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Can metal chassis become defective? I

I have learned from a top repair technician with 45 years experiance that all internal electronic components can go bad after enough time (resister, caps,tubes) INCLUDING the actual metal chassis. He claimed that if an old unit is not working that you could replace ALL the electronic components and it still may never work because the metal chassis is WORN OUT. His theory is that the electrons that go into the chassis ground have (over the years) filled up the outer atomic orbitals and interatomic space with too many (used) electrons forced into the metal (aluminum for example) and that the metal is now defective for a ground chassis SINCE THERE IS NO SPACE LEFT FOR THE ELECTRONS. The metal is WORN OUT. It becomes a radioactive isotope of aluminum since there are excessive electrons in the outer orbitals, and unusable as an electronic chassis. If this is not the case then where do the electrons go if the chassis is not grounded to true earth ground (cold water pipe only)or through a proper three prong plug?
mint604
krell_man
827 posts
 
It becomes invisible when you sell it and tell your spouse that you had to replace the piece because the case went bad.

This is the newest excuse to use with your spouse to justify replacing a piece of equipment.
usblues
1,217 posts
 
That works for me Krell_man,I will now plan on watching my system very closely to make an upgrade move when it starts disappearing.I can't wait! What a great thread,no would of thought...............Still here...Still he....Stil.....S......
trelja
3,225 posts
 
Actually, I believe in Mint604's theory.

I have often suggested to people that their system problems were not audio component related, but that the wiring in their homes was in need of replacement. After a long period of time, the electrons flowing in the wiring fill the material up, and I definitively believe replacement is warranted. Once this point is reached, regardless of components used and room related tweaking, success is impossible.

In my own case, I have requested the power company to replace the wiring in my neighborhood, as the means to improve my system. Hopefully, they will accommodate me in the very near term.
rcprince
3,079 posts
 
Trelja's right. I own an 1886 Victorian, and one night in the middle of the Mahler 2nd, as the chorus was singing towards the heavens, the electricity in my house just went off! I went outside and the rest of the neighborhood was fine. Turned out my electrical wiring in the house was completely saturated after around 100 years of use (taking into account the gas lines that were used in the old days), so I had to re-wire the whole house. Of course, I took this as an opportunity to wire with Purist Dominus throughout the house, which has improved my sound dramatically.

Joe, I hope you have more success with your utilities in PA than I did with PSE&G in trying to upgrade the neighborhood wiring.
trelja
3,225 posts
 
Russ, they told me, "Let's see, you want us to run 1.25 miles of new utility line to your house?!? For your radio... Oh, sorry, your stereo. Uh, sure, we'll get right on it!"

I'm glad you chimed in here, as I would have never thought of telling them to run the Purist Audio Dominus. Thank heavens it's not too late, as they didn't begin their work yet! And, no, in my experience, having lived in both NJ and PA, PSE&G is better than PECO/Exelon.

Did you run the Dominus in your home before or after I visited? If it was after, I'll be eager to give it a listen at the next party. Was disappointed not to see you this past Sunday, but my your family's health is something I want to wish you the best with - no joke in this sentence, at least.
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