SL3 Power Up Problem

[Bernard]

I have a pair of SL3s that have performed flawlessly since September 2000, until now, when one of them has developed a problem. I normally leave them plugged into the mains. I unplugged the speakers and moved them to a new location within the room. When I plugged one back into the mains it emitted a series of buzzes, then stopped. After I connected the amplifiers and powered them up, the output from the speaker was much reduced, the bass sounded wooly, and there seems to be no high frequency output. In addition there were a series of crackles and buzzes. I swapped speakers, and the problem moved with the speaker. I opened up the speaker, and could not see anything obvioulsy wrong. Now when I plug the power in I keep getting buzzes (no amplifier connected), as before. Any ideas ?

 

[Gordon Gray]

Call Mr. Powers

Bernard,

Best thing to do is to call service at ML and speak with Jim Powers. He knows literally everything about these type malfunctions.

GG

 

[Bernard]

Bernard,

Best thing to do is to call service at ML and speak with Jim Powers. He knows literally everything about these type malfunctions.

GG

Will do GG; thanks for the suggestion. I have some additional info: I left the speaker for a while, then plugged it in, and there were no crackles or buzzes. I played some music, and it worked fine, so I thought I'd move it back into position. At that point it started cutting out and coming back on and off. It then stopped working completely. Sounds like a contact problem.

 

[nsgarch]

Absolutely call Jim

Will do GG; thanks for the suggestion. I have some additional info: I left the speaker for a while, then plugged it in, and there were no crackles or buzzes. I played some music, and it worked fine, so I thought I'd move it back into position. At that point it started cutting out and coming back on and off. It then stopped working completely. Sounds like a contact problem.

There is an IC chip on the electronics board (I think on the SL3 too, but not sure) which can fail. Easy to replace, and Jim will send you one (or two!) but they're also available at most electonic parts supply stores.

 

[Kruppy]

There's also been a number of people who have posted problems somewhat like yours that end up with panel connection issues. You might want to take a look a the connector and wiring to the panels.

 

[nsgarch]

Kruppy has a good suggestion

There's also been a number of people who have posted problems somewhat like yours that end up with panel connection issues. You might want to take a look a the connector and wiring to the panels.

When you think about what could result from moving the speakers, connection loosening would be high on the list

 

[Bernard]

I called ML today; Jim Powers was not around, so I spoke to Melody in the service department. She suggested swapping the back panels (the electronics boards) between the speakers. The problem stayed with the speaker; it did not move with the board, so it is a speaker problem. I emailed the info to Melody, and am waiting for her suggestion as to how to proceed now. In the interim, how can I get to the connections on the electrostatic panel?

 

[Kruppy]

Here's a good thread on SL3 panel replacement with photos, thanks to JonFo, that show external wiring and connectors.

http://www.martinloganowners.com/~tdacquis/forum/showthread.php?t=2279&highlight=sl3+panel

 

[Bernard]

Found the Problem

Here's a good thread on SL3 panel replacement with photos, thanks to JonFo, that show external wiring and connectors...........

Thanks Kruppy. I took off the panel. The black wire to the panel was undone. With a little persistence I managed to solder it back, and everything is working just fine now.

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[Audioseduction]

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[Kruppy]

Glad it was an easy fix.....:music:

 

[Bernard]

The problem I had way back when returned a few times, in both speakers, and I am getting tired of it. The black wire on the panel keeps getting undone. I have soldered it back a few times using a soldering gun, but the problem is trying to get enough heat to solder onto something that is essentially a massive heat sink (the panel). Any ideas?

 

[twich54]

Bernard, you might want to look at one of these..............

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...=aps&hvadid=4644311637&ref=pd_sl_1bjae6j50q_b

2500 degree flame, nice pointed flame, not to mention I highly endorse them as great cigar lighters !

 

[FoxMulder]

I had this happen before many years ago. What I did after I soldered the wire back to the panel, (using just a regular solder iron), was to use a metal epoxy. This comes in (2) tubes you mix together. It bonds metal to metal. I put just enough to cover the connection and smoothed it out to look nice. Once it set, the wire never came off again.

If you need to get replacement panels, you can always just cut the connection and restrip the black wire.

This worked very well for me.

 

[Bernard]

Thanks Mulder. I imagine that if I got new panels they would include the wires already soldered to them.

 

[Bernard]

Bernard, you might want to look at one of these..............

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...=aps&hvadid=4644311637&ref=pd_sl_1bjae6j50q_b

2500 degree flame, nice pointed flame, not to mention I highly endorse them as great cigar lighters !

Dave, I may well melt the insulation on the wire if I try that. I think I'll leave the flame to you and your stogies.

 

[roberto]

Dave, I may well melt the insulation on the wire if I try that. I think I'll leave the flame to you and your stogies.

Hola Bernard...this is how I do it when I have to solder a cable to the panel...First of all, I clean the little part of metal of the panel with the aid of a blade, the place where I am going to solder, and then apply the solder there to make a little round solder ball. Once I have this little ball at the panel, then I apply heat again with the wire, just enough to melt the solder, and that´s it...I use a gas soldering iron that I bought at Radio Shack, and it is not an expensive tool...hope this might help...
happy listening,
Roberto.