New crack build, zero voltage

[Jordylee18]

Hi all just finished my crack build. It passed the resistance checks fine but all points on the voltage check are zero. The heaters and the two LEDs glow. Both of the 3k 10w resistors soldered to 3U get fairly warm to the touch. No fuses have blown. It seems like it must be something simple. I've checked and rechecked.

 

[Paul Joppa]

Sometimes it's as simple as a dead battery in your meter, or a wrong setting (such as measuring DC voltage with the meter set to AC voltage).  We've all done those things at one time or another!

 

[Jordylee18]

I have 122 volts at the IEC and switch. I traced the switch wires to the transformer and 122 there as well. Maybe it is something stupid lol but idk what. Edit: is it normal for those big wire resistors to get really hot?

 

[Deke609]

As PJ suggested, it sounds like your meter is set to AC voltage (incorrect) rather than DC voltage (correct).  If your meter is set to AC voltage, I expect you'll get good AC voltage readings from power input through to the secondary (output) side of the power transformer, but negligible readings after that - except for maybe at the tube heater pins if they're AC-heated.

Double check your meter is set to DC voltage.

cheers,

Derek

 

[Jordylee18]

I'm an idiot. Peace.

 

[Deke609]

I'm an idiot. Peace.

Hah! I expect most people on this forum have done far, far worse. I certainly have (and continue to). I recently mistook a 8.2 Ohm resistor for an 8200 Ohm resistor and very likely did irreparable damage to a brand new expensive pair of tubes. Anything short of electrocution gets chalked up as "valuable experience" 

 

[Jordylee18]

It works too. Dead quiet until 3/4 pot or so. I'm happy my new ebay Schiit dac is working as well. Been waiting for weeks to see if I bought a dud or not. I'm surprised I didnt habe to reflow any joints. Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

 

[Jordylee18]

Just to reiterate, those big resistors are the warmest thing on the amp. I take it that's normal?

 

[Paul Birkeland]

They will be the warmest part under the chassis.