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My MC 2205 Amplifier is smoking???

Hello Friends, I am new here because of an inheritance of a Vintage McIntosh System. I will not go to deep down that story again as I already introduced myself. The reason for this post is I received my RCA and Speaker wiring today and couldn't wait to give this baby a test drive to asses the needs.

After some tinkering I was able to get a station to come in clear and a decent volume to come out the speakers.

The good news is, the speakers are worth salvaging with maybe a rebuild and a clean up. THe bad news is the Amplifier is producing smoke. I removed from the Casing, and dusted a bit more, I am hoping it is just because it was sitting for 15+ years.

 

Any thoughts???

 

PS. I am in SO CAL if any one knows a good tech to take on some of this work. 

basicname
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,781 posts
 

Sounds like dried-out capacitors. I heard that you should use someting called a 'variac' (voltage regulator) that lets you start with zero voltage and slowly increase to normal. You gave it 100% all-at-once which obviously had bad results. Capacitors will "reform" themselves over time if not to messed up.

Another theory is that a mouse made a nest inside the Mac and you ruined his day.

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

Always use a variac to slowly ramp up the AC voltage for components that have been idle for long periods!

roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,969 posts
 

You could also try a nicotine patch...

2psyop's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
2psyop
1,558 posts
 

I don't think the word "smoke" and the word "amplifier" should be used in the same sentence. It's a bad combination. Good luck.

basicname OP
3 posts
 

Thanks for the input, I am hoping it was a combination of some lingering dust and maybe the capacitor warming up. I am going to give it another run after some detailed cleaning today.

 

The funny thing is that nothing was hot in the amp. I could not identify where the smoke was coming from....

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