Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Here is how it came to me...
A few of these and a few of those.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
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Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
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Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Taking it apart further
No serial number
A few parts came in...
And the tear down began
No serial number
A few parts came in...
And the tear down began
Last edited by vwdude on Thu May 15, 2014 4:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
A few of these and a few of those.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Power supply board #2
When first removed...
All resistors removed for a V2 conversion...
Now all resistors have been changed, and all caps were swapped out. They were replaced with same values but ELNA caps, except for one cap that isn't available as ELNA, and that's the 4.7uf, I got it as 10uf...
Now more detailed shots...
When first removed...
All resistors removed for a V2 conversion...
Now all resistors have been changed, and all caps were swapped out. They were replaced with same values but ELNA caps, except for one cap that isn't available as ELNA, and that's the 4.7uf, I got it as 10uf...
Now more detailed shots...
A few of these and a few of those.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Other changes made to convert it to a V2 amp...
Zener diode power supply board #1...
Resistor on power supply board #1...
Switch removal...
Float/ ground switch removed...
Zener diode power supply board #1...
Resistor on power supply board #1...
Switch removal...
Float/ ground switch removed...
A few of these and a few of those.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
And finally installation of the caps and power supply #2 board...
Here are all of the parts that were removed...
Some notes: on one power supply cap I did not get continuity from front to back but after soldering in the caps I had great continuity on all caps. Same went for the rail caps.
I still need to remove the heat sinks for a good cleaning, inspection of the transistors and reapplication of thermal grease.
The outer case is repainted but is still tacky so it won't get reassembled for a picture until tomorrow.
The plexi is missing a corner. I will get a new one made, but the original will do for now.
Here are all of the parts that were removed...
Some notes: on one power supply cap I did not get continuity from front to back but after soldering in the caps I had great continuity on all caps. Same went for the rail caps.
I still need to remove the heat sinks for a good cleaning, inspection of the transistors and reapplication of thermal grease.
The outer case is repainted but is still tacky so it won't get reassembled for a picture until tomorrow.
The plexi is missing a corner. I will get a new one made, but the original will do for now.
A few of these and a few of those.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
- NOT 2 OLD YET
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- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:13 pm
- Location: The Windy City
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
O! Just Showing off HUH? Nice work dude! Digging into the board on my M-44 tomorrow! O the PG god above help me!
Collection And Still Growing:
M-100, 50,2,44s, and 25
RT 66 #0840, Outlaw#1005, Bandit#1884, MQ430
MS2125, MS275, MS 2250 W/shroud 3MPS2500, 2 MPS2240 Custom MPS4740
EQ215, EQ215ix,EQ 230 W/TBAt, ZX600TI, 400TI, TI500.4
2 PLD1, MX2, 2 Leather Team PG Jackets
TBA (Dealer Display Empty Guts)10'XS Subs
AX204, 406 (New In Box)
Eclipse ECD413 + DSP1001 , 2 JL 8W6
Installed: PG MPS2500 and Modified By PG MQ430
ZBB34TI With ZRDT3, and RMD
Audison Bit 10
PG Elite and Sapphire 6.5 Comps
JL 13TW5 subs
M-100, 50,2,44s, and 25
RT 66 #0840, Outlaw#1005, Bandit#1884, MQ430
MS2125, MS275, MS 2250 W/shroud 3MPS2500, 2 MPS2240 Custom MPS4740
EQ215, EQ215ix,EQ 230 W/TBAt, ZX600TI, 400TI, TI500.4
2 PLD1, MX2, 2 Leather Team PG Jackets
TBA (Dealer Display Empty Guts)10'XS Subs
AX204, 406 (New In Box)
Eclipse ECD413 + DSP1001 , 2 JL 8W6
Installed: PG MPS2500 and Modified By PG MQ430
ZBB34TI With ZRDT3, and RMD
Audison Bit 10
PG Elite and Sapphire 6.5 Comps
JL 13TW5 subs
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Nice progress.
I bought a ZX350 that looked in similar condition, it also included massive amounts of caked on dust/debris and cat hair in every nook and cranny. Took me a while just to clean it up to see what I was working with, came out pristine! Swapped the caps, fan and a couple other bits and it just happens to be the amp I'm running in my daily driver powering a 90's round Kicker Solobaric.
I bought a ZX350 that looked in similar condition, it also included massive amounts of caked on dust/debris and cat hair in every nook and cranny. Took me a while just to clean it up to see what I was working with, came out pristine! Swapped the caps, fan and a couple other bits and it just happens to be the amp I'm running in my daily driver powering a 90's round Kicker Solobaric.
14 PG amps from M/MS/ZX/Ti/LE and counting....the addiction continues...
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- Posts: 1653
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Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Looks very good. Can't wait to see the chassis.
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Man was this unit free? Its been used hard with alot of problems
I personally would not buy a unit needing so much work
Good luck
I personally would not buy a unit needing so much work
Good luck
most of my gear is gone :liar:
2020 honda accord sport
2020 honda accord sport
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Thanks everyone.
kg, no it wasn't free. It was a good deal though, and I prefer to buy projects. I get them for less and I then get free reign to experiment and see what I can do to improve on the design.
I'm debating getting ELNA caps to replace the rest of the caps that I haven't changed yet. I don't expect it to be an improvement that's audible, but as long as I have it apart, why not?
BTW, the power terminals are the very old version where the wire hole goes all the way through(so you can push your wire through to the capacitors if you tried hard enough. What you all see is a tape that they used to keep that from happening. It has since dried out, torn, and is peeling.
Anyone have an idea to resolve this? PG suggests replacing them with the newer style ones, which are no longer available.
kg, no it wasn't free. It was a good deal though, and I prefer to buy projects. I get them for less and I then get free reign to experiment and see what I can do to improve on the design.
I'm debating getting ELNA caps to replace the rest of the caps that I haven't changed yet. I don't expect it to be an improvement that's audible, but as long as I have it apart, why not?
BTW, the power terminals are the very old version where the wire hole goes all the way through(so you can push your wire through to the capacitors if you tried hard enough. What you all see is a tape that they used to keep that from happening. It has since dried out, torn, and is peeling.
Anyone have an idea to resolve this? PG suggests replacing them with the newer style ones, which are no longer available.
A few of these and a few of those.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
And reassembled. It's not ready for testing and I do plan to send the outer case out for professional retexturing and painting, but my touch up will work for now...
A few of these and a few of those.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
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- Posts: 593
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 12:03 am
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
good job........everything looks fine.........
plexi and repainting/powdercoating can be done later...................;
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
That project is looking nice!
If it were me, I would cut a small disk of brass the same diameter as the holes in the terminal block, push the disk almost all the way to the end of the block, and then solder around its edge. You can optionally polish the brass disk after the fact using a small buffing bit in a dremel tool. This would stop the issue of wires falling into the amp from the terminals, without changing the looks of the terminal blocks, or using tape.
Did you cut and replace the terminal header which connects the power supply control board to the main board? If you did, I would not think that is necessary. Cutting the leads puts a ton of strain on each via (depending on the type of cutter used), which can break them free from the board. I am making this point from experience, as I did that once with bad results. I now use ChipQuik to remove them, and it works great.
If it were me, I would cut a small disk of brass the same diameter as the holes in the terminal block, push the disk almost all the way to the end of the block, and then solder around its edge. You can optionally polish the brass disk after the fact using a small buffing bit in a dremel tool. This would stop the issue of wires falling into the amp from the terminals, without changing the looks of the terminal blocks, or using tape.
Did you cut and replace the terminal header which connects the power supply control board to the main board? If you did, I would not think that is necessary. Cutting the leads puts a ton of strain on each via (depending on the type of cutter used), which can break them free from the board. I am making this point from experience, as I did that once with bad results. I now use ChipQuik to remove them, and it works great.
Got "schooled" by member shawn k on May 10th, 2011...
No longer really "in tune" with the audio industry, and probably have not been for some time.
Hands down the forum's most ignorant member...
Don't even know what Ohm's law is...
No longer really "in tune" with the audio industry, and probably have not been for some time.
Hands down the forum's most ignorant member...
Don't even know what Ohm's law is...
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
I didn't cut them all, I desoldered and then the one or two pins that's didn't come free I cut. I like to limit the cutting as I've noticed before that it seems to put strain on the vias.
Thanks for recognizing the quality for work zeropoint0.5 and Eric d. That suggestion seems easier than what I was going to do. My plan was to take off a block from one of my other ZPAs and make a mold of it (using a rubber mold kit). Then put each of these blocks into the mold and fill the rest with plastic resin. Then finish it off with gold flake to give it a gold finish.
Cutting brass circles and soldering them in place sounds easy. I've never soldered brass before, anything special to know (like silver solder or different temps?)
Thanks for recognizing the quality for work zeropoint0.5 and Eric d. That suggestion seems easier than what I was going to do. My plan was to take off a block from one of my other ZPAs and make a mold of it (using a rubber mold kit). Then put each of these blocks into the mold and fill the rest with plastic resin. Then finish it off with gold flake to give it a gold finish.
Cutting brass circles and soldering them in place sounds easy. I've never soldered brass before, anything special to know (like silver solder or different temps?)
A few of these and a few of those.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
The gold terminals are brass with gold plating. So long as it is clean, brass solders very easily. If you cut some disks, and then sand them with say 220 or 440 grit to clean off any tarnish, you can then tin them with normal electrical solder, and put them in place in the terminal. Start soldering by putting your iron on the disk and letting the heat make its way to the terminal, while you add solder to it.
Be sure to not get any solder when you don't want it on the terminal.
Be sure to not get any solder when you don't want it on the terminal.
Got "schooled" by member shawn k on May 10th, 2011...
No longer really "in tune" with the audio industry, and probably have not been for some time.
Hands down the forum's most ignorant member...
Don't even know what Ohm's law is...
No longer really "in tune" with the audio industry, and probably have not been for some time.
Hands down the forum's most ignorant member...
Don't even know what Ohm's law is...
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Ok thanks for the info. I think that's what I'll do. Now I just need to find some brass.
A few of these and a few of those.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Hobby shops have sheet brass. The chain, Hobby Lobby has it too I think. You could also take a piece of copper pipe, cut off a chunk, and then split the ring and pound it flat.
Got "schooled" by member shawn k on May 10th, 2011...
No longer really "in tune" with the audio industry, and probably have not been for some time.
Hands down the forum's most ignorant member...
Don't even know what Ohm's law is...
No longer really "in tune" with the audio industry, and probably have not been for some time.
Hands down the forum's most ignorant member...
Don't even know what Ohm's law is...
- NOT 2 OLD YET
- Posts: 400
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:13 pm
- Location: The Windy City
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
Hey, VW Dude if you need copper I have a big piece of heavy gauge roof flashing (solid copper) if you need a piece I can send it your way.
Collection And Still Growing:
M-100, 50,2,44s, and 25
RT 66 #0840, Outlaw#1005, Bandit#1884, MQ430
MS2125, MS275, MS 2250 W/shroud 3MPS2500, 2 MPS2240 Custom MPS4740
EQ215, EQ215ix,EQ 230 W/TBAt, ZX600TI, 400TI, TI500.4
2 PLD1, MX2, 2 Leather Team PG Jackets
TBA (Dealer Display Empty Guts)10'XS Subs
AX204, 406 (New In Box)
Eclipse ECD413 + DSP1001 , 2 JL 8W6
Installed: PG MPS2500 and Modified By PG MQ430
ZBB34TI With ZRDT3, and RMD
Audison Bit 10
PG Elite and Sapphire 6.5 Comps
JL 13TW5 subs
M-100, 50,2,44s, and 25
RT 66 #0840, Outlaw#1005, Bandit#1884, MQ430
MS2125, MS275, MS 2250 W/shroud 3MPS2500, 2 MPS2240 Custom MPS4740
EQ215, EQ215ix,EQ 230 W/TBAt, ZX600TI, 400TI, TI500.4
2 PLD1, MX2, 2 Leather Team PG Jackets
TBA (Dealer Display Empty Guts)10'XS Subs
AX204, 406 (New In Box)
Eclipse ECD413 + DSP1001 , 2 JL 8W6
Installed: PG MPS2500 and Modified By PG MQ430
ZBB34TI With ZRDT3, and RMD
Audison Bit 10
PG Elite and Sapphire 6.5 Comps
JL 13TW5 subs
Re: Chronicles of a ZPA0.3 restoration
So this has been a long time coming, but the amp is finally done. I got the outer case back from powder coat and I got the plexi figured out.
A big improvement if you ask me. It not only looks good but it sounds great. I think I'll be using ELNA caps on these from now on.
In the pictures the PG logo looks yellow or gold, it's not. It's white but since it's on the under side of tinted plexi the color looks funny, especially in the sun.
And so you don't have to go back to the top for comparison reasons, here's how it started...
A big improvement if you ask me. It not only looks good but it sounds great. I think I'll be using ELNA caps on these from now on.
In the pictures the PG logo looks yellow or gold, it's not. It's white but since it's on the under side of tinted plexi the color looks funny, especially in the sun.
And so you don't have to go back to the top for comparison reasons, here's how it started...
A few of these and a few of those.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.
Creator of www.phoenixgoldregistry.com
hit me up to add your limited edition amps.