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#61
The Newcomer's Forum / Re: Faulty multimeter
Last post by saturated - November 17, 2025, 07:02:10 PM
Thanks guys I appreciate it and like anything I'm working on it's not a big deal but at the same time I don't take your help lightly  :dbtu:

Anyhow I did some more disassembly and didn't really find any 🚭 smoking 🚬 guns

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Which was a good thing I guess but still at square one. 

So I put it all back together and no change  :grr

#62
The Newcomer's Forum / Re: Faulty multimeter
Last post by TomCarlos - November 16, 2025, 01:34:23 PM
Quote from: g1 on November 16, 2025, 10:46:16 AMI would see if you can verify switch contacts for bad ranges/functions.

Agree with G1.  I had a similar issue to a meter.  The dial is connected to a circular metallic gizmo that turns and makes connections to points on a circuit board.  That metallic gizmo was dirty and had slightly deformed.  So I bent it here, bent it there, reassembled and voila, the meter and functions came back to life.  Make sure you also use some spray cleaner on all contacts and pots. 
#63
The Newcomer's Forum / Re: Faulty multimeter
Last post by g1 - November 16, 2025, 10:46:16 AM
I would see if you can verify switch contacts for bad ranges/functions.
#64
The Newcomer's Forum / Faulty multimeter
Last post by saturated - November 15, 2025, 09:03:39 PM
Picked up this multimeter known to be not working

Had no display whatsoever

Hoped it was a dead battery  :tu:

Opened it up.  No battery  :tu:

Installed new battery....only display on certain modes.   :grr

Checked internal $30 fuse.  Open  :grr

Installed new fuse.  Fingers crossed.  No change  :grr

Connected mini-grabbers and 150 ohm resistor

Continuity mode.  Nothing

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200 ohm range
Working

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2000 ohm range
Working

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20,000 ohm range
Working

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200 kohm range

Back to nothing  :grr

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Not really equipped to diagnose or repair tiny surface mount stuff.

 :'(
#65
Guitar News / Vox Micro Superbeetle Guitar -...
Last post by joecool85 - November 14, 2025, 04:47:37 PM
Vox has just released the new baby to the 25w MSB25 Mini Superbeetle stack - the Micro Superbeetle Guitar (there is an audio version for those that just want to use it as a bluetooth speaker).

You can use just the head as a portable bluetooth speaker/guitar amp and get 5w of power, or plug into the cab and have an additional 15w, bringing the total to 20w of practice power!  Three modes give you clean, drive, and high gain.  Honestly, it sounds pretty impressive - and it should, given it is retailing currently for $399 USD.

https://www.gearnews.com/vox-micro-superbeetle-guitar/
#66
The Newcomer's Forum / Re: Realistic MPA-100
Last post by saturated - November 14, 2025, 02:49:01 PM
I want to crank it back up and measure the collector emitter voltage Vce man that's crazy it can get really high.

I told the owner of the junk store where I got it we need to try it out with a mic and maybe he can use it to talk to his shoppers  xP

EDIT:
I attached the mini grabbers to the collector and emitter and cranked it up all to max
I didn't really see any crazy high voltage
Strange I had about 50-55 volts DC and AC at "idle" and when I increased volume(s) it bounced around sometimes hitting 80-90 but settling back down

EDIT 2 :  ok just dropped it off at my friend's store he got a mic and we tested it out it works really good except it feeds back any time the mic is near it. 
So that's a good feeling thanks to all for the help.  I'm glad to pass it on maybe he'll sell it or keep it but I have a little more space 🚀 now  :lmao:
Only problem is I let him have my screw 🪛 in fuse cap  :'(  and also my test speaker but it was way too big anyway it was like an (at least) 12 inch big woofer  xP
#67
The Newcomer's Forum / Re: Realistic MPA-100
Last post by saturated - November 14, 2025, 07:00:55 AM
Ok nm yes it does get pretty loud I had the knobs facing away from me I thought the two on the end were aux/phono volume and master volume.

Turns out the tone knob is on the end so when I turned aux/phono it started to get loud.  :tu:
#68
The Newcomer's Forum / Re: Realistic MPA-100
Last post by saturated - November 14, 2025, 06:47:36 AM
Well I got my capaci-TATERS in

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Got home from work and installed

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Clipped the leads

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Reattached the board which was a major pita getting that little spade fork under the ground screw

Powered it up and its about the same it doesn't get loud with both volumes maxed.

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Im declaring a marginal "success" because I've had it on for a while and it's not shutting off like it was before.

Also I noticed that the bottom chassis is not getting warm 🥵 anymore.

I just felt the little "heatsink" and it's pretty warm but not hot.

So kinda inconclusive since I wouldn't even know how to operate this amp if it was brand new.  Might be time to get a 🎤 microphone 🎙�

When I first powered it up to test it I got no sound but forgot about this already molested wire wrap so I attached it and had the same low sound.

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There are two posts maybe I should try the other one but I don't want to short something out.   :grr

Or maybe I need to study the schematic kindly provided and try to figure it out. 

Or maybe they both need to be connected to a wire  :grr  :'(

 xP

#69
The Newcomer's Forum / Re: Realistic MPA-100
Last post by Jazz P Bass - November 13, 2025, 07:19:25 PM
That 'heatsink' looks to me to be a ceramic pad (for heatsinking purposes).
It should be nonconductive.
#70
Amplifier Discussion / Re: baldwin c2 solid state amp...
Last post by guitarchuck - November 13, 2025, 09:12:16 AM
Quote from: dmeek on November 12, 2025, 09:42:16 PMHere it is
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Thanks so much!