Monsoon blues: Help please

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Neutral
Stammgast

#1 erstellt: 19. Sep 2005, 12:14

I need the help of those who have owned audio equipment for some years.
This monsoon I have faced two problems (I stay in Mumbai):

1. The gain controls of my Pulz amp have turned noisy. I have been advised by the dealer that spraying WD40 liquid on the potentiometer contacts will solve the problem. Has anyone faced the same problem. Please tell me how to clean the contacts. Can I do this myself or do I need a technician's help?

2. A green and white moss has grown on the wooden frame used to support the grille cloth and between the baffle and the speaker body. Is this a serious problem or will it just go away on its own once the monsoon ends? Does it require any servicing or application of disinfectant?

Both my amp and speakers are far from the windows and have never been exposed to water. However, this monsoon has been especially vicious in Mumbai. Please give me your advice soon.

SUB_BOSS
Gesperrt

#2 erstellt: 19. Sep 2005, 12:35

genearlly potentiometers turn noisy after few years or if the equipment is left unused for some years. It is generally acceptable that products like Pulz face this problems. you take it to an authorised guy and ask him to spray some lubricant solution into the damping material.

A green and white moss has grown on the wooden frame used to support the grille cloth and between the baffle and the speaker body. Is this a serious problem or will it just go away on its own once the monsoon ends? Does it require any servicing or application of disinfectant?

yes this needs attention

Manek
Inventar

#3 erstellt: 19. Sep 2005, 13:27

neutral,
maybe you can ask the pulz guy to replace the pots with new sealed units...you may have to pay extra for the same but that would see you through for many years.

Yep, moisture and humidity can play havoc with your amp controls.

Manek.

kspv
Ist häufiger hier

#4 erstellt: 20. Sep 2005, 08:09

As already been said, the problem of noisy volume controls can easily be solved by spraying the standard anti-static solution meant for this purpose, which is available everywhere.

Moss can seriously damage your speakers. It will not go automatically! Most fungi secrete acids and chemicals that eat into (digest) wood & paper. Remove the moss gently using surgical cotton. If it does not damage the finish of your baffle, you can dampen the cotton with surgical spirit or Hertel Plus. Apart from damaging your speakers, moss can damage your ears (I am not joking). Fungi such as Aspergillus micota which are commonly seen on wood and damp walls inside houses, release spores that enter human ear, grow into moss there, and damage your hearing in the long run.

So act immediately!

pramod
Ist häufiger hier

#5 erstellt: 20. Sep 2005, 09:57

where did u get that information about aspergillus!!!
Neutral dont break ur head for that just use dry cloth and wipe it clean dont use surgical spirit doesnt make any difference- fungus grows back,it can also damage the grill cloth it is the monsoon and the damp climate which causes this.
the speaker grill cloth r more prone to develop this so just remove them until monsoon ends.

Neutral
Stammgast

#6 erstellt: 20. Sep 2005, 10:15

Thanks guys,

Does anyone know how to apply the anti-static solution to gain controls. Since this is likely to be a recurring problem in my non-AC room, it's best if I learn how to do it myself.

Do standard household disinfectants (Dettol, mouthwash etc) work against moss. I am afraid to remove the grills because the drivers could easily get damaged.

ravi
Ist häufiger hier

#7 erstellt: 21. Sep 2005, 02:45

Apply WD40 or a mixture of sewing machine oil and isopropyl alchohol (really potent mix) onto the gain controls so that it seeps INSIDE through the openings in the potentiometer. Good, sealed pots usually dont turn noisy, so I am assuming this pot has some openings. The noise is caused by dust/moisture which enters the pot and degrades the contact between the wiper and a resistive carbon track.

Krish
Stammgast

#8 erstellt: 21. Sep 2005, 06:08

Neutral

I use a phillips contact spray ( available in most music shops).This comes with a plastic pipe which when fitted to the nozzle allows you to reach and aim the affected areas.

A few years back, I used to buy a contact cleaning spray from a shop in Heera Panna.This shop was almost diagonally opp Soundout and sold all kinds of electronic brac a brac.You could try and get a can from there.

I am averse to using WD40.

K

ravi
Ist häufiger hier

#9 erstellt: 21. Sep 2005, 08:27

krish, Philips spray available in music shops is pure IPA, no oil in it. This will clean the contacts temporarily, but wont give you lubrication or long term protection from moisture. A thin coat of oil is always recommended for contacts.

SUB_BOSS
Gesperrt

#10 erstellt: 21. Sep 2005, 12:26

you can use sewing machine oil as ravi mentioned..take care not to overlubricate..

Neutral
Stammgast

#11 erstellt: 24. Sep 2005, 13:44

Thanks,

I'll try the remedies you mentioned in a few months' time. This time I was lucky. Oranges & Lemons did the WD40 spraying for the gain controls. Hopefully, they are back in action.

I'll try and eradicate the moss now. Can anyone suggest a black or dark brown polish that I can use on the speaker grills. I have noticed that veneered or laminated wood surfaces are completely fungus free.

jsa_ind
Stammgast

#12 erstellt: 24. Sep 2005, 14:03

Dear Neutral,

WD40 may not be the prefered choice....it is water based...you could get into more problems after than before using WD40...I have been there before !

Regards,

Junia

Neutral
Stammgast

#13 erstellt: 24. Sep 2005, 17:28

Junia,

What's the better alternative? Sewing machine oil to perform the lubrication?

jsa_ind
Stammgast

#14 erstellt: 24. Sep 2005, 21:49

Dear Neutral,

If you go to Lamington Road there must be a Philips Authorized dealer...I think the shops name is Paras...it is in the bylane on the way to the Lamington Road Station the short cut under the bridge.....

Ask him for Contact Spray and a bottle of compressed air. I think is is Rs. 50 each.

If you spray to clean the pots with compressed air first and than spray it with the contact spray you are good to go !

Regards,

Junia.

ravi
Ist häufiger hier

#15 erstellt: 25. Sep 2005, 02:29

Junia,

WD40 does NOT contain water. Infact WD stands for Water Displacement! Whatever happened when you used it must be related to something else?

jsa_ind
Stammgast

#16 erstellt: 25. Sep 2005, 02:47

Dear Ravi,

That is strange I thought WD 40 was the problem.

Maybe you can help....I sprayed a noisy contact with WD 40... at first it worked beautifully than the grating noise became more than ever. I used a contact cleaner & I never had a problem after than.

Does WD 40 leave a film or residue ? It might be interesting to spray a layer of a sheet of glass and see if a residue is left or not.

What do you think the problem could be ?

Regards,

Junia.

ravi
Ist häufiger hier

#17 erstellt: 25. Sep 2005, 13:52

Junia,

I have no idea, never seen WD40 do such a thing. My guess would be, sometimes when the quantity of WD40 used is not sufficient to clean fully, it just loosens the surrounding rust/dirt which then goes and collects again on contacts.
The film theory is plausible too, although WD40 should leave only a viscous liquid film.

jsa_ind
Stammgast

#18 erstellt: 25. Sep 2005, 14:14

Dear Ravi,

I think your theory of it loosening stuff but not removing it completely is very likely what happened !

Thanks for the insight !

Regards,

Junia.

Neutral : Perhaps you need to squirt some compressed air before & after you apply WD 40 or a Contact spray and then apply a fine layer of WD 40 / Contact spray.

Krish
Stammgast

#19 erstellt: 26. Sep 2005, 06:20

Hi,
I agree with Junia.I have used WD 40 in the past to disasterous consequence.

Stick with Phillips contact spray.

K

Neutral
Stammgast

#20 erstellt: 26. Sep 2005, 11:51

Thanks Junia and Krish,

I will procure the Philips stuff the next time I visit Lamington road. If Oranges has done it right this time, I won't need it immediately. Unfortunately, my computer has stopped working so I am unable to test the amp.

Neutral
Stammgast

#21 erstellt: 14. Nov 2005, 19:38

The WD40 worked this time. But next time, I will try out the Philips spray. The moss has become less on the speakers after the monsoon has got over.