Cheap multimeter?

[JC]

For $2, I would think of getting one for a back-up, if I didn't already have enough back-ups.

If I understand your question about the resistors, you should be fine.  Just make sure you understand the instructions and follow them.  If you run across one you don't understand, just post a question here.       

 

[JSitthi]

Got through the resistance readings just fine with the $5 HF multimeter, except some readings in the 2.4K and 2.9K came out 100ohms higher. I also couldn't figure out where I would measure for the 90K-100K range on the RCA plugs, so I skipped that. After I hooked everything up to power, the fuse blew :|

It's gonna be a long night!

 

[Laudanum]

Got through the resistance readings just fine with the $5 HF multimeter, except some readings in the 2.4K and 2.9K came out 100ohms higher. I also couldn't figure out where I would measure for the 90K-100K range on the RCA plugs, so I skipped that. After I hooked everything up to power, the fuse blew :|

It's gonna be a long night!

Your 100 ohm higher readings on the two resistors are fine, well within the 10-15% variation.   I dont have the manual handy but I believe it states to turn the volume all the way down.  Doing that and with meters ground/black probe connected to a ground, touch the red probe to the center pin of each of the RCA jacks, first one then the other.  Assuming you used the kits included wire, the center pin would be the solder cup of the RCA jack where you soldered the red wire (for the right/red jack) and white wire (for the left/black) rca jack.  First check one, then the other.  This basically checks the wiring from the jacks to the volume control pot as well as indirectly checking the pot.  With the "volume" turned all the way down, the pot measures about in the 90-100K range and this should be what you measure at the jacks give or take a little either way.  There will probably be some variation between the measurements of the left and right jacks.  That's ok, the pot isnt perfectly matched between sections.

Do you have any spare tubes of both types used in Crack?  It's probably not a bad tube causing your blown fuse but it isnt uncommon.  If you got through the resistance checks ok and you do have spare tubes, try those first and see if the fuse holds up.  Radio Shack probably has spare fuses if you dont have any.  I believe it's a .5 amp fuse, take it with you and you can match it up.

 

[Grainger49]

Blown fuses are most often caused by diodes being reversed or the power supply caps being reversed.  

Look in your manual at page 27. Observe the band on the diodes.  Check the two from T18 to T20 and T18 to T21.  Check the two from T19 to T20 and T19 to T22.

For the capacitors look at T20, it should be the white stripe of the cap, look at T14 that should be the white stripe and finally look at T13 that should be the white stripe.

These are the most often causes of blown fuses.  If you got a capacitor reversed it is probably blown now. 

 

[Laudanum]

Grainger is the man as usual, so heed his words of wisdom fellow grasshopper

 

[JSitthi]

Blown fuses are most often caused by diodes being reversed or the power supply caps being reversed.  

Look in your manual at page 27. Observe the band on the diodes.  Check the two from T18 to T20 and T18 to T21.  Check the two from T19 to T20 and T19 to T22.

For the capacitors look at T20, it should be the white stripe of the cap, look at T14 that should be the white stripe and finally look at T13 that should be the white stripe.

These are the most often causes of blown fuses.  If you got a capacitor reversed it is probably blown now.  

Problem found! I seemed to have shifted a capacitor, the striped side that should be in T20 is in T19 instead...does that mean I've fried it? I will try resoldering it and report back. Thanks!

EDIT: It works! Thanks so much!

 

[Grainger49]

If the leads were swapped it is weakened and will fail.  If it was just on a wrong terminal, not swapped, you should be ok.

 

[JSitthi]

Everything is sounding great, I just hooked everything up and no problems at all! It's amazing how bad I am at DIY projects and how easy this was to put together!

Should I be feeding it through the headphone jack of my sound card or the line out? I have an Auzentech Forte card, so the headphone out is amplified. I'm assuming the line out would be the better choice?

 

[Laudanum]

Yep, line out is the better choice.