Over the years, I have seen many amps, radios, stereos and so on pass across the workbench. Some of the things I've repaired have amazed me that they made it to the workshop without blowing up! I have a healthy respect for electricity and two of the biggest hazards to your equipment (and yourself) is dust and moisture. Often, the first thing I have to do when servicing is to remove a sizeable amount of dust, dirt (and on one occasion a small frog) from the amp or stereo or whatever I am servicing. Actually one time, I had an AV multi-function stereo on the bench - its poor insides were caked with dust! So much so, none of the functions worked, despite getting power. After a thorough clean, the machine came back to life with a vengeance!
Moisture can present a challenge. A live gig often presents the opportunity for sound equipment to develop a drinking problem, such as an accidental beer or wine on the sound desk, or just the raised humidity conditions with so many bodies in a packed joint. If you suspect your equipment has been drinking, shut it down asap! I had a desk come in with shorted tracks on its board because of its drinking problem. The owner was aware of the smell of smoking electronics, but figured he could soldier on, until the unit passed out. When he brought it in, the circuit boards were so badly burned there was nothing I could do.
The other hazard of course is live electricity. Cables can be so easily damaged. I had a case where the person at the sound desk had one of their kids tramp on the outgoing cables to the speakers on stage, thus disconnecting the cables. When noticed, the person hurriedly rammed them back in, only in the dark didn't see which was positive and which was negative. Fortunately didn't kill the speakers but killed the sound desk.
So, enjoy the music, but don't let your gear get too dusty, drink or take care with your electrical wires!
Chat again.
Moisture can present a challenge. A live gig often presents the opportunity for sound equipment to develop a drinking problem, such as an accidental beer or wine on the sound desk, or just the raised humidity conditions with so many bodies in a packed joint. If you suspect your equipment has been drinking, shut it down asap! I had a desk come in with shorted tracks on its board because of its drinking problem. The owner was aware of the smell of smoking electronics, but figured he could soldier on, until the unit passed out. When he brought it in, the circuit boards were so badly burned there was nothing I could do.
The other hazard of course is live electricity. Cables can be so easily damaged. I had a case where the person at the sound desk had one of their kids tramp on the outgoing cables to the speakers on stage, thus disconnecting the cables. When noticed, the person hurriedly rammed them back in, only in the dark didn't see which was positive and which was negative. Fortunately didn't kill the speakers but killed the sound desk.
So, enjoy the music, but don't let your gear get too dusty, drink or take care with your electrical wires!
Chat again.