is it normal for a power supply to buzz? (not through audio)

[vuuv]

I have a jx3p and an alpha juno 2 that have landed in my lap recetly, and both of them make an electrical buzz/hum when turned on -- not thru the audio outs, but from the power supply, inside the synth. is that normal for gear of this age? or should i be worried about a small explosion?

[rhino]

Welcome to the board!

SOME small hum is generaly ok, but check:
1) synths are set for the correct voltage
2) rectifier diodes
3) filter caps - look for leakage
4) on the JX3p, check that the transformer has not pulled loose fron the wooden base plate of the synth.

[vuuv]

i'll definitely look at the tranformers -- the jx3p is far less noisy and is otherwise in excellent shape, but the noisy juno 2 is being loaned to me (indefinitely i guess) and has seen better days... broken keys i can fix no problem, but diodes and the rest might be a bit beyond my skills right now anything beyond unscrewing things is beyond me!

[Stab Frenzy]

It's the AC in the transformer creating a magnetic field that vibrates the steel in the chassis at your AC frequency. It's not a problem.

[Psy_Free]

My JX-8P has buzzed like a nest of furious hornets since I got it years ago & hasn't blown up yet, so I wouldn't worry too much.

[vin14]

My juno 106 has done that since i got it in the 90s, though my alpha juno 1 hasn't.

[pmh]

As already mentioned, some transformers are prone to buzzing, which will be at the frequency of the mains.

If this doesn't appear in the audio output then there is nothing to worry about.

You can get rubber mounts for transformers, which can/help to reduce the hum, but it's extra effort for nothing really.

I have had to strip our house alarm down, in the past, as the hum from this used to annoy me at night.

That said, I doubt you sleep with the Juno ........ or do you

Kind regards,



Phil

[gmeredith]

The Yamaha TX81z are renowned for their acoustic transformer buzz. It's not a fault issue - just poor shielding and mounting design. Yanaha actually issued a service bulletin for factory recalls for it. The notes told the service technician to do the following modification:



Altitude from this forum also mentioned it:

http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... 35#p564254

So you could probably apply the similar mod to your transformer.

Cheers, Graham

[vuuv]

thanks everyone! i'll just deal with it

and pmh, i mean, technically what i have now is the bedroom studio thing happening, so it's all within reach from my bed.....

[Stab Frenzy]

My juno 106 has done that since i got it in the 90s, though my alpha juno 1 hasn't.

That's cause the Alpha Juno is made from plastic not steel.