M1 Crackling Speakers?

[fleetz]

I installed a M1 in remote location about 3800km from where I am currently living about 7 years ago. It has up until a day or so ago worked flawlessly where I was contacted by the owners who are friends to tell me that all of a sudden in the early hours of the morning there was a loud cracking sound that was coming from the two speakers.

I wired two speakers the ElK small plate mounted speakers in parallel and are across Out1 on the M1. From memory these speakers are 32ohm so 16ohm presented as an impedance to Out1.

Trying to fault find this as you can imagine a challenge, my friend 3800km is not tech savvy, no spare speakers, multimeter etc etc. Thought it worth a post here to see if anyone has had any issue with the M1 OUT1 playing up or the Elk plate mounted speakers?

 

[RAL]

I agree that it's difficult to diagnose things like this from a distance.
 
Is the crackling sound continuous or intermittent? 
 
My first inclination is to guess that the problem is not with the speakers or the wiring, but rather the M1.  I had a similar sounding problem with a radio a while back. Even with no input signal, the speakers would emit a static-like sound.  The problem was caused by some aging capacitors that were going bad.

 

[mikefamig]

I would disconnect the existing remote speakers from the panel and connect a known good speaker of the correct impedance to the M1 to see if you still have the noise.
 
Mike.

 

[pete_c]

Maybe too you can try an old trick using a portable AM transistor radio tuned between stations.  In the 1970's I would listen to the static of the AM radio to source electrical noises in the automobile.  The AM tuner in these old radios is very sensitive and directional.
 
I currently have an issue similar with one audio amp with a volume control.  Without touching it it does cracle some times. 
 
I temporarily fix it by moving the control volume to the min and max a few times.
 
Though I do not think you have a volume control on the Elk M1.

 

[fleetz]

Thanks guys.....an update. My friend has an electrician friend who was prepared to go over and whilst he was there take call from me to do some primary fault finding. Asked him to check this measure that...

Found out that the KP2 was dead but would briefly come alive when the speaker chirped. Got him to check the the DC input voltage to the M1 from the 17v supply....measured around 9v. Got a new power supply heading their way.

I would expect this to sort the issue out. There doesn't appear to be excessive loading and heat either at the M1 or power supply. Just looks like it has chucked its clogs.

Thanks again for hopping in.

Will update the outcome in case someone else encounters the issue..

 

[pete_c]

Good news that you have sorted it out.
 
Just looks like it has chucked its clogs.
 
Like that...never heard that here in the US.

 

[mikefamig]

"chucked it's clogs"....is that like "threw a shoe"?