Help! Problem with Tech 21 Sansamp Tri A.C

Aldertguitarist

Howsit guys, hope someone can help!

I've got a bit of a problem with my Tri A.C. Lately the thing would just randomly change EQ or level/gain (basically anything that can be adjusted) while in use. Could this be a problem with power, or maybe something inside? Also, who in Cape Town can take a look at it if i need to. It's my number one pedal and I gig with it at least 3 or 4 times a week, so can't really go without it.

Thanks in advance! Al ?

ActionArnie

I haven't had an issue with my Tri A.C until on Sunday I fired it up and everything was defaulted. The only thing I'd done is I removed the dying battery entirely because I was gonna temporarily use my 9VDC Boss PSU. My guess is that its a power problem. Do you use a battery?

AlanRatcliffe

I've never opened a TriAC, but I'll take some guesses:

I'd open it up and clean any connectors with isopropyl alcohol - particularly those from the controls to the board. I'd also sweep the pots through their range a few times so that they clean themselves. I'm operating on the guess that dirt or oxidisation on contacts is changing the resistance values randomly. In an analogue pedal, you'd hear it as noise or crackle, but with digital control it messes with the unit's brain, telling it that the controls are moving. ?

Also look for dry joints or cracks in the circuitboard as well as any sockets or pots coming loose from the board.

@ActionArnie - In your case, I'm guessing that it uses a small lithium battery on the circuit to keep settings when powered down (usually a CR2032), and that has now died. Every time you power down it will lose the settings. Replace the battery and it should fix the problem.

Aldertguitarist

Thanks for reply guys! Alan, where can I get that isopropyl alcohol?

@ActionArnie, I run it off a power supply so no battery.

Shot!

Aldertguitarist

Oh and I almost forgot: Are all these so bright? I don't think i've ever taken the treble past 9'0 clock. With amp eq flat.

AlanRatcliffe

Isopropyl is often called contact cleaner - any decent electrical or electronics store will have.

Just don't spray out the pots as you'll flush the lubrication which will wear them out quickly (you get a special cleaner for pots that replaces the lubricant). I don't believe in cleaning pots anyway - if it's giving problems beyond what a few sweeps will cure (they are designed to be self-cleaning), you replace and have done with it.

ActionArnie

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: @ActionArnie - In your case, I'm guessing that it uses a small lithium battery on the circuit to keep settings when powered down (usually a CR2032), and that has now died. Every time you power down it will lose the settings. Replace the battery and it should fix the problem.

Thanks Alan, was wondering how this thing was remembering its settings! Didn't think there was any non-volatile type memory.

@Alder - yeah mine's also very very bright. Don't mind it too much with the Fender amp sim, but its too bright for my strat using the Marshall amp sim. I have the treble right down low too. It sounds flippin awesome with humbuckers, not that great if I must be honest with single coils.