alesis wedge power supply problem?

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joninc
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alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by joninc » Fri Mar 20, 2020 2:04 pm

the power adapter 4 pin thing that powers my alesis wedge reverb unit has become SUPER FINICKY - if i don't position it exactly right then it loses the power connection and cuts out and it's very hard to get the position/angle right.

I love this reverb unit and use it a lot so I don't want to chuck it - but i am wondering if this is a known issue and if it's typically the power supply or the connector in the reverb unit that is the problem.

(if not - how would and how you find out?)

the simplest and most ideal solution is to buy a new power supply but i'd hate to do that only to find out it was the connector in the unit itself that is the issue...
(also this particular wedge has some impulses in it from the previous owner that I like and use so a new unit wouldn't have those either)

does that make sense?
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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by vernier » Fri Mar 20, 2020 2:25 pm

Try a piece of tape to force the connection to stay still. Might or might not work, I dunno,

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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by trodden » Fri Mar 20, 2020 3:50 pm

Mine has the exact same problem. I was actually looking at getting a second/backup yesterday but remembered that there's way more important things to spend $100 on right now. There's one on Reverb that looks MINT if you're interested.

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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by joninc » Fri Mar 20, 2020 4:00 pm

vernier wrote:
Fri Mar 20, 2020 2:25 pm
Try a piece of tape to force the connection to stay still. Might or might not work, I dunno,
that's what i've been doing for the past 3 years - it's too finicky to stay on with that even.
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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by joninc » Fri Mar 20, 2020 4:01 pm

I did some googling and found this tip on Muffwiggler

"I used to own one and had the same problem. I would have to open it up and reflow or heat up the solder pads that the power connector used to connect to the pcb. You just hold the iron on there for a few seconds, add a small amount of solder if needed"

gonna try this asap.
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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by A.David.MacKinnon » Fri Mar 20, 2020 6:25 pm

This is the way of anything with a wall wort power supply. The power jack is attached directly to the circuit board usually with no other mechanical reenforcement.

I had a wedge and loved it. The power supply stopped working and it was near impossible to find a replacement. It's an somewhat proprietary plug and I couldn't track one down. I should have checked the circuit board solder joints.

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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by Scodiddly » Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:33 pm

Wall-wart power supply jacks almost always work loose from the PCB in almost any product you can name. Usually not too difficult to repair.

And if the connector itself has gone bad, you can bypass it and make a direct connection or hack in some other connector.

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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by standup » Sat Mar 21, 2020 5:34 pm

I have a wedge I haven’t powered up in a year or two. Good to know, and it does seem like maybe you could solder a new pigtail connector to the PCB? How long would that last? Don’t know. But my wedge has run OK for 15+ years.

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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by vernier » Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:14 pm

joninc wrote:
Fri Mar 20, 2020 4:00 pm
vernier wrote:
Fri Mar 20, 2020 2:25 pm
Try a piece of tape to force the connection to stay still. Might or might not work, I dunno,
that's what i've been doing for the past 3 years - it's too finicky to stay on with that even.
Yep, did the same with a laptop ..it worked for a couple years.

As for the Wedge, I miss mine. Used it on this mix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODt90AwrZpc

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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by Brett Siler » Fri Mar 27, 2020 12:13 am

Mine does that as well but I'm able to get it to stay if I get it just right.

The EeeEmmTee 1 setting makes it worth keeping. It seriously sounds good on vocals.

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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by joninc » Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:28 pm

I would have to open it up and reflow or heat up the solder pads that the power connector used to connect to the pcb. You just hold the iron on there for a few seconds, add a small amount of solder if needed

I finally got this thing opened now up but not really sure where to add solder or to touch with the iron - here's a link to a pic:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/c7qnpgnkeh6gt ... 3.JPG?dl=0

it's the left hand black barrel thing that the screwdriver is pointing at - I don't see any solder. Would it be on the other side of the PCB? I'd rather not disassemble further if it's not required but would love any help here, i'm not very techy,
Last edited by joninc on Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by The Scum » Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:33 pm

Probably not what you want to hear, but yes, the solder will be on the other side.
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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by joninc » Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:41 pm

okey dokey
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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by joninc » Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:55 pm

ok - that was pretty easy actually.. here's a pic of the other side.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/imleby1200qk0 ... 6.jpg?dl=0

I'm not sure what "reflow" really means - I don't own a heat gun, just a soldering iron.

so is it just the 2 pins closest to the edge of the pcb that i just add a little solder to?
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Re: alesis wedge power supply problem?

Post by Scodiddly » Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm

joninc wrote:
Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:55 pm
ok - that was pretty easy actually.. here's a pic of the other side.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/imleby1200qk0 ... 6.jpg?dl=0

I'm not sure what "reflow" really means - I don't own a heat gun, just a soldering iron.

so is it just the 2 pins closest to the edge of the pcb that i just add a little solder to?
Whoo, those are some crusty solder joints. You need to do the two pins at the edge plus the six pins behind them.

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