R

rays55

Audiophyte
Can anyone please tell me were I can purchase a power transformer for a TFM-55 amplifier. I know you can send these to Carver for repair but its very costly thanks guys
 
Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
I believe Bob Carver goes to great lengths to make sure his amplifiers aren't easy to repair, meaning custom parts. You can special order one to spec if you can get the specifications of the transformer from a transformer manufacturer. I used to have the contact info for one but I don't recal the name unfortunately. A quick google search may turn up results for transformer manufacturers.

We have a working TFM-55 for sale in my store right now for $399.:D
 
R

rays55

Audiophyte
What would the total be for the TFM-55 shipped to Minnesota 55336 thanks again
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
What would the total be for the TFM-55 shipped to Minnesota 55336 thanks again
Don't get ahead of yourself. Those amps have a weird magnetic shunt power supply. Yours has blown up and you want to buy another! I'm telling you power transformer failures are really rare unless the name plate says Carver.

I can steer you to a much better amp than Carver, that will likely work for 50 years plus.
 
R

rays55

Audiophyte
When the amp is turned on the meter lights go bright then dim, I checked the ac coming out of the secondary's and they are reading anywhere from milli-volts to 6.8 volts. Also noted was the speaker relays do not activate thanks for you help
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
When the amp is turned on the meter lights go bright then dim, I checked the ac coming out of the secondary's and they are reading anywhere from milli-volts to 6.8 volts. Also noted was the speaker relays do not activate thanks for you help
The parts situation for those amps is bad.

This is what I found out from another site.

"As it turns out, Carver Pro has never had any of the Consumer line parts, and I think I've mentioned before that they get really pissed off when I keep asking them these questions; asking them the same questions over and over again makes the parts manager upset because he thinks I'm just stupid. I don't want to aggravate him, out of the fear that doing so would make him less likely to help me find rare parts for the amps that they actually do carry parts for. So I listened to what they've told me and I've stopped asking about parts for amps that they've never had in inventory. If the amp was not made by Carver Pro, they don't have parts. Period. If the amp was made by Carver Pro, they might have parts. But just about all of the parts for the Bob Carver era amps are long gone. They only stock parts for the new stuff that Phoenix Audio has been making under the Carver Pro name.

After the split, Carver (consumer) went bankrupt. In the bankruptcy liquidation *ALL* of the Carver consumer parts inventory was bought by a fellow named Rolland at High-Tech electronics in Washington state. He performs flat-fee repairs on Carver amps for $300. He won't look at an amp for less, and he doesn't sell his parts inventory to other people. He is hoarding all of the original Carver parts and won't let them go. The only way to get the original Carver parts is to send your amp to him for a $300 repair. That's not something that I would do for an amp that needed $2 in caps and a $3 IC.

Sunfire was a totally different corporation. They have never had Carver parts. They refer you to High-Tech Audio.

These are the facts as I have gotten them first-hand from CarverPro, High-Tech Audio, and Sunfire. I exhausted those options months ago.

The only options left are finding parts in the open market."

Don't assume the low voltage is due to the power transformer. It is quite likely due to excess loading. The rail voltages are 40 and 70 volts, since these are class H amps.
 
R

rays55

Audiophyte
Sounds like you've done your homework, ive basically came up with the ame results trying to get parts as you did. Im not an electronic tech but have some basic knowledge of testing and repairing electronics, self taught. Im not sure what you mean by rail voltage, how do you check the rail voltage and excess loading. I purchased this amp for $250.00 as a non-working amp, it definately has cosmetic issues but the internals look very good. The amp is only valuable to me if I can repair it if I tack on another $300.00 plus shipping to have it repaired it would be a total loss thank you again for all your help.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
Sounds like you've done your homework, ive basically came up with the ame results trying to get parts as you did. Im not an electronic tech but have some basic knowledge of testing and repairing electronics, self taught. Im not sure what you mean by rail voltage, how do you check the rail voltage and excess loading. I purchased this amp for $250.00 as a non-working amp, it definately has cosmetic issues but the internals look very good. The amp is only valuable to me if I can repair it if I tack on another $300.00 plus shipping to have it repaired it would be a total loss thank you again for all your help.
I have never worked on a Carver, and actually would never buy one. They are prone to trouble and don't make old bones. I understand from others and going around the Internet, that those amps are very difficult to trouble shoot.

The rail voltages are the voltages to the amp boards. As well as having a magnetic shunt power transformer, the amps are class H. These H amps give more trouble and are far harder to trouble shoot than other topographies. The rail voltage switches according to power demands. The magnetic shunt and this class H switching rail voltage allowed a sleight of hand to make a small power supply and claim high power output. However the Carver is not high powered when tested with a continuous sine wave, or continuous power.

The rosy specs are predicated on the dynamic nature of music. I have a feeling that this modern affliction of pop music with highly compressed dynamic range as contributed as much as anything to making the Carvers bite the dust.

If you are serious about fixing that amp you will need a circuit diagram, and a signal generator FET VOM, and a dual channel scope at the minimum. You will have to read up on a lot of circuit theory. From what you have posted so far, it seems very unlikely you have the skills to fix that amp. If you had, you would still very likely get stumped for lack of parts. Working on most other amps you would be unlikely to get defeated for lack of parts.

I suspect that there is a circuit or component somewhere that has failed and is drawing far too much current. Those amps apparently have a bunch of ballast resistors that run too hot anyway, and can be a root cause for other problems. I think when you switch on the lights are bright and and as the caps charge, there is a circuit somewhere that as it turns on, starts to draw far too much current, the lights dim and the supply goes into a current limiting mode to avoid it smoking.

Be very careful about obtaining equipment that does not work. That amp was not worth $250, it was worth nothing, or very close to it. Even of you had got that amp for nothing I would be telling you that it was not worth the $300 and shipping to fix it. There is an old adage, that says "if it was junk new, it will still be junk after you fix it."

For the cost of fixing that amp and shipping you could have bought yourself a very nice used Quad 405 2 on eBay working. That is ten times the amp the Carver ever was. You could have also bought yourself a pro amp, for less than your boat anchor.

So you will have to be more careful and circumspect in future. Never give much or anything for gear that does not work. Carefully asses your skill and knowledge, and honestly rate the chances of you fixing it. I'm afraid you have paid $250 for your education so far.
 
Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
I think the big problem with Carver amplfiers is that they dedicate more power storage toward the transformer rather than a cap block, the TFM 55 has a pathetic amount of capacitance (I think just two 10,000uF caps for an amplifier rated for 380 watts/channel is just assinign).
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
I think the big problem with Carver amplfiers is that they dedicate more power storage toward the transformer rather than a cap block, the TFM 55 has a pathetic amount of capacitance (I think just two 10,000uF caps for an amplifier rated for 380 watts/channel is just assinign).
The problem is that those Carver amps really aren't 380 watt amps. The main function of the non ferrous metal in the core of his magnetic shunt, is to reduce voltage after a certain time current point, so his miserable amplifier does not implode, but a lot do any way.

I had Bob Carver in my basement a few years back, right as the Sunfire subwoofer was being introduced. I gave him a chance to make his case about this magnetic shunt business. It was really hard for him to make a case for any benefit, and it was largely an exercise in obfuscation.

Anyhow, I was introduced to him by an acquaintance of his, who wanted to see if his Sunfire sub would best these, speakers for bass. These speakers have been reworked for my current center back speakers.



Those venerable TL loaded KEF B 139s easily bested the Sunfire prototype in quality, spl, and low end reach. The sub to me seemed like a pure toy.

As usual my amplification was Quad throughout.
 
wire

wire

Senior Audioholic
Try this http://www.carveraudiorepair.com/ and here http://thecarversite.com/ , nothing wrong with that Amp , its a powerhouse , ive got the TFM 35 , its a very good and clean sounding amp .
What ever they say about Bob Carvers Audio equipment , they also have to relize , that most of the newer gear is based on his ideas and gave the industry a cost effiecent way to build amps . I cant find the Carver forums , try the Polk forums and the Vintage speakers , someone there might hook you up with Rita .
I found the forum Link http://www.carveraudio.com/phpBB3/index.php
 
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Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
they also have to relize , that most of the newer gear is based on his ideas and gave the industry a cost effiecent way to build amps .
No they aren't, where'd you get information like that...your bum? I've looked under the hoods of those TFM amplifiers, and they aren't the slightest bit impressive, and definitely not benchmark material. If his amplifiers are so innovative and cost effective why aren't any manufacturers using the O-SO-AWESOME designs he uses to make the Sunfire amplifiers? Could it be because they aren't cost effective?
 
wire

wire

Senior Audioholic
I believe Bob Carver goes to great lengths to make sure his amplifiers aren't easy to repair, meaning custom parts. You can special order one to spec if you can get the specifications of the transformer from a transformer manufacturer. I used to have the contact info for one but I don't recal the name unfortunately. A quick google search may turn up results for transformer manufacturers.

We have a working TFM-55 for sale in my store right now for $399.:D
Well his design was much different than any other amp out there . I know that Rita and Roland bought alot of the parts , when Sunfire quit fixing Carver products .
 
wire

wire

Senior Audioholic
No they aren't, where'd you get information like that...your bum? I've looked under the hoods of those TFM amplifiers, and they aren't the slightest bit impressive, and definitely not benchmark material. If his amplifiers are so innovative and cost effective why aren't any manufacturers using the O-SO-AWESOME designs he uses to make the Sunfire amplifiers? Could it be because they aren't cost effective?
Well he mimic the sound of a Class A amp , hehe silly goose :eek:))

Forum link http://www.carveraudio.com/phpBB3/index.php
 
Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
Well his design was much different than any other amp out there . I know that Rita and Roland bought alot of the parts , when Sunfire quit fixing Carver products .
Sure, why not stock up on parts that cost a fortune because no one else makes them? Must be nice to have the only parts in existance so you can basically charge whatever you want for them. His designs are much different from anything else out there, and that's not likely to change (for obvious reasons).
 
wire

wire

Senior Audioholic
Can anyone please tell me were I can purchase a power transformer for a TFM-55 amplifier. I know you can send these to Carver for repair but its very costly thanks guys
What ever Seth says , your best bet is to go ask on the Carver forum , they know there stuff and a better idea where to direct you to Rita and Roland , Rita and Roland used to work for Bob Carver ;o))
http://www.carveraudio.com/phpBB3/index.php
 

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