ccc9d00b   
   From: IainNG@kolumbus.fi   
      
   "Patrick Turner"  wrote in message   
   news:8202acc8-2cd7-4e70-afe5-1e63e85a86b8@l14g2000pro.googlegroups.com...   
   On Jun 15, 6:56 pm, "Iain Churches"  wrote:   
   > "Patrick Turner"  wrote in message   
   >   
   > news:a41f22e9-1495-434f-927a-c558e305c589@l14g2000pro.googlegroups.com...   
   > ?   
   >   
   > Iain wrote   
   >   
   > >> A BBC service   
   > >> tech told me that he cannot recall a single Radford amplifier   
   > >> that suffered component failure.   
   > >That's like saying not one British Centurion tank ever broke down, or   
   > >that not one Rolls Royce break down.   
   >   
   > Is it?   
   >   
   > > I reckon the BBC service guy had dementia.   
   >   
   > In broadcasting and studios the standard way to avoid   
   > breakdowns is to schedule more-frequent regular   
   > preventitve maintenance and replace components long before   
   > the change is due, so that the chance of failure is much reduced,   
   > and equipment never needs to send out smoke signals.   
      
      
   >Well, perhaps the BBC spent more on maintenance than other   
   >institutions or companies.   
      
   I think that most broadcasters and professsional studios   
   adopted similar strategies.  In the studio complex where   
   I worked, each piece of equipment had its own log book   
   with a routine service schedule.  Analogue tape machines   
   for example were high maintenance.  The electronics were   
   set up daily by the studio assistants.  First, heads were   
   cleaned and demagged.  Then, and only then the replay   
   chain was aligned to a standard reference tape. In control   
   rooms with large format multitrack recorders, all with   
   Dolby A processors this took some time.  But it was still a   
   part of the daily routine, and ensured compatability from   
   location to location.   
      
   Any potential faults were noted in the service log, which   
   was checked by the service personnel on a daily basis.   
   Tape machines were replaced by another of the same make   
   and model temporarily during service.  Pieces of equipment   
   that might have been prone to failure such as valve amplifiers   
   received regular preventitve maintenance.   
      
   Faults such as an OC bias pot were potentially fatal.   
   These WW pots were changed regularly.  Valves too   
   were tested and changed long before they had reached   
   the end of their working life.  But this means   
   major breakdowns and disasters were avoided.   
      
   In these digital days, equipment is potentially more   
   reliable.  I knew of a graphics post production that   
   had a Quantel workstation with thirty hard disks, all   
   hand picked for Quantel by Fujitsu.  These were   
   changed regularly, and those taken out of service send   
   back for refurbishment under an exchange contract.   
      
      
   >But ordinary consumers rarely ever service   
   >gear preventively, so the clouds of smoke bring them in droves to me   
   >because shit happens.   
      
   Yes indeed:-)   There is a very nice fellow in Stockholm, who,   
   up until his recent retirement was a bespoke valve/tube amp   
   builder, just like yourself. His amplifiers were had crafted and   
   very expensive. He offered a ten year guarantee (original owner).   
   But there was much small print.  The amplifier had to be returned   
   (freight at the owner's expense) for service, checking and maintenance   
   at regular intervals.  Valves, power resistors, pots etc were changed   
   long before they had reached the end of their active life.  Most of his   
   clients were local, and he would provide a replacement amp if required   
   while their own was being serviced.   
      
   >But its not just old amps that fail. Companies   
   >have techs to design gear using PC aided design programs and all is   
   >simulated then manufactured without extensive tests in HOT ROOMS to   
   >see what fails when things get hot. Nup, the consumer gets to be the   
   >test guy these days. So I get stuff than went BANG at the first time   
   >it was turned on, fucked PT and CD player, totally inadequate   
   >protection. One Emotiva amp destroyed one of its 5 x 200W channels   
   >last week. No reason, just a bang, smoke, and silence. Filthy   
   >complexity on the boards. Emotiva send a new amp module with board and   
   >HS for free, and don't want the old one returned. This Chinese amp is   
   >made so cheaply that accepting returns costs more than their   
   >manufacture, so they charge a big price online, and they don't mind if   
   >10% fail, they are way in front at the bank.   
      
   Yes. I have always wondered what happened in the case of a   
   Chinese amp that exhibited pyrotechnics, as most of them are   
   bought direct, and not through a local dealer who would normally be   
   responsible for warranty repairs.   
      
   > The trouble is that nobody can pass laws requiring gear failure rates   
   > to be under 1% over 5 years. Ah, the wonderful efforts of the Whatever   
   > Generation!   
      
   In broadcast and studios, bad news travels fast. So manufacturers   
   do their best to keep the clients happy. That's the only was to get   
   repeat high volume orders.   
      
   Iain   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)