PPX idle warm up time
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Category: Other Chat
Forum Name: Golden oldies
Forum Description: Post all historic interesting items, stories and photos here (no, not your Nan)
URL: https://forum.speakerplans.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=65401
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 6:55pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.08 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: PPX idle warm up time
Posted By: GregM
Subject: PPX idle warm up time
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 7:13pm
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Guys,
It's been a very (very) long time since I had any PPX amps in my stable, and at my age, the memory doesnt work too reliably anymore!......
I wanting to know whether the cooling fan and thero trigger in my PPX450 are actually working, and until Sunday I'm not going to get a chance to plug it in a source and pair of speakers so I'm just sitting here with it powered up idling, getting quite warm and wondering why I can't remember how warm they get before the fan should cut in....
Can anybody advise (Ian?) approximately how long after powering up and idling they are warm enough to trigger the fan?, obviously I don't want to wait too long only to discover the fan's stuffed, and I've let it toast itself, but equally, I'm inpatient so don't want to wait until Sunday!!
New toys eh?, tsk!
Greg ------------- Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question! |
Replies:
Posted By: Mhamplification
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 8:17pm
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Greg The fan should come on and run for a couple of minutes then switch off again It depends how the bias is set as to how long it takes till the fan should come on, maybe 5-10 minutes is the norm. Might be best to bypass the thermal switch to check it is working properly, a lot of the fans in older PPX amps are 115 volts so don`t hardwire it to the mains. You can wire it via the mains transformer primary windings to get 115 volts Let us know how you get on Good to see you have a ""decent amp"" in your collection now Martin |
Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 8:53pm
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Thanks Martin,
Useful to know the early ones had 115v fans, I'll bet that's caught out a few dabblers!
The machine got rather warm just idling for about 25 mins, and no sign of the fan firing up, so I've powered off until I have the time to poke about which won't be until the weekend.
I'll definitely try bridging the thermo unit as a start - assuming I can find it. I'm downloading the schematic at the mo so hopefully it's quite obvious. Seems a very long time since I opened up a PPX.
Regards,
Greg ------------- Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question! |
Posted By: jbl_man
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 9:25pm
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That doesnt sound right Greg,as Martin says,the fan should trip-on after around 5 minutes at idle. The trip is a thermal switch mounted on the heatsink next to the Hitachi mosfets. ------------- Be seeing you. |
Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 9:46pm
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Hmmm, that was what I feared, I had a distinct feeling from what I'd read here in the past the fan would cut in reaonable quickly.
I just hope a possibly dead fan hasn't allowed it to over cook in the past, I won't get to dig into it until Sunday. Seller (yep, on SP
 ) sold it as fully working, and actually confirmed having tested it the morning before i was due to collect it so I maybe just looking at a duff fan. Fingers X'd.Cheers Ian for the pointer - I'm sure the trip will become obvious.
Greg ------------- Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question! |
Posted By: jbl_man
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 9:56pm
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Should be ok,on the heatsink there are two thermal switches,one trips the fan at 60* if i remember,and the other switch is a thermal cutout at 90*,which should protect the devices...there is also another thermal trip on the transformer as well,which shuts the power off if the transformer overheats.Quite well protected these amps! Just checked mine,def. 115v fan. ------------- Be seeing you. |
Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 9:58pm
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Good man, thank you.
Good old fashioned engineering eh?, protection ruled the way!
Greg ------------- Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question! |
Posted By: jbl_man
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 10:05pm
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You can see one switch at the far end of the heatsink inline with the output devices,the other switch is other end of of heatsink.(hidden by the fan in ths photo) Edit,this is a 900,but layout is same in 450.  ------------- Be seeing you. |
Posted By: VSS
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 10:14pm
| Fan is 115 V . I replaced one in one of my ppx 900 . If I'm not mistaken the fan runs continiously from the moment the amp is switched on ( ppx 900 ) . Anyway , mine are . |
Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 10:15pm
Except that one's also got nice handles!
 Thanks again Ian - I know what I'm looking at now - and can also see the tranny thermal cut out too. ------------- Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question! |
jbl_man wrote:Posted By: GEB
Date Posted: 29 March 2012 at 10:20pm
| Stick a 240v fan in, wire it up to be on full wack 100% of the time? |
Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 10 April 2012 at 8:57pm
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Update time - just in case anybody was actually following the story of my migration back from HH to Citronic.....
Despite being filthy inside and out, it works!, both channels pump away, although channel B did seem a tad quieter in my very untechnical test.
The fan switch (presumably a thermistor?) did have an intermittent fault, there was what I guess was a dry joint/fractured cable at the heatsink end - a quick strip back and resolder and the fan pops in and out every 5-6 mins as you guys suggested it would.
I do need to spend a fair bit of time cleaning it out and tidying up the casework - (oh, and finding some front handles!), then it'll find a new job which may just become a core part of my home hi fi
 Martin - out of curiousity, would you happen to have a full copy of the service manual and schematics for the PPX450 I could see?, I really fancy seeing how much of my ancient BBC training I could remember - then, when I bugger it up I can add the PPX to the pile of kit waiting to find their way to you for service and/or repair!!
Greg ------------- Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question! |
Posted By: colint
Date Posted: 10 April 2012 at 9:18pm
What part of the handles are you looking for Greg? if it's the front panel/plate with the handle supports on there are some on ebay at the moment, the front pieces you can make up from some steel bar very easily. Col. ------------- Never criticise another man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. Once you have, call him what you like, you're a mile away and you've got his shoes! |
Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 10 April 2012 at 9:29pm
Col - it's the easy bits I'm missing, the flat steel strips - some bozo obviously took them off a long time ago so I just need spend a bit of time measuring up.
Greg ------------- Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question! |
Posted By: colint
Date Posted: 10 April 2012 at 9:36pm
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Ok that's going to be a bit easier on the wallet, if you want to make them up & send them to me and I'll get them powder coated for you it'll last longer than paint. ------------- Never criticise another man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. Once you have, call him what you like, you're a mile away and you've got his shoes! |
Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 10 April 2012 at 9:49pm
Thanks Col, thats a nice offer - and it may, just, swing the idea of a PPX gracing the lounge to the good woman! ------------- Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question! |
Posted By: Mhamplification
Date Posted: 11 April 2012 at 9:59am
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Greg I only have the circuit diagrams for the PPX series There are lots of different versions and issue numbers The main pcb is either PC1061/4 or PC 1062/4 and issue 1-8 The powers supply seems to be the same throughout If you see what boards yours has I will try and get it on line somewhere or scan them Martin |
Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 11 April 2012 at 4:00pm
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Hi Martin, Just took a look, mine has the PC1061 and PC 1062 boards on channels A & B but both are marked up as Issue J, not numbered 1-8...... Each board is fitted with a trio of J49 and K134 devices. Ian PM'd me a set of schematics which include a few pages I'd not seen before, but still no sign of what seems to be a mystery 'Channel B' power section...... Any/all help welcomed. Greg ------------- Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question! |
Posted By: mooreb
Date Posted: 11 April 2012 at 8:27pm
I'll Help! I have quite a few ppx amps for sale plus i'm sure i've got a few handles (that came with the power switch kit) 
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Posted By: bass*en*mass
Date Posted: 11 April 2012 at 8:52pm
| tut, tut - do i smell a sales talk?! :) |
Posted By: GAZ.
Date Posted: 11 April 2012 at 9:36pm
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A difference I've noticed in my PPX's is two of them don't have hitachi fets in, the rest do. I'm guessing the 2 that dont are later ones built after the hitachi fets were discontinued? ------------- 100% Earth Moving Bass |
Posted By: jbl_man
Date Posted: 11 April 2012 at 9:50pm
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I have also heard of that Gaz,i think a few of the very late ones had BUZ devices?
------------- Be seeing you. |
Posted By: GAZ.
Date Posted: 11 April 2012 at 10:28pm
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Yeah one of my 150's has BUZ900 and 905's in and one 1600 has something other than hitachi's in, I don't think they're BUZ devices though? Its the only one I have with the later style power switch. ------------- 100% Earth Moving Bass |
Posted By: GAZ.
Date Posted: 11 April 2012 at 10:32pm
Just been on the phone to another forum member, I've a feeling I may be tempted into owning another PPX or several soon  ------------- 100% Earth Moving Bass |
Posted By: GregM
Date Posted: 11 April 2012 at 10:37pm
Ooooh, 'Dibs' on share-ies...  ------------- Remember, if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question! |
Posted By: GAZ.
Date Posted: 11 April 2012 at 10:45pm
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Race you to the PPX's ! You know who has them too! ------------- 100% Earth Moving Bass |
Posted By: mooreb
Date Posted: 12 April 2012 at 12:24am
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Now now i'm sure that 'member' has enough to keep you both happy!
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Posted By: DJ Pirate Preacher
Date Posted: 05 December 2024 at 10:00pm
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Well, how about that? I have the identical issue with my Lantek PPX450 as does GregM. I'm not as electronically minded as the rest of you. Can the person known as "Ian" send me the manual for the amp? I couldn't find it online. I need this fixed yesterday as it is December and the Christmas events & NYE events are piling up, waiting for me. We have no electronics repair tech in my part of wilderness Canada. Thanks.
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Posted By: jbl_man
Date Posted: 17 December 2024 at 12:17pm
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Does this help? https://elektrotanya.com/citronic_ppx-450_sch.pdf/download.html" rel="nofollow - https://elektrotanya.com/citronic_ppx-450_sch.pdf/download.html ------------- Be seeing you. |
Posted By: DJ Pirate Preacher
Date Posted: 17 December 2024 at 7:15pm
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Maybe. Not really, for me. I'm not electronically literate. Thanks.
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