400 car amplifer needs to be repaired.

Status
Not open for further replies.
The way this amp is built it will take me 45 minutes or more to get the circuit board out of the aluminum case. It will take at least the same amount of time to put it back. If spend an hour or 2 trying to find the problem then I will have maybe 3 or 4 hours work in it with a 50/50 chance I find the problem in a short time. A new amp only cost $55 on ebay, my time would be better spent doing something else and not wasting it on this amp. It would be a fun challange to find the problem and fix it but at the moment I just don't have the extra time.

I think I will throw the amp in the scraps parts pile for now.
 
The way this amp is built it will take me 45 minutes or more to get the circuit board out of the aluminum case.
Click to expand...

Na, maybe 10 -15 minutes. Take the end plates off and just a few screws holding the chips to the heat sinks.

I would see if it even powers up 1st. The REM connection is the remote turn on. It must have full 12 volts to turn the amp on. It is usually hooked up to the power antenna output of the stereo head to turn the amp on and off.

The power supply in the amp should be a switching power supply to get the voltage up to around 40 volts or so. check for a high voltage on the dual jumper wires by the big wight resisters.
 
Last edited:
looking at the picture I can see the main filter caps just to the left of the transformer...2200uf what voltage is on these? may 35 or 50voltalso this amp is of lowish power as the power o/p's are to-220's say 6amps each...here's a quick test...power up and check the voltages small op-amp at the front end there 8pin types..pin 4 is - say 12 or 15 volts and pin 8 is the + pin.. just standard op-amps...there's 3 of them...

The pain in the neck so to speak..it's the so call lead free solder that's used as it look's dry jointed just re-flow with 60/40 solder..
 
does the power up led change from red to green? or stay red..some amps are fitted with a bi-colour led that will start red followed by green aso the protection circuit does a check... have you tested the o/p with no load...there should be low dc volt's below say 50mv..and 0 AC volts.
apply in signal and recheck o/p your meter should raise up on ac settings... if need be you can inject a signal to the main power stage via a jack plug fitted with a 10k level pot to trace that stage.. just think of it this way...power supply-- pre-amp stage then main amp stage..
 
I took the amp apart it only took about 10 minutes.

I tested all the capacitors they all test good on the circuit board. I unsoldered the largest ones and tested them off the board they still test good.

I tested the 2N6488 and 2N6491 transistors 2 each in a TO-220 case. I could not get a good reading on the circuit board so I unsoldered them and they all test good.

There are several parts I don't know what they are or how to test them. Some of the parts have several numbers I'm not sure which one is the part number. IFR244V 1()R524P there are 4 of these in a TO-220 case. MOSPEC F12C20A MA6E there are 2 of these in a TO-220 case. TIP41C CC04S MAR509 one of these in a TO-220 case.

Now what?
 
Last edited:
Did you look at basic car audio electronics web site? carry out voltage checks on the collector's of the o/p transistors.. do you have a scopeto aid tracing signal within the preamp. If the green led light's up ok move on to trace the audio signal. use a car battery charger/ 12v psu to power up the unit till it's running.
 
there's on line information regarding these amp I just typed a quick search for bazooka amp's and lot's of them came up...try there bazooka web page for more info..
 
IFR244V 1()R524P
Click to expand...
Should be a IRF part number but its not 244. Can you look at it again?

BTW what model amp is it?

F12C20A is a double diode in the power supply circuit. The diodes are printed right on the case.

TIP41C is a transistor.

Don't use the last part of the numbers on the case they are manufacturing codes. just use the first part of the numbers and google them.
 
Last edited:
The only test equipment I have is a VOM and an Amp Clamp. Sold my tube tester, signal generator, scope, many years ago.

I have 2 soldering guns and an air compressor to unsolder circuit boards.
 
I have 2 soldering guns and an air compressor to unsolder circuit boards.[/QUOTE]


Soldering guns will overheat the pcb track's... you can make a tracer probe.. quick way would be get a phone lead chop an end off and solder a meter lead on the end plus the shielded part just hook a clip to use it as an earth return.. then use a small amp as a signal hearing aid. plug music signal in to the car amp and trace round the pre-amp circuit. such as from the volume pot onwards... did you look up bazooka site?
 
I looked at the Bazooka site this amp is not listed.

I have a pencil solder iron for circuit boards and 1 solder gun.

I might experemente with this amp more today.
 
yes just repost a picture of the front of the amp as your first picture just showed the inside...or if there's any writing on it to speed things up....
 
Last edited:
Just one thing did you try the tap it test? just like working on most circuit's back in the day..if a chassis was powered say, a amplifier with no sound we'red lightly tapped the circuit board to see if this had an effect on it.. anyway getting back to things does the power light stay on? because car amps work on lower in put signal level's use a cd/mp-3 player and slowly adjust volume to the i/p of the amp. in the passed i've noticed you can still hear the music even if the front amp gain is turned down!!
 
Amp does not match photos on bazooka site. Look at photos and you will see why part number is the same.

**broken link removed**

**broken link removed**
 
Last edited:
Not much on the web for this amp it was made over 5 years ago. Bazooka never said anything about this amp. However thare aare some referances in the Bazooka forms.
Was for sale at;
**broken link removed**
still looking
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

  • Question
Testing O2 sensor for the car engine
Replies
3
Views
3K
starLED
S
  • Question
VESTAX VMC-002XL blown - can it be repaired?
Replies
2
Views
2K
Systembolaget
S
C
  • Question
Trying to fix the powerboard of a Kegerator
Replies
9
Views
4K
Cowboy44
C
D
Bell Model 61 entry system amplifier
Replies
2
Views
1K
Nigel Goodwin
C
  • Question
Trying to repair a Sony TC-366 Reel to Reel machine
Replies
9
Views
5K
Nigel Goodwin
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…