A16 sometimes syncs, sometimes doesn't?

mattvictory · Post by **mattvictory** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:39 am

My A16 Adat sometimes takes a long time to sync or won't sync at all. I have tried all different types of solutions and I cant seem to pinpoint what the problem is. It is connected to scope via light pipe as a master and scope the slave. Does anyone have any ideas?

Post by **garyb** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:44 am

bad/loose cables?

mattvictory · Post by **mattvictory** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:23 am

I don't think so. I bought new light pipes. I was thinking of trying the word clock sync.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:00 pm

do you happen to use a replacement powersupply ?

Post by **garyb** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:29 pm

the ps is a good candidate.

wordclock is great, but lightpipe definitely works 100% of the time with non-broken, properly set up hardware.

balaftuna · Post by **balaftuna** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:50 pm

had this problem, replaced the cables and it works fine since.

when it doesn't sync, try taking a cable out, and put it back in, and see if it does the trick.

cheers.

Shay

Post by **garyb** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:27 pm

also, be sure there's no dust in the port(use compressed, clean, dry air)

mattvictory · Post by **mattvictory** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:32 pm

I don't know if it is the original power supply or a replacement. I bought the a16 used. I have tried pulling the lite pipe out and putting it back in and it didn't seem to fix the sync. I blew the ports out with canned air.

The only thing that seem's to help so far is configuring the A16 as an ADAT slave and using scope as the master. It worked a few times today. I'm going to see if I can get another power supply too. Thanks for the tips

frokka · Post by **frokka** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:47 pm

Check your PS.

If A16 is the same as A16 Ultra it needs 12 volts with 25 watts.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:31 am

I can tell you for sure that an A16 will not sync with a 'modern' switching powersupply (for notebook, mini PC etc), even if that is correctly speced.
The A16 runs hot like hell then. Is the fan in use, btw ?
The original powersupply is a big transformer plus a rectifier network - regulation, stabilizing and filtering of the voltages is done inside the A16 (that's what heats the unit up).

There are no technical documents available about the old A16 anymore (Ralf couldn't help - a rare case) and it's a bit too complicated to figure out at glance.
I had the impression that a switching powersupply regulates against the internal 'regulation', thus pumping the unit up - maybe the regulation cycles interfere.
Whatever, I could reproduce the symptoms reliably.

The original PSU is a heavy block about 3x4x3 inch.
I've replaced mine with a fat 150 watt lighting transformer (halogen) and measure 16.24 V output after the rectifier that go into the A16.
The unit seems to work perfectly and is only handwarm now

Unfortunately I didn't measure the headroom before the change, as this could be influenced by the supply voltage (the opamps can run anything from 12 to 18V)
Listening doesn't reveal any flaws so far (I didn't make a scientific approach...)

I mention the 'trick' because it's incedibly difficult to get a replacement PSU that is NOT switched today, and lighting transformers can be dead cheap in sellouts (who buys halogen when LEDs are hip ?).
You just have to dispose of the bulbs and the other nonsense... (I paid 10 Euro for the whole set)

cheers, Tom