Thank you so much Eric. Is it easier to use my oscope or just the dmm?

So I replaced the PWM using a socket so it can be easily replaced in the future. I then checked the gates with power to the amp and got around 6 V AC, a little over 4 V dc. I then put a fet on each transformer and powered up the amp. I got life!!! The power lights worked for the first time for me on...

So I got the board off. Wasn't easy but not that hard. I used a solder sucker and it made my life very easy. For the old PWM I clipped the leads and removed them one at a time. http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg291/ls1dave/phoenix%20gold%20zpa05/F6C14BCB-7C7A-4A5C-B69F-A34D84253954_zpsh5us3lqp.jp...

That makes sense. Yea I was considering sockets, glad to know that's something that is done. I Already ordered the PWM, FETs and new resistors. I'll also get some sockets (locally) and the wire needed to do the repair for the damaged leads. I am excited to finally get this project cometed. Thanks fo...

The SG2535 PWM controller may be damaged, and applying full on to the FETs, which will smoke them fast. Often when FETs die, they overload the PWM controller and damage its outputs. With no FETs installed, you should power the amp on and measure the gate pin locations for the FETs. Let us know what...

Yea you haven't seen this pic yet... This was also how it was when I bought the amp: http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg291/ls1dave/phoenix%20gold%20zpa05/IMG_0868_zps928ce00d.jpg http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg291/ls1dave/phoenix%20gold%20zpa05/IMG_0865_zpsdf67f6bd.jpg Ok, so I will put tha...

Also, there was a WIMA cap on the back of the board. Months ago when I was working on this I repaired some damaged leads going to it. http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg291/ls1dave/phoenix%20gold%20zpa05/IMG_0982_zps58d8ceb4.jpg http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg291/ls1dave/phoenix%20gold%20zpa...

So for AC I'm getting very low in mv range, dropping to zero. For DC I get 11.75v at each gate, and 12.58 for constant power. I only have 2 bad traces but they were damaged when I first got the amp and I am aware of what I need to repair them. And just for shits and giggles I checked the gate resist...

OK, so i am revisiting a project that I got busy and put aside. It had blown FETs when I got it, and one had been repaired. I replaced all FETs with IRFZ48 and the 33 ohm resistors were replaced with 330 ohm resistors. I replaced the power supply caps too as they were leaking. The caps are good (tes...

if I recall correctly those v1 fans had issues. I would try just replacing the fans first. I used to sell v1 Zpa amps and they seemed to have that problem but the v2 were "fixed". they had different fans and IIRC they had more fins on them too. I would try that first. The v2 fans had LESS...

You might also want to consider the zed audio leviathan III. I was considering replacing my Mac 6 channel with it but decided to go a different direction. Great amp.

Specs:
330x6 at 2 ohms
190x6 at 4 ohms
$1000 retail, $830 at woofersetc

I think that Bluetooth is only as good as the receiver will allow. When I use Bluetooth connected to my factory Vw stereo playing through my system it's just short of cd quality, but MUCH better than FM and even Sirius. It all depends on how modern the stereo is that is accepting the signal I think....

Any updates?

You can also look on diymobileaudio.com in the install section. There are tons of installs on there, just be awarded that lots of people on there are hardcore sq people.

Those amp probably don't need their caps replaced. If you can, post a photo of the circuit boards to verify this. There are only a few other amps besides PG which used the same capacitors that eventually fail. The caps in the soundstreams might not fail like pg and zapco amps but from my understand...

And here is where we sit now...it should be done by this weekend. I am also tuning the MS-8 which is fun but time consuming. http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg291/ls1dave/VW%20CC%20Active%20install/B4BD444B-0DEE-432A-B4AA-94D65AFB2048-1377-000004E1C7496F43_zps7819a8ae.jpg http://i251.photobucket....

So I re did lots of wiring. Because I am going from passive with crossovers in the doors to active I needed to run lots more speaker wire. I decided that rather than getting 6 conductor 16 gauge wire or running 3 separate lines of speaker wire I got a pack of 7 colors of 16 gauge wire in 50 feet. I ...

Damn is this thread in need of updating. I decided to go active, so I bought a JBL MS-8. My McIntosh 6 channel will run my 3 way components up front and my ZPA0.5 will run my xmax. I know its overkill but it makes sense to run an old school PG sub with an old school PG amp. Problem is, I havnt finis...

Yes. At the moment the amp is sitting with all heat sinks removed and the MOSFETS are lifted slightly to verify that no wire is under them. I also used a multimeter to verify no continuity between the legs. I have eliminated the MOSFETS from the list of possibilities. I will know more once I test it...

There were 2 versions of the Xmax, v1 had the leads exposed and v2 had them insulated. They had slightly different specs.

I might know where to get a v2 but the basket was painted red (which is why I didn't buy it from him).

The power supply caps almost for sure need to be replaced.

I can vouch for ShawnK, he's the man.

Not yet. I decided to focus on my install and once that's done (almost there) I will finish the repair. At this point I removed the rectifiers to separate the power supply from the rest of the amp. When I power up, if I still have a short in the power supply fets then it's still a power supply issue...

Well I went with the more robust IRF3205's and the 33ohm gate resistors (fusible/flameproof) and powered mine up, I quickly notice the amp was pulling 10amp (fuse pop and my light bulb was bright) it also dropped my power supply voltage down to 3.5dcv. So I took it apart and went oven all my solder...

Where in the world did you find a raw heat sink that long? Did you have it machined yourself? This is the start of something VERY cool!! My question and thoughts exactly. This is a very cool project. Il bet you can replace the power and ground connector on the end board with 4 gauge ones and then r...

the person that is giving me advise on repairing this amp says that with the irfz48 I should use 47 ohm resistors. He has restored dozens of these amps. He thinks that my issues are due to the 330 ohm resistors.