OMG Help me I think I just blew my 5150

[SamNovelty]

Ok, so I was running it into the TapeIn jack of a smaller peavy amp that way I could crank the head and get good tube break up, I cranked it up to about 9 then it lost power.  I'm about to lose my mind, freakin help.

[Chris]

Wait, you were running it from the jack that goes to the speaker, in to the front of a smaller amp?

In short, your screwed.

[SamNovelty]

Nah, I was running it from the effects loop on the 5150 to the tape in on the tiny amp, but yeah, I may be screwed, some amp repairman is gonna take my money.

[Chris]

Any speaker hooked up to the power amp?

[SamNovelty]

no, but it think i left the cable plugged in the speaker out.  I'm kind of a moron on occasion.

[Chris]

Output transformers dont like not being plugged in to anything.

[OysterBoy]

If you don't have a speaker plugged into the 5150 you're in serious trouble.

[SamNovelty]

What kind of repair costs are we talking?

[thebird55]

I'm not the expert, but I can't even find a replacement part. Any substitution will change the tone.

[KhoChi son of BakTarg]

Ok, so I was running it into the TapeIn jack of a smaller peavy amp that way I could crank the head and get good tube break up, I cranked it up to about 9 then it lost power.  I'm about to lose my mind, freakin help.

There should be a fuse protecting your OT. Check if you didn't just blow that first. If you're lucky, you didn't just smoke your output tranny.

Please never, ever use a tube amp without plugging it into a cab with the right impedance again.

[GPW]

  Best check for a fuse like Dave said ...  Changing an OT isn’t that tough a job , but expensive ...  The price of the (correct) replacement transformer  + the labor rate to do so ...    Around here probably $200 +       
     An OT MUST have a proper load on it  at all times ....   otherwise , it’s like sitting in your car , in neutral , with your foot  all the way on the gas .... The motor spins up till it blows up ...        And if you notice a speaker is not plugged in the  , you MUST turn the amp OFF before attempting to plug it in ...  Do NOT plug it in with the amp running ... that will smoke the OT  too ...very quickly ... 

  I hope you have a fuse  in there ...      

  If you’re so into tube distortion , you may want top get a smaller amp ...  5150 is meant to play LOUD ... 

[SamNovelty]

yeah i know, but the 5150 is my favorite tone of any amp I've ever played, I may get something smaller though.  I think I can swing 200 to get it fixed though.  This amp is like my child lol. 

[GPW]

 Do like Dave said and check for a fuse first ...    fuses are Cheap ...
 

[OysterBoy]

Let this be a lesson about tube amps. Always have a speaker plugged into the head before power up. 

[KhoChi son of BakTarg]

Let this be a lesson about tube amps. Always have a speaker plugged into the head before power up. 

Actually, I can use my Minimat without plugging the speakers in. But that's a 4 Watt amp, and it was designed that way. Dave Green, Matamp's design engineer, got tired of people disbelieving that when he told them, so he had a warning inserted in the user's guide that the amp is not to be used without a proper load.

But yes, as a general rule, it's a very bad idea not to have a cab with the proper impedance plugged in.