Does anyone know why my Speed Box II has burnt ?

[Uskoke]

In this photo, you can see a switch, by means of I can turn off my turntable power supply (Pro-ject Debut III with stock PS), and when I'm not listening I turn it off immediately. I have mounted the 2 supplies (Turntable abd pre-amp) on a separate power strip, which then is swithced off by this switch. The other switch which is on the right is for the tuner (which I use once a week so normally is turned off).
Hope this helps,
A tout à l'heure!

[besteffe]

Mathias,

I bought a Pro-ject Debut III USB and a Speed Box II. After about a week the Speed Box failed. The lights on the front panel would light up but the turntable platter would not spin. If I unhooked the Speed Box and ran the turntable without it the turntable worked fine. I sent it back to my retailer and they sent a replacement. After about 4 days the Speed Box failed again. Same symptoms, lights would come on but the turntable platter would not spin. I talked to my retailer and they contacted Pro-Ject and they said it had to be the motor in my turntable causing the problem. The retailer sent me a replacement Debut III USB turntable and a third(!) replacement Speed Box II. I hooked everything up last night and it worked fine. I come home from work today and the Speed Box is dead. The lights come on but the turntable platter will not spin. Also, I too have always put the Speed Box in standby mode after I'm done playing records.I'm going to contact my retailer tomorrow to see what he says but I think I am done with Pro-Ject/Sumiko components. Let me know how your story ends.

Good Luck,
Brian

[mathiask]

Brian,

Damn', your story is exactly the same as mine. Pro-ject told my retailer it has to be the motor of the turntable too. I understand why it could be the problem, in physical and electrical terms (the turntable motor would ask too much intensity to the speed box, which burns in consequence), but what I don't understand is that, in both cases (yours and mine) the speed box failed when the turntable is off. So, when no voltage is delivered to the turntable and no intensity is sought by the motor. You see what I mean ? I'm not sure if I'm very clear...

So I have my doubts about Pro-ject explanations.

And a turntable shop has taken a look on my turntable and everything seems to be fine, they said.

Another explanation I've been told on a french forum is that when people in a block or a neighbourhood turn their lights off and go to bed, the electrical voltage cominq in your own house is increasing. Less global demand makes a higher individual voltage (tell me if this explanation is not clear enough, it's not easy to a french guy to explain that kind of things !). Could be a solution, but it is impossible to verify and/or prove.

And, if the motor is really the origin of the problem, I really really really wonder how comes that Pro-ject built defective motors that burns pieces of equipments they sell. Building stable electrical equipments is something pretty easy in the world of electronic devices, so I don't understand.

I asked myself if it has something to do with the fact it is not a simple Debut III but a Debut III USB. Bu I don't see why this should be a problem, because in both cases (Debut III and DEbut III USB) it is driven by 16V voltage.

As far as I'm concerned, my story hasn't come to an end yet because the retailer is very slow taking care of the problem. I asked for a simple refund because it's too long (in total, it has been since last september I bought this speed box which is always dysfunctionning). I'll let you know. If you can keep me i touch too, it would be cool !

Best regards. I'll give you some news soon.

[vash420]

Hi Mathias, just wondering if you've had a response from the retailer? I have a Debut Mk3 that's around 7 years old and I had issues when the Speed Box I was attached. It was also running hot (the Speed Box), and when trying to switch on the turntable at 45rpm I get the following behaviour (no platter attached, just the motor spinning on it's own:

http://tinypic.com/r/2e3wfp0/6

It would eventually spin, but just be sluggish on startup at times. Without the box, it's absolutely fine.

I've ordered a new Speed Box II to see if that helps. The original had been left on for years!