Comments on: Replacing an SAE A502 Amplifier Speaker Relay

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 03:07:04 +0000

Have a older SAE 502 amp guy used it to two sets of 4 ohm speakers, but not remembering if these amps liked a 2 ohm load or not back then what 1984, anyone still around or have any ideas lost booklets when we moved.

By: Keith Neufeld

Keith Neufeld — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:29:59 +0000

Kenny, sounds like a good guess on the relay, but before you replace it you might want to test it. If you’re comfortable with a soldering iron, desolder it and pull it out of the circuit, then try putting 12V across the coil and see whether it engages. If it doesn’t, you’re probably right about needing to replace the relay — although be aware that there certainly may be more wrong with the amp than just the relay.

If you do need a part number for the relay, go to Jim’s SAE site — he has schematics for X-series amps. For a modest donation to a Dachshund rescue organization, he’ll send you a copy; he might even be willing to check the part number for nothin’.

Good luck with the repair!

By: Kenny

Kenny — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:46:33 +0000

Hi, I have a ton of SAE equipment and love them. I just purchased a SAE x10a amp which is their Class A amp and it powers up the first LEDs light up, no audio output and no click. I pulled the cover and someone has removed the black cover on the relay and I suspect it is not working. But it doesn’t have the cover therefor I have no number to crossrefence the relay. This amp unlike my A502 has only one relay on the speaker output board. Any idea what relay I need or do I have to purchase some drawings to find the componet number?

By: dabindranath dhanie

dabindranath dhanie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:45:16 +0000

i couldnt get the replacement relay or my sae 502 so i tried your advice about filing the burnt tips..instead..all i did was bend it away until ie cap could just fit back on…and voila….it worked as good as new…goin to run it as is until it craps out permanently..then i will buy the so called min of 50 pieces online…lol….as i said before..thanks for your post..it helped me a lot…cheers

By: Keith Neufeld

Keith Neufeld — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:05:04 +0000

Bob, I’m sorry but I don’t know much about any SAE gear except the A502s, and I don’t personally have a schematic for the I102. You may need to look for a professional repair for this one.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:14:29 +0000

Gentlemen

Its good to see so much interest in this equipment; I recently purchaced a I 102 online…. supposed to be working, anyway the power LED workes when plugged in, but as soon as the on button is depressed the 5 amp fuse blowes, any suggetions on how to diagnose?

By: Keith Neufeld

Keith Neufeld — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:12:10 +0000

Justin, I haven’t worked with any Crate mixers and I don’t have a schematic in front of me, so I’m just speculating here. I can definitely tell you the first thing I’d do would be get a schematic.

I’d be very surprised to find a solid-state relay in the output section of a power amplifier. I don’t know much about them and I can’t think of any reason they wouldn’t work, but it doesn’t feel right to me. Also I wouldn’t assume that an amp I haven’t personally inspected even has output relays — certainly tube amps wouldn’t, and I don’t think it’s a given.

The reason I’d like to see a schematic is that I’d love to find the output of the mixer section where it feeds into the power amp section, tap that point, and see whether you still have a signal there at the times when your power output is cutting out. If you have a mix / master / monitor output whose volume increases when your powered output volume increases, it’s not a guarantee that it’s tied to the same place, but can you plug in there and use another piece of equipment to tell whether you have a signal there or not? That’ll help determine for sure whether the failure is in the mixer section or the power amp section.

I assume you’re using multiple inputs and the entire mixed output channel cuts out; or if you’re using only a single source, you’ve tried it in multiple inputs. If not, moving it around would be a good way to determine whether you have an input / channel problem or a mix / output problem.

By: Justin

Justin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:36:29 +0000

Good and helpful article. I’m have a Crate powered mixer CMX42P. Sometimes while I’m using it, a channel can go out, it is sometimes left and sometimes right. If I crank up the volume really loud, the channel will kick back on. I’ve cleaned out all of the pots and contacts so much this thing is practically sterile. Do you think the relay could be to blame? I’m having trouble locating it, but think it is a solid state relay that looks like a black rectangle? Sorry to post all of this here, I know this isn’t a fourm, but this is one of the closest related things I have found online about my problem. If you have any thoughts on this, that would be great. Thanks!

By: dabindranath dhanie

dabindranath dhanie — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:49:20 +0000

lol..was just thinking that it would be a nice idea to ask you to sell me one..i will have to look for that relay in canada..i did get the specs and number from digi-keys but since they ship in from the states…it would be better for me to check here first…cost with shipping and brokage plus duties ..i think that price is too much for now..will use the speaker B terminals for now …i will come back later to say where i got them just in case others here in canada is in the same position…thanks again

By: Keith Neufeld

Keith Neufeld — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:10:45 +0000

Dabindranath Dhanie — I don’t remember the relay part number. But if you take the relay you have and contact Digi-Key’s live online tech support, they can cross-reference it to the one they stock. It’s duplicating the cross-reference they already did for me, but it’s probably easier than my finding my spare relays right now.