCB�s, but this is amazing. It�s a piece of art...
As the two PCB�s hids most of the components I could only see a couple of the electrolytics, they looked fresh. |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2005 : 10:33:08
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| Maybe a loose ground wire? |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2005 : 10:54:08
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Well, whatever it was the noice is gone....
Could be that it just needed a bit of fresh air, it�s really crowded inside  |
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arcanon1313
Silver Member
USA
414 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2005 : 17:29:44
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It could have been some dust bunnies bullying your electrolytic caps.
Did you clean out the pedal with some compressed air? |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2005 : 18:55:40
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Good to hear that the problem fixed itself.  |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2005 : 07:18:31
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Yes there was a lot of dust inside, and I blowed it away of course.
I also moved the PCB�s around a bit to have a good look, that could also have helped.
Hope the noise is gone for good anyway. |
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2005 : 08:27:18
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I wish the problems I've had with some of my pedals were that easily fixed!  |
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walrus121
Silver Member
USA
187 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2005 : 06:32:01
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| Just for info, this is something that I did to my Ibanez TS-9. I replaced all of the electrolytic capacitors that are part of the signal line with more expensive capacitors, I forget which type but you can look it up on http://www.geofex.com/. Electrolytic capacitors are only good because you can get the greatest amount of capacitance out of them. Otherwise they suck. If you can replace them (and also ceramic disc and tantalum capacitors) with mylar or other poly-type capacitors you are generally better off. |
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Old electrolytic caps
