Fuse burned out in shipping? ?


Okay, I bought an amp--a Halfer DH220--from a 'gent' who assures me it was in perfect working order prior to arriving. It arrives and one channel doesn't work. It was poorly packed, so I wasn't surprised, but it also had a burned fuse on the channel that no longer worked. Bad sign.

So I write this 'gent' who continues to insist that the amp was functioning at the time of shipping and he can't imagine why a fuse would of burned out. ---- He suggested that perhaps something happened in shipping to cause the fuse to burn out!! ---- Okay, I'm not an electrical engineer, but I smell BS. However, I decided I would give his story one tiny modicum of the benefit of doubt and come here and post. Soooo.....

Is there ANYTHING that could happen to an amp, packed inside a friggin box and not plugged in, that could cause it to burn out a fuse? I think this is complete crap, but hey, I'm not gonna crucify someone if I'm wrong.
aewhistory
The fuse you describe is a slo-blo fuse. These are usually inline with the power switch/supply. They do indeed get an inrush of current, thus the discoloration of the fuse.

Did you check to make sure the right channel RCA input jack is wired and also the right channel binding post wiring. Also on the RCA jack, make sure the center pin is touching the contact. If this amp has had a bunch of different interconnects in and out of it, it might not be making a good contact. You can see from the inside of the amp, if the center pin is touching the contact. Sometimes those wires can come loose. I was a Hafler dealer, back in the day, and built many of these amps.

One of the posts above has a link to the owner's manual which also has the build out instructions with pictures, (these amps were available as a kit or factory built). Maybe follow through the diagram to make sure all the wires are hooked up. It's a pretty simple design.
I'm a little puzzled by your description of a shorted component and clearing itself. It isn't that I disagree or anything, I merely don't think I understand. Would you mind elaborating?
08-30-12: Aewhistory
Aewhistory,

By clearing itself I mean the shorted component burned itself free, open. The component is shot. Or a shorted item may have caused a resistor to blow. Again causing an open circuit to exist.

You say you got around $120 in the amp. Does that include shipping?
The way PayPal works if you win a dispute resolution you eat shipping both ways.....

You say the seller has stopped communicating with you. That is a shame.

I was going suggest you take the amp to a repair shop and get an estimate on the damage.
Most sellers will work with the buyer in paying for a repair. It could be something simple you know....

Didn't you say you build/ repair computers?

I assume you have a multimeter. I posted a Link in my last post of the amp. Lots of info there....
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Paypal saves the day. As mentioned, enter a dispute at once. If as Elizabeth mentioned a new fuse doesn't cure the problem, ship it right back, and do it quickly. You will be out the return shipping but that will end the problem. As the seller to pay you the return shipping directly, if not agreeable, leave negative feed back.
It sounds like the seller did a VERY poor job of packing it, and he should have known better. Amplifiers are usually quite heavy, and a mere 1" of packing material all around, between it and the shipping box it came in was quite absurd on the seller's behalf. He should be responsible for any damage due to such poor packing. 3 or 4 inches of strong, protective material should have been the bare minimum, especially if it is a heavy amp.