Power Switch Issue with amp

Randy Myers

Randy Myers

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Joined
Nov 7, 2015
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Location
Kansas
My VT50 sounds great, especially with the new Gold Lion KT88 tubes. Over the past couple days I have noticed that the power switch appears to be failing. When I turn it on the power comes on and then turns off when the switch is fully engaged. If I press the switch back just a tad it seems to come on and work fine. Therefore I think the switch might be failing.

Does anyone know what's involved in replacing the switch? Is it something I can do... I would hate to send it to ARC just to replace a power switch.
 
Maybe you could call/contact ARC for a replacement part. I have to believe you can handle it yourself or find a local tech who's handy with a soldering iron to quickly swap it out.
 
Hey Joe,

I was thinking the same thing. I just dropped a line to ARC to get their take and see if I can get a switch from them. I have not looked closely at what would be involved, but I do not believe it would be that difficult.
 
Randy

If it's the typical red rocker switch you can buy them from many parts supply houses like Parts Express or MCM or even Ebay. Usually soldered in but many times just clipped in. Should be an easy fix. I changed one on a Hafler amp years ago.
 
Probably got to pull the bottom off and see if it is accessible from there...
 
I pulled the bottom off. It is a switch with two connector posts and two wires soldered on. The only real concern is getting the correct size. It has those little pressure clips that hold the switch in place, two on each side.

One side benefit. The bottom and the top have the exact same metal plate. It appears as if the bottom has never been removed, and therefore I was able to exchange the two. So instead of the few scratches that were on the top of the amplifier, with a little cleanup from the feet rubber residue, it now looks to have a brand new top (which ARC wanted to charge $160 for).
 
I forgot to follow up on this. EJ looked at the switch and ordered an exact replacement. Took him a whole couple minutes to replace it. Works and looks perfect. The feet on the bottom where starting to crack, etc., so I grabbed a set from EJ and replaced them. With the Gold Lion tubes, new top (ahh bottom re-positioned) the amp looks and sounds like new.

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