Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Other Stuff => Solid State => Topic started by: Pastortom on December 05, 2011, 01:20:26 pm

Title: Circuit Board Gremlin.......AAAaaaarrrrgggghhhh.........
Post by: Pastortom on December 05, 2011, 01:20:26 pm
OK, this isn't an "amp" problem, but it IS a strange solid state electronics problem.....PLEASE give your opinions on what this might be.......

I have a HUGE Suzuki "Grande Ensemble" Baby Grand Piano, all electronic.......It's basically a MIDI keyboard, bolted into a full size Baby Grand case.

Problem.......    When I plug it in, OR turn on it's power strip to make it "hot", a theoretical clock starts ticking.  At some point after receiving connecting voltages, the Piano's screen will go "blue" and I'll lose all sound and functionality.  It's not just after I turn it on at it's own switch that the clock of life starts ticking.....it's after it actually has electricity fed to it's main AC in.   The longest the Piano will operate correctly is about 17 minutes.  It works perfectly, UNTIL some little stinking part  just doesn't want to stay alive........Then the screen goes blue, and you lose all function and sound.   FRUSTRATING to say the least.

I first thought it lived on borrowed time only after I "turned it on" by it's own switch.  Not so.  I've discovered that it only needs to get JUICE (even with the switch off), and then after a few minutes, it is dead.   The factory says there is NO internal battery (like my Kurzweils).........They think it's some sort of problem on the main board, but give me NO insight at all to go on.

Do ANY of you guys have a sneaking suspicion what this might be ?   A particular part that is so tired, that after a short time of receiving voltage, it just dies ?............Let the Piano sit for a few hours "unplugged", and it'll start right up again and play perfectly......then the same thing.     :BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead:
Title: Re: Circuit Board Gremlin.......AAAaaaarrrrgggghhhh.........
Post by: PRR on December 05, 2011, 10:50:08 pm
Obviously between the power cord and the power switch.

Open as far as those parts, and see what is in between.
Title: Re: Circuit Board Gremlin.......AAAaaaarrrrgggghhhh.........
Post by: Pastortom on December 14, 2011, 07:44:43 pm
Well, with further testing to be certain of what it's doing, I've learned that the piano definitely has to be switched ON to start it's "clock" ticking........  After 15 to 20 minutes (or less if I really belt out a song on it), the LED screen goes to a blank blue and the sound and function stops......dead.

Here's another tidbit.........If I turn on the piano when cold, the memory fires up and it boots fine....plays perfectly through all functions.  But AT ANY TIME (whether 1 minute, 10 minutes or whatever you choose), IF I "shut it off" at the switch, it will NOT reboot and turn back on.....it simply gives me a blank blue screen (lights on, but nobody's home)........

SO, it will switch ON and play for about 10 to 20 minutes and then just quit.........OR, it will switch on ONCE, but not twice.........Turn it off, and then turn it back on, and nothing.

What in the world is goin' on with this thing ?     :BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead: