Topic: V2 DOA *update*

[tapinfool]

I got a V2 last week.

Finally got the cables to power it up.

Plugged everything in (YES, everything is plugged in and turned ON)...

NADA!!!

I have a show tonight...what to do ?

[page]

I got a V2 last week.

Finally got the cables to power it up.

Plugged everything in (YES, everything is plugged in and turned ON)...

NADA!!!

I have a show tonight...what to do ?

First thoughts. Are you feeding a 12v unit 6v?
Second, blown fuse?
Third, did you get the stock power supply a battery with it? (edit, my bad, thinking of the V3). Tried a different battery?

[tapinfool]

I got a V2 last week.

Finally got the cables to power it up.

Plugged everything in (YES, everything is plugged in and turned ON)...

NADA!!!

I have a show tonight...what to do ?

First thoughts. Are you feeding a 12v unit 6v?
Second, blown fuse?
Third, did you get the stock power supply a battery with it? (edit, my bad, thinking of the V3). Tried a different battery?

1. 6V (6V marked on unit) Using 9V DVD battery with brand new cable from Ted G

2. Is there an internal fuse? And if so, will I be able to access and change it?

3. Tried 3 different batteries. All of which are fully charged.

[flipp]

Does the V2 have selectable voltage, selection being made by means of internal jumpers or dip-switches? If fhat's the case check inside as it may be diferent than what is marked).

Not sure about a fuse as I've never used a V2 and have never seen the internals of one.

Also check continuity of the cable with a VOM/DVOM. Just because the cable is new doesn't mean it is good (though I've never seen a report of anyone having problems with Ted's cables doesn't nean there won't be a first time).

[halleyscomet8]

http://www.gracedesign.com/

i would contact grace if i were you, and seek advice from them.

[tapinfool]

http://www.gracedesign.com/

i would contact grace if i were you, and seek advice from them.

doing that now

thanks guys

[stevetoney]

Make sure polarity wasn't accidentally soldered up ass-backwards on the cable.

You can figure this out by checking the pin assignments on the XLR power connector...should be shown in the manual I'd think.  Use a multi-meter to verify you have continuity between the pin that's supposed to be connected to '+' and the positive terminal on your battery.  If it's not, get the soldering iron out and swap the leads.

[Javier Cinakowski]

I don't think it is the cable.  We had an older 4-pin that we tried too, no luck... 

I suspect Grace will tell him if it is something simple or it needs to be sent in, or returned to the seller, for that matter....

[ero3030]

looks like the v2 uses the 12v pin assignment. 1 and 4.  deff check that first.  ed

[H₂O]

For the V2, I am pretty sure the pin out is actually:
Pin 1,2 (jumpered together) = -
Pin 3,4 (jumpered together) = +

It will take 6V or 12V the only difference is the internal pots, jumpers (just as in the V3) - which control the low power flashing LED and auto shutoff.

If you have the pots and jumpers set to 6V and feed it  a 12V signal it will work fine, other way around and it may not turn on. If it has been set to 12V then you will need to feed it somewhere over 10.8V or so to get it to turn on.

See:
http://www.gracedesign.com/support/v2_voltage_calibration_procedure.html

Also as said above check the polarity.

[F.O.Bean]

I have NEVER heard of a problem w/ a Grace preamp. Maybe its the cable Ted made?

And what show was 2nite

[Todd R]

I'd agree with a lot of what has been said here.

Step 1:  make sure the internal jumper switches haven't been set to 12v operation, which might be the case regardless of the tag on back.  The V2 manual can be found here:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=37956.0

Step 2: Get a digital multimeter (can get one from Radioshack for about $25) and be sure that your battery hooked up through your battery cable gives you the proper voltage (should be gnd on pin 1, +V on pin 3 or 4, iirc)

If the V2 is set to 6v operation and you're getting 6V (or 9V from the DVD battery) through your battery cable to the proper pins on the XLR end of the battery cable, then if it still isn't working when you have made sure it is getting the proper voltage....

Step 3:  Return it back to the seller or send it off to Grace

[tapinfool]

I'd agree with a lot of what has been said here.

Step 1:  make sure the internal jumper switches haven't been set to 12v operation, which might be the case regardless of the tag on back.  The V2 manual can be found here:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=37956.0

Step 2: Get a digital multimeter (can get one from Radioshack for about $25) and be sure that your battery hooked up through your battery cable gives you the proper voltage (should be gnd on pin 1, +V on pin 3 or 4, iirc)

If the V2 is set to 6v operation and you're getting 6V (or 9V from the DVD battery) through your battery cable to the proper pins on the XLR end of the battery cable, then if it still isn't working when you have made sure it is getting the proper voltage....

Step 3:  Return it back to the seller or send it off to Grace

thanks to everyone that helped out 

i took the following actions this evening:

1. confirmed jumpers set @ 6V. i did side by side comparison with V2 #087 (a team pgh members V2) and the V2 diagram.

2. a. confirmed with multimeter my battery and cable are fully functional (thanks again to Ted G for a superb cable )
    b. tested V2 #087 with my battery/cable. my battery and cable work perfectly.
    c. tested my V2 #126 with different battery and cable from V2 # 087. still no power.

3. contacting seller tomorrow for acceptable solution.

[jbell]

Bummer  !  Hopefully the seller makes it right.  There is another V2 in the YS.

[WiFiJeff]

Is the power connector on the V2 like the one on the V3?  If so, this could be the issue.  The V3 power center post is split and over time the halves bend together and finally fail to make a contact.  You have to stick s screw driver blade between the halves and bend them carefully back.  There is even a page on the Grace site that shows how to do a slightly more permanent fix.

Jeff

[page]

Is the power connector on the V2 like the one on the V3?  If so, this could be the issue.  The V3 power center post is split and over time the halves bend together and finally fail to make a contact.  You have to stick s screw driver blade between the halves and bend them carefully back.  There is even a page on the Grace site that shows how to do a slightly more permanent fix.

Jeff

I thought about that, but the V2 works on a 4pin XLR (a lot of "ballanced" headphone amps use the same plug)

[Javier Cinakowski]

^ the V2 has a 4-pin XLR for power...

[One Cylinder]

FWIW I had my V2 go south twice in 1999. Both times I sent it back to Mike Grace. He repaired the unit & returned it quickly. I can't recall if Mike even charged me, but if he did it wasn't much. Obviously we'd all prefer our gear to work 110% of the time...... but you know how these things go.

If you've got a good relationship w/ the seller I'd suggest asking him to cover the round trip shipping to Grace, and the cost of the repair.

[tapinfool]

Grace is covering all repairs (under warranty, even though it's 12 years old!) and fully bringing it up to current specs
for no cost to either party, buyer or seller.

GRACE ROCKS!

That's not all I have to say about that.

/Forrest Gump voice off

[Jimna]

excellent

[tapinfool]

excellent

qft! 

[stevetoney]

Grace is covering all repairs (under warranty, even though it's 12 years old!) and fully bringing it up to current specs
for no cost to either party, buyer or seller.

GRACE ROCKS!

That's not all I have to say about that.

/Forrest Gump voice off

That's just awesome, but it's par for the course for those guys.  They did the same thing for a V3 that I once had that was 6 months outside the warranty.  Their only response when I said that I was floored by their great service was that they only have one chance to make a first impression.  Well, that might be true but they continue to amaze with 2nd, 3rd, 4th impressions and so on with their SICK customer service! 

That said, I do still find it distressing that you had to go through this Kev.  Who'd sell a dead V2 for above full price without disclosing that or trying to get it fixed first?!?

[ero3030]

Grace is covering all repairs (under warranty, even though it's 12 years old!) and fully bringing it up to current specs
for no cost to either party, buyer or seller.

GRACE ROCKS!

That's not all I have to say about that.

/Forrest Gump voice off
[/quote

That's just awesome, but it's par for the course for those guys.  They did the same thing for a V3 that I once had that was 6 months outside the warranty.  Their only response when I said that I was floored by their great service was that they only have one chance to make a first impression.  Well, that might be true but they continue to amaze with 2nd, 3rd, 4th impressions and so on with their SICK customer service! 

That said, I do still find it distressing that you had to go through this Kev.  Who'd sell a dead V2 for above full price without disclosing that or trying to get it fixed first?!?

i'm calling a CODE RED on the seller.  on another note, told u Kev it would work out!!  ed

[Jimna]

yeah call that prick out!

[hi and lo]

Gotta love this thread. Grace is so incredibly amazing... it's really killing me to not have a V3. 

You know it's a great company when...

- Michael Grace himself comes to the rescue in the taperssection
- Or drops stuff off for you on a highway to Telluride
- And my personal favorite, guarantees support for a 3rd party modified unit!

Three cheers for their amazing product support time and time again!

[thunderbolt]

Just sent my V3 in for the polarity fix.  They updated the firmware and ran it for 24 hours just to make sure everything was working correctly.  There and back in 10 days.  A typical transaction for them, but first class in my view.

[tapinfool]

1st class business with 1st class customer service with a 1st class product

What's not to love 

[jbell]

Glad it workded out!!  I was talking to a friend to night at a show and he was telling me about sending his V3 in to get the digi in fixed and they fixed and updated it for free, then updated the warnty.  His V3 wasn't under waranty either.  That is some serious service. 

[tgakidis]

I too have had nothing but top notch service from Grace.  Good to see things worked out for you.  I just saw this thread and am glad it wasn't caused by the hack cable maker Ted, oh wait, that's me 

[tapinfool]

I too have had nothing but top notch service from Grace.  Good to see things worked out for you.  I just saw this thread and am glad it wasn't caused by the hack cable maker Ted, oh wait, that's me 

yeah, you and your shoddy work 

[it-goes-to-eleven]

That's great!

So what was wrong with it?  It might be helpful to know.

[edtyre]

Grace fixed my Oade modded V-3 for free and sent it back to me in 3 days!!
They called me to say they received it, they called again to tell me what was wrong,
then they called to say it was on the way back to me. Nothing but the best customer service
of any company i have dealt with.

[manamana]

Alright, guess I have to step into this. I'm the seller. I've avoided saying anything publicly for various reasons, and since it was resolved on Monday I'd really hoped Kevin would walk back his previous accusations. Communication fell apart much quicker than I ever would have expected it to (one of those various reasons...), and this has been extremely frustrating and time consuming for me as well. There's a lot to this that hasn't been posted, but I'm just going to quote, word for word, what the folks at grace had to say about the V2:

The fuse was blown and was a 650ma, we switched to an 800ma pretty early on, so I feel this is a warranty issue (even though the V2 is 12 years old). I think it was strictly a coincidence that the fuse arrived blown, or blew 1st time you plugged in. I also believe it was working when Chris sent it to you, shipping can sometimes be enough to break the fine element in an old tired fuse.

I know this: Next time I sell anything online, there's going to be HD video of serial #s, testing, and packaging before sending out. This was a surreal experience, and one that could have been somewhat or mostly avoided had I just fired up my camera two months ago.

And yeah, Grace deserves a big round of applause for helping get this worked out.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

I could see where that would be a terrible transaction for everyone concerned.... A piece of gear widely considered *bulletproof* mysteriously arrives not working.

I think the Grace opinion is spot on. Based on my v3 calcs, a 650 ma fuse is a bit too small.  And fuses do get brittle over time and can break.  Especially fuses that are somewhat overloaded.

Given how UPS, etc, throw and drop boxes, it seems probable that is what happened.