Please help - just blown up my system! (arcam; biamp)

[guscrouchend]

I've done the stupidest thing -please help.... I've damaged my system but I'm not entirely sure what i've done and how i might go about repairing it.

Yesterday a friend brought round some speakers to try out.

So, in preparation for the speaker-test, naturally I went about unplugging my cuurent speakers. My speakers are biamped - powered by (i) arcam alpha 7 integrated amp and (ii) alpha 8 power amp.

Me being the bloody idiot that i am, I did not turn the power off on either of the amps before unplugging the speaker cables... As I removed them, one of the cables coming from the power amp touched one of the cables coming from the integrated amp..... and BANG! an unfortunate and unintended electrical circuit was created, making a big electrical POP, and seemingly blowing up the integrated amp - The integrated amp won't turn on now (although the power amp is fine).

I'm going to open it up... but i'm not quite sure of what i'm doing..

HAVE I KILLED MY ARCAM?!?!?

SOMEONE PLEASE HELP... What have I done and what should I do??

thanks

[john_b]

You might be lucky and the outputs are fused, got the lid off yet?

[guscrouchend]

got the lid off. No obvious signs of damage athough to be honest i'm not particularly well versed in electronics. I can't test the fuse or the trasnformer cos i don't have replacement parts as of now.

If the outputs went, would that be at all visble? and would it prevent the unit from powering up? cos the amp won't power up.

any ideas? cheers in advance

[witters]

I would imagine that you will have blown an internal fuse. Can you see a fuse anywhere under the lid?

[MikeFaulkner]

Might be worth checking the fuse in the plug as well.

Good Luck.

[John Dawson]

Hmmm - sadly I suspect you may have blown a power amp channel in your Alpha 7, so even if you replace the mains fuse it will just blow again.

Our service dept can offer further advice and of course also repair the amplifier - call the office on 01223 203200 and ask for support.

Sincerely,

John Dawson (Arcam)

[guscrouchend]

Thanks to all. I just dropped off the alpha 7 at my local smiley-greek-man electricians. He's going to diagnose the problem for 15 quid. Seems a good price. Hopefully the outputs won't have gone, we'll have to wait and see..

[John Dawson]

OK - if your man calls our service dept we can provide service data and also output transistor kits - they are not expensive.

John Dawson (Arcam)