Amplifier Soaking wet

[Joe Willis]

Hey All,

Got a Magnavox 86-01 recently, It was submerged in water for at least a week.
I plan on recapping but will there be permanent damage to the transformers? Or will they just dry out?

Joe

 

[Tom Bavis]

Will PROBABLY dry out. I wouldn't plug it in until it's been thoroughly dried - I would want to see insulation resistance from AC line to chassis of 500 megohms or more before I'd call it safe... My Sprague TO-4 cap tester reads insulation resistance directly, but you might be able to borrow a tester from an electrician...

 

[audiodon]

Bake it in a big toaster oven at about 150 degrees. Turn it over in the oven too. Let it bake for hours. Try draining out any last things before turning over.

 

[Tom Bavis]

Bake it in a big toaster oven at about 150 degrees. Turn it over in the oven too. Let it bake for hours. Try draining out any last things before turning over.

... be sure to put something under it to catch the wax that will drip out out...

 

[shawnra]

I would just leave it in the sun for a few days. it's spring and if you put it on some asphalt or black plastic it should be very safe and you won't have to pay any real attention to it. Even put it on the garage roof or the like.

 

[ferninando]

100 degrees in the oven for 8 hrs should do the trik

 

[toxcrusadr]

Yep I'm thinking air dry for several days in a warm place, then bump it up to 100-150 as suggested.

Tom, where's all that wax going to come from and is that a problem? I would guess either wax caps (which need to be replaced anyway) or the transformer, which does not sound too good. Are you saying 150 is too high?

 

[Kahoona]

Sun, opened up with table fan aimed at it. If it is humid like it is here then after 24 hours change to sunny windowsill with the fan (or above a large amplifier) in an air conditioned room for a week. Take your time.

 

[js1138]

Or, after the initial drying, in the sun or whatever, go to a craft store like Michaels and buy a bunch of silica gel. Pack the amp in a sealed box with the silica and give it a week.

No silica gel? Use ten pounds of rice.

 

[Joe Willis]

Ok, I'm planing on painting it so I'll have all the transformers off. I'll give it some time in the sun, If it ever shows up(central new york) then maybe in the oven and then in some silica. good stuff thanks!

 

[toxcrusadr]

Keep us posted and include some pics if you can!

 

[Joe Willis]

will do

 

[sloober]

10 pounds of rice, and bake for 3 hours at 110. Then grill up some chicken or beef and make a meal of it!

 

[js1138]

All joking aside, it takes days for rice or silica gel to remove all the moisture from crevices.

 

[Redboy]

Nobody else is curious about how an amp ends up underwater for a week?! :scratch2:

 

[avionic]

Nobody else is curious about how an amp ends up underwater for a week?! :scratch2:

Came from Mississippi..

 

[toxcrusadr]

Floated from MS to NY? Nah, that would be upstream. :scratch2:

To answer the question though, yeah, I wondered, but I just figured it had something to do with a flood.

 

[jwalker]

Hey All,

Got a Magnavox 86-01 recently, It was submerged in water for at least a week.
I plan on recapping but will there be permanent damage to the transformers? Or will they just dry out?

Joe

Note to self: "Do not buy a Magnavox 86-01 from Joe Willis."

Drying out the things is the first step. The second problem is that the water will leave behind dissolved solids such as salt on the surfaces and some of this residue may conduct. Unless you were lucky and the thing was submerged in distilled or deionized water. (unlikely). Take you time and carefully clean the exterior surfaces and wire leads you can reach with some isopropyl alcohol or other weak solvent before turning it on. If there are any pots or variable caps, these may need replacement or you can try some cleaner.

 

[adpopulum]

Nobody else is curious about how an amp ends up underwater for a week?! :scratch2:

Absolutely, kept wondering when someone was gonna ask! Pray tell...

 

[jaymanaa]

I knew this would be an interesting thread.:yes: