Crown Xti dropping channel fix.

[wallywally]

I have 2 Xti2000's. Both were dropping channel 2 intermittently. They both did this from new and they are not the early amps with known ribbon cable problems. Originally I thought it was firmware related because when I would flash the amps the problem seemed to go away for a while. Long story short, the ribbons were bad. When I would wiggle them I could hear cut strands rubbing around.

I called Crown and was informed the fix would be a new display board @ $100 each. I decided to attempt a fix before dropping that kind of cash.

Remove the top, face plate, and attenuator nuts

The cable plugs into the main board. The display board end is not meant to be removable, just break the tabs off and remove the cable.

Remove the plug end from the cable also.

Bend the rows of contacts on the plug to form a "V", so you'll have more room to solder the wires.

Radio Shack ribbon cable. Stripped and tinned.

[wallywally]

Solder plug.

Solder the display board.

Apply hot melt glue to to the solder joints on the plug and display board.

Reassemble the amp. Note I also applied hot melt glue to the original contacts on the front of the display board so they weren't exposed.



The amps have had no further glitches. I have 40+ hours on them since the repair.

[SirNickity]

I called Crown and was informed the fix would be a new display board @ $100 each.

How could that possibly be anything other than a manufacturer's defect? Do you jostle your display PCB often? Sheesh. I've lost a lot of respect for Crown since the xti series came out.


Ah, the "oops we 'd up the PCB design" band-aid wire. How long has this model been in production now? I don't think I could stomach selling a product with one of these after the first batch or two.

Glad to hear you fixed it. And good work, BTW. But seriously, Crown.. WTF happened?

[wallywally]

It would have been covered if it was still within the warranty period. I dropped the ball on that...I couldn't do without the amps while they were being repaired so the warranty expired.

[Grant Bunter]

Great work!

Nice to see a little ingenuity save some hard earned...

[byacey]

Good Job. Unfortunately, it's things like this that prevent me from spending money on a new power amp. I'd rather buy 4 older power amps for the same money, that can be repaired without the aid of a microscope and surgical tweezers. An amp with firmware? I must be developing into an old curmudgeon.

Anyone have some old Carver PT1250 or 2.0 they want to sell?

[wallywally]

I purchased these amps because my back is getting old. My rack consists of 2 Xti's a DEQ2496 (for auto EQ and limiting) and a 6 channel headphone amp (just went wired in ear and I'm not looking back) and weighs just under 70lbs. In addition these amps are much more efficient than the "old iron" and I have no problems running the entire band (lights and smoke included) off of (1) 15 amp circuit. I'm personally happy with the trade off.

[Bruce Weldy]

I purchased these amps because my back is getting old. My rack consists of 2 Xti's a DEQ2496 (for auto EQ and limiting) and a 6 channel headphone amp (just went wired in ear and I'm not looking back) and weighs just under 70lbs. In addition these amps are much more efficient than the "old iron" and I have no problems running the entire band (lights and smoke included) off of (1) 15 amp circuit. I'm personally happy with the trade off.

Amen.....

[Lastcat]

I purchased these amps because my back is getting old. My rack consists of 2 Xti's a DEQ2496 (for auto EQ and limiting) and a 6 channel headphone amp (just went wired in ear and I'm not looking back) and weighs just under 70lbs. In addition these amps are much more efficient than the "old iron" and I have no problems running the entire band (lights and smoke included) off of (1) 15 amp circuit. I'm personally happy with the trade off.

Absolutely, plus the benefit of using Band Manager. Hopefully the 2 Xti 4000's and the Xti 2000 hold up for many years, so far they have.

[colt45ws]

On the display board end, why didnt you just desolder the contact then solder the ribbon through the vacant holes?

[wallywally]

On the display board end, why didnt you just desolder the contact then solder the ribbon through the vacant holes?

Desoldering 20 pins and getting them all to let loose with out delaminating the traces didn't seem worth the time or risk of damage.

[colt45ws]

On the display board end, why didnt you just desolder the contact then solder the ribbon through the vacant holes?

Desoldering 20 pins and getting them all to let loose with out delaminating the traces didn't seem worth the time or risk of damage.

I can see that. Figured there was a good reason.