Date:         Fri, 26 May 2000 13:54:59 -0700
Reply-To:     John Clemens <jbclem@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Clemens <jbclem@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Blaupunkt amplifier blowing fuzes
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

My 1983 Westphalia has been musically well serviced for years by a Blaupunkt BPA-260 amplifier
(60W per channel-2 channels).  Along with a Blaupunkt Tucson tuner I have very good reception and the nice crisp Blaupunkt sound.  Last week the fuze to the amplifier starting blowing everytime I turned the radio on(the amp is triggered on by 12v from the tuner...the fuze is on the other power lead to the amplifier).  I've measured a current of 32 amps going to the amplifier which is way abnormal and making it heat up and after a few minutes blowing the fuze(15 amp fuze blows right away, 25 amp fuze takes a little longer).  Looking inside at the circuit board I don't seen any sign of a hot spot, no blackened areas, no obvious shorts.  There is a section that is heating up more than the other sections.

Is there someone on the list who knows enough to help me troubleshoot this.  I'm not sure I can get a schematic because the amp is probably 10 years old, but I can try the Blaupunkt web site.  Or is there someone  who does inexpensive repairs of this type.  I suspect there is just one component that is bad, and since the fault is so obvious, a knowlegeable person would find it quickly.

This is always the dillema in these days of throwaway electronics.  The electronic repair shops have minimum rates that often force a person into buying a replacement instead of repairing, but when you have something of good quality that just happens to be old), you inevitably end up buying something that costs twice as much and is half as good.  


John












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