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Inspect Your New Amps

Recon

NY 881
Jul 28, 2019
1,121
1,316
173
Up-State NY
New amp arrived and I was curious as to what type / name of the pills were installed. I removed the cover and found two defects as per the attached photos. Both cables are not secured to prevent them from being pulled-on the soldered connections. Any idea what the floating thick washer-looking object is?
 

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That round donut looking thing your pointing at in pic one is not there to secure the cable. It's a magnetic ferrite choke. I think X-Force amplifiers used to come that way.
 
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That round donut looking thing your pointing at in pic one is not there to secure the cable. It's a magnetic ferrite choke. I think X-Force amplifiers used to come that way.
Yes, I realize it is not to secure the cable, I just did not know what it was. For crying-out-loud, it can't cost that much to use and install a watertight strain-relief grommet to ensure the cables don't get pulled-out.
 
I've seen some of the amp builders use string and do a fancy little knot to keep the ferrite in place.

A strain relief on the power cables should have been a default. Nylon cable glands work really nice for those.
 
New amp arrived and I was curious as to what type / name of the pills were installed. I removed the cover and found two defects as per the attached photos. Both cables are not secured to prevent them from being pulled-on the soldered connections. Any idea what the floating thick washer-looking object is?
 
I've seen some of the amp builders use string and do a fancy little knot to keep the ferrite in place.

A strain relief on the power cables should have been a default. Nylon cable glands work really nice for those.
I would definitely recommend installing a strain relief. Or at least something to protect the wire's insulation from the sharp edges of the cabinet.
 
There are plastic pass-through grommets installed to prevent chaffing. A five-cent Zip-Tie would be better than nothing to prevent the cables from being pulled-out.
 
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Does this amplifier have a name on it?

Might be worth knowing who to stay away from.

73
I'm not disclosing the manufacturer of the amp, because I was informed that this is just about the "norm" with many amp and power supply builders. I recommend retaining the photo and if and when you or anyone orders a new amp or power supply, forward the photo to the builder and ask if that is how the power cables will pass through the cabinet.
 
I'm not disclosing the manufacturer of the amp, because I was informed that this is just about the "norm" with many amp and power supply builders. I recommend retaining the photo and if and when you or anyone orders a new amp or power supply, forward the photo to the builder and ask if that is how the power cables will pass through the cabinet.


Imagine a car forum and someone is warning people about an engine problem but then refuses to tell people the Year, Make, Model, and Engine type! It would be a worthless post of no use to anyone!

At the very least put a zip tie on that wire until you can get a proper strain relief.

That power wire is not soldered down well.

I think it is low class to complain and make a PSA lacking most of the basics of "Who, What, When, Where, Why". Have some courage! If this was a new amp from Texas Star or MFJ you would share it. You are clearly afraid of fall-out from the builder community and their fan boys!

I would add that if the amp is installed properly and bolted down and the wires are ran properly there should be a very low chance of a strain guage being needed even if it is clearly best practice. Anyone that has worked in car audio, 2-way-radio, or as a mechanic have seen how poorly people install electrical and electronic gear in car's and trucks! Bad construction methods and installation practices have burnt peoples trucks to the ground!
 
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I think it is low class to complain and make a PSA lacking most of the basics of "Who, What, When, Where, Why".
This may be an XForce product.
Look at the marking from the sheet metal brake, the clear-backed stickers, and the offset on the bottom of the amp.
xforce.png
 

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