Power Amp FAQ's!!!!

[suburban]

I'm having trouble with an amp I'm using as a mic pre. The mic is picking up the noise generated by the amp. The sound is like that of ground hum that we've all heard come through our speakers at one time or another.


Question 1: How do you eliminate power amp 'hum' generated by the amp itself?


Question 2: What's the best way to clean the pots on an amp? Product?


Thanks!!!

[Altec19]

Hi Suburban,

I won't address your first question but I can help with the second. Caig (www.caig.com) makes a wide variety of very effective cleaners for electronics. Clean switches and other metal contacts that are not plated with precious metals (gold for example) with DeoxIT. You may want to apply a follow-up coat of PreserveIT to prevent further oxidation. Contacts that are plated with a precious metal should use ProGold. Potentiometers should be cleaned with CaiLube.

Caig sells sampler or "survival" kits of their various products on the web site. There is an SK-AV35 Audio/Video kit that gives a good selection of the stuff you might need. They have frequent "web specials" that will save you a few dollars as well.

Other vendors such as www.partsexpress.com carry the more popular Caig products at less than list prices.

By the way, I don't work for Caig or sell this stuff. I just use it and have had very good results with it. In dealing with old electronics you often times don't have the option of replacing a part. The only choice is to recondition the original and Caig does that.

Later . . .

[Todd W. White]

FABULOUS!

Now I can get the bad sliders on my ALTEC 1220 Mixing Console working like they should!

I've been looking for something like this stuff for years!

THANKS!

[Altec19]

Hi Todd,

I like to hear how Caig products work (or don't) for various applications. Let us know what happens with your console!

Later . . .

[suburban]

Oops! Did I say Craig...?

[suburban]

Thanks a lot Altec Fan!!! I've heard of these Craig Products before. I believe it was in an issue of TapeOp.

Anyway, the article went on to read nothing but good things.

Thanks again!