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Can't find what you're looking for?
Please email Carvin Service to request a new FAQ. Your comments and suggestions are welcome too.
Power Amps FAQ
1. Do you sell replacement PCB boards or Modules?2. Is the heat sink on my DCM always charged?
3. How do I replace the fan in my DCM1000?
4. How much is it for the Schematic of a Carvin Amp?
5. What is Thermal Protect?
6. Why is the fan in my DCM1500 not spinning?
7. What is Short Protect?
8. Why is my amp going into protect when I plug in my speaker?
9. What is the direction of the air flow in my DCM4000?
10. With all the power amp classifications, there may be terms you are unfamiliar with, so this document contains a brief description of Carvin's professional power amplifier designs and terminology.
11. How should I box my amp to send it in for repair?
12. What is the AC Cord wire gauge I should use with my amp?
13. Does Carvin offer a trade in for the wireless that will not work after June, 2010 because of the frequency used?
14. What is the Thiele?
15. Can a Carvin Tech Modify my amps if I send them in?
16. What is Moisture and Corrosion, and why is that bad?
17. What do I do if I get Dust or Sand inside my gear?
18. What do I do if my amp gets struck by Lightning?
19. When I tap the top of my amp the signal goes in and out, what do I do?
1. Do you sell replacement PCB boards or Modules?
No, Carvin doesn't. We do offer replacement heads (amps) for some of our amps, like the AG100D for example, as a replacement. We also offer upgrades, see "Service Exchange" for trade in price.
Added: 9-11-2008 Revised: 12-16-2008 back to top
2. Is the heat sink on my DCM always charged?
Yes, the heat sink is connected to the reservoir caps, they will stay charged until discharged, don't touch heat sink or capacitors. If you must remove a fan to replace it, discharge the heat sinks with a discharging tool first. The fan is usually connected to the heat sink via 4 screws
Added: 9-11-2008 Revised: 10-10-2008 back to top
3. How do I replace the fan in my DCM1000?
The Fan on the DCM1000 is mounted to a heat sink that is always charged, you must discharge it to remove the fan. Note: The heat sink is tapped with double sided tape and that is very sticky, to remove see a tech, only a professional technician should repair Carvin Amps.
Added: 9-11-2008 Revised: 10-17-2008 back to top
4. How much is it for the Schematic of a Carvin Amp?
All Carvin Schematics are free.
Added: 9-11-2008 Revised: 10-17-2008 back to top
5. What is Thermal Protect?
Thermal Protect is a protection built into Carvin Amps to protect them from too much heat. The way it works is, when the temperature reaches a critical point an output relay is turned off, to let the amp cool down. If the fan is blocked or if the room temperature is hot, the amp may go into protect. Wait for it to reset, when the temperature comes down to a safe level the relay will turn back ON. If the amp goes into thermal protect with in 5 to 10 minutes of playing check the fan, it may have stopped working.
Added: 9-11-2008 back to top
6. Why is the fan in my DCM1500 not spinning?
The DCM1500 has 2 fans one right in front of the other. The outer fan doesn't spin until the temperature of the amp is very hot. If you are not sure whether the inner fan working, you should be able to listen to it, you can also feel it by blocking the air with your hand. If you need a replacement fan, click on Replacement Parts.
Added: 9-11-2008 Revised: 10-18-2008 back to top
7. What is Short Protect?
Carvin Amps have a feature called Short Protect, in layman's terms, if the output is shorted, be it a speaker, cable or jack, the amp is designed to go into protect. If the amp is working fine and when you plug a cable in the output, the amp goes into protect, one of the two is shorted, either the speaker or the cable.
Added: 9-11-2008 back to top
8. Why is my amp going into protect when I plug in my speaker?
Your cable or speaker may be shorted, the amp is designed to protect when that is the case. Try a different speaker and or cable.
Added: 9-11-2008 back to top
9. What is the direction of the air flow in my DCM4000?
The air flows from the back to the front. Only the front fan spins until the amp gets really hot then both the front and the back spin really fast to cool it down.
Added: 9-11-2008 back to top
10. With all the power amp classifications, there may be terms you are unfamiliar with, so this document contains a brief description of Carvin's professional power amplifier designs and terminology.
Click this link for a Description of the most common terms.
Carvin Professional Power Amp Design.PDF
Added: 1-26-2010 Revised: 1-27-2010 Generic FAQ back to top
11. How should I box my amp to send it in for repair?
The amp should be boxed up in its original packaging. If that is not possible, then box it up as best you can. Make sure to leave a protective cushion between the amp and the box. During shipping the amp will be exposed to rough handling. If improperly boxed, the unit will be damaged. Carvin is not responsible for shipping damage due to improper boxing. Remember to fill out your RMA form.
Added: 10-21-2008 Revised: 11-10-2008 Generic FAQ back to top
12. What is the AC Cord wire gauge I should use with my amp?
Click on link,
AC Cord Wire Gauge.PDF
AC Cord Wire Gauge Rev B.PDF
Added: 10-7-2008 Revised: 3-19-2010 Generic FAQ back to top
13. Does Carvin offer a trade in for the wireless that will not work after June, 2010 because of the frequency used?
Carvin offers a 100 Dollar credit towards a replacement system, which are in the 638-698Mhz range(NEW), older is (700-800Mhz). You don't have to send in your old wireless. The credit applies to any owner not just the original owner. A serial number must be provided. Valid until Jan, 2013. Please call Carvin Sales at 800-854-2235
Added: 2-8-2010 Revised: 2-8-2010 Generic FAQ back to top
14. What is the Thiele?
The Thiele specifications are a set of parameters used to describe the audio characteristics of a speaker driver.
Added: 8-26-2009 Generic FAQ back to top
15. Can a Carvin Tech Modify my amps if I send them in?
No. Carvin Technicians are not permitted to MOD (modify) any amplifier. It is against company policy. Carvin does not repair modified amplifiers. If a modification is found during a repair, then the component values will be returned to factory specs (if it is not rejected).
Added: 9-11-2008 Revised: 11-10-2008 Generic FAQ back to top
16. What is Moisture and Corrosion, and why is that bad?
Moisture is the presence of water in trace amounts. It can cause rot in wood and corrosion in metals, both of which are the main materials in your amplifier and cabinet. When moisture goes inside the amp it can corrode the input and output jacks (causing intermittent crackling, popping, and volume loss), damage the cables inside the amp, and short traces on the circuit boards. If corrosion is present on any of the jacks, the best thing to do is to replace them. For light corrosion, applying contact cleaner to the jacks will help.
Added: 9-11-2008 Revised: 11-10-2008 Generic FAQ back to top
17. What do I do if I get Dust or Sand inside my gear?
Dust and/or sand should never go inside the amp. If any debris goes inside try to clean it out as best you can. Dust and sand can block the fan and vents, causing the amp to overheat, and they can also short components inside. Any debris inside the chassis will also absorb moisture and cause corrosion to form on chassis and circuitry.
Added: 9-11-2008 Revised: 11-10-2008 Generic FAQ back to top
18. What do I do if my amp gets struck by Lightning?
Lightning can cause extreme and intermittent failures to all electrical equipment. Most of these issues are very difficult to repair and usually return after time. In the case of a direct hit, the amp will likely not work well ever again. If there was a black out for a few seconds and the amp does not power back ON, check the fuse. For a replacement fuse click on "Fuse and Bias Values" in the FAQ Categories menu.
Added: 9-11-2008 Revised: 11-10-2008 Generic FAQ back to top
19. When I tap the top of my amp the signal goes in and out, what do I do?
This is a characteristic of something inside the amp being loose. In most cases it is a loose connector, but it can also be dirty or corroded contacts, a bad ribbon cable, or broken solder joints. To check this, take the amp out of the enclosure and verify that all harnesses and connectors are installed correctly. Disconnect and reconnect the ribbon cables. Power on your amp and verify that it is working properly. If the problem persists, you may have to replace a connector and do further troubleshooting. A cable can work its way out from the vibration of a speaker. For a replacement cable click on "Parts".
Added: 9-11-2008 Revised: 11-10-2008 Generic FAQ back to top
