Subwoofer caught fire while on standby?!! - Blu-ray Forum

X400 · 12-03-2008, 04:36 AM

Ok so i was sitting in my living room watching tv, my receiver was turned off

all of a sudden i hear a loud Pop! sound.... like when you throw christmas lights on the ground and they explode

then i hear some buzzing noises, then another Pop! bzz bz pop

so i was like wtf? it sounded like the back of my tv was blowing up

i walk towards it and i notice the ports on my subwoofer smoking!

smells a little like those cap guns with the lil strips of gun powder?

so i unplug the subs amp asap (its plugged into a surge protector btw)
i leave my sub in stand-by mode (thats probably relevant)

i unscrew the amp and take it out (mind u the amp and the sub are not hot)

when i take off the amp A LOT of smoke comes billowing out

Im still not sure where it started but the amp and sub look fine...

still haven't checked em out im waaay too tired but i thought id post this first and get some thoughts anyhow

its a Creative Sounds SD12 Subwoofer and a Elemental Designs LT350 amp

Big Daddy · 12-03-2008, 04:49 AM

Usually they fill high quality subwoofers with polyfil or similar material to dampen the cabinet. They are fire resistant. It is possible that there must have been a spark and since polyfil does not catch fire, you ended up with a lot of smoke. If there is any damage to the driver or other parts, it can easily be repaired. Parts Express is the best source for speaker parts.

lpfan71 · 12-03-2008, 05:04 AM

Your story is really making me consider turning off my sub woofer, at least at night and when not using surround.

ixlegitballinxl · 12-03-2008, 05:05 AM

yea, no kidding... scary stuff!

yellowblanket · 12-03-2008, 05:13 AM

i just ran downstair to turn mine off... you jerk

Don Blish · 12-04-2008, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpfan71

Your story is really making me consider turning off my sub woofer, at least at night and when not using surround.

The simple solution to having your SubWoffer go off is to plug it into the SWITCHED outlet on the back of your reciever.

JasonR · 12-04-2008, 02:34 AM

Will it still turn off if the receiver is only set into standby and not powered off?

C_Doc · 12-04-2008, 11:27 PM

My old 10" JBL subwoofer blew out like that, on a few occasions. The first time, it woke up in the middle of the night, making whining noises. I went and unplugged it, then plugged it back in... It start blasting 150watt shots full blast into our apartment BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM... heh

I found on a forum the bad capacitor that had blown, and fixed it for a whole 39 cents, and it was good to go for another 2 or 3 years. I did put a switch on the back of it at that point, to turn off the power completey. It went out again the other day, and I fixed it one last time, then jacked it up and ran a new JBL Sub12 under it.. hehe Now, it's someone else's problem: I gave it to my dad and he sold it at the flea market.

Samsang · 12-04-2008, 02:51 AM

Probably a filter capacitor in the sub's power supply. A common failure mode for high value electrolytic capacitors is an internal short circuit. The high current through the short makes them blow up with a loud "POP!!!

Mind you though, by "common failure mode", I mean common among those that fail. Electrolytic caps are amazingly rugged and reliable, with a very low failure rate. There's no reason to expect that this will happen to others out and about, so quell your fears and resume normal normal routine out there.

It's possible that the cap didn't take any other components with it when it popped. If so, it will be a quick and inexpensive repair. Don't expect that, necessarily, but it could happen. Good Luck!

Big Daddy · 12-04-2008, 03:07 AM

All electrical and electronic devices can catch fire. I worry more about space heaters, fire places, gas ovens, and gas dryers. Many people fall asleep when they are watching TV with the heater, etc. on. It is wise to double check everything and have one of these fire extinguishers available inside the house. They don't cost that much and are available at Walmart, Home Depot/Lowes, Amazon, etc.

Blu-Dog · 12-04-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Blish

The simple solution to having your SubWoffer go off is to plug it into the SWITCHED outlet on the back of your reciever.

Most receivers with the switched outlet option restrict the wattage of devices plugged into them. It's usually about 100 watts, enough to run a tape or disc drive.

I wouldn't plug a subwoofer into it.

MacDaddyOJack · 12-04-2008, 02:03 PM

I think it's next to impossible for the driver to start a fire or spark, so it must have been your amp. I'd make sure you don't have any wires or parts touching and maybe contact eD to see if they have heard of the problem before.

PS3-Playb3yond · 12-03-2008, 04:37 PM

Things just don't suddenly smoke for no reason...was your sub near the heater or something?

coolmilo · 12-03-2008, 04:47 PM

What is the brand/model of the sub?

coolmilo · 12-03-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolmilo

What is the brand/model of the sub?

Nevermind, I see it listed at the very bottom of the ops post.

un4gvn94538 · 12-03-2008, 04:50 PM

my subs plugged in at the back of my receiver. when the receivers off, the subs off.

X400 · 12-03-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PS3-Playb3yond

Things just don't suddenly smoke for no reason...was your sub near the heater or something?

no its probably in a bad place (for sound anyway) its behind the tv but theres no walls near it

no heater vents or anything oO

really freaked me out thinking what could have happened if i wasnt there.

I got some info today saying that that particular amp has had quite a few issues (but i havent heard about one like that) :/

Lepidopterous · 12-03-2008, 04:56 PM

I'm really curious to know what caused it.

I just turned my 650W off. Don't they say the stand-by light is the silent energy-drain?

coolmilo · 12-04-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X400

no its probably in a bad place (for sound anyway) its behind the tv but theres no walls near it

no heater vents or anything oO

really freaked me out thinking what could have happened if i wasnt there.

I got some info today saying that that particular amp has had quite a few issues (but i havent heard about one like that) :/

Is the dealer or manufacturer going to repair or replace it? It seems the least they can do for almost buying down your house.

I was wondering about the brand so I know to avoid it at all costs. Sheesh

X400 · 12-04-2008, 10:20 AM

Well i checked out the units and the amps gone... the subs gone too

the place i bought it from is going to replace the amp (theres a 5yr warranty on it)

the amp is a Elemental Designs plate amp LT350 and its a Creative Sounds sub.

the caps on the ED amp are made-in-china as well as most of the other components in it :/

was thinking of just replacing the capacitors myself with some better quality ones instead of getting the amp replaced.. but we'll see

12-03-2008, 04:36 AM	#1
X400 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Kent Blu-ray collection:328 Blu-ray reviews:41 Trading Score:23	Subwoofer caught fire while on standby?!! Ok so i was sitting in my living room watching tv, my receiver was turned off all of a sudden i hear a loud Pop! sound.... like when you throw christmas lights on the ground and they explode then i hear some buzzing noises, then another Pop! bzz bz pop so i was like wtf? it sounded like the back of my tv was blowing up i walk towards it and i notice the ports on my subwoofer smoking! smells a little like those cap guns with the lil strips of gun powder? so i unplug the subs amp asap (its plugged into a surge protector btw) i leave my sub in stand-by mode (thats probably relevant) i unscrew the amp and take it out (mind u the amp and the sub are not hot) when i take off the amp A LOT of smoke comes billowing out Im still not sure where it started but the amp and sub look fine... still haven't checked em out im waaay too tired but i thought id post this first and get some thoughts anyhow its a Creative Sounds SD12 Subwoofer and a Elemental Designs LT350 amp

12-04-2008, 02:51 AM	#9
Samsang Active Member Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Mt. Pleasant, NC	Probably a filter capacitor in the sub's power supply. A common failure mode for high value electrolytic capacitors is an internal short circuit. The high current through the short makes them blow up with a loud "*POP!!!* Mind you though, by "common failure mode", I mean common among those that fail. Electrolytic caps are amazingly rugged and reliable, with a very low failure rate. There's no reason to expect that this will happen to others out and about, so quell your fears and resume normal normal routine out there. It's possible that the cap didn't take any other components with it when it popped. If so, it will be a quick and inexpensive repair. Don't expect that, necessarily, but it could happen. Good Luck! Last edited by Samsang; 12-04-2008 at 03:01 AM.

12-04-2008, 03:07 AM	#10
Big Daddy Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Southern California Home Theater Gallery:79 Blu-ray collection:122 Trading Score:1	All electrical and electronic devices can catch fire. I worry more about space heaters, fire places, gas ovens, and gas dryers. Many people fall asleep when they are watching TV with the heater, etc. on. It is wise to double check everything and have one of these fire extinguishers available inside the house. They don't cost that much and are available at Walmart, Home Depot/Lowes, Amazon, etc. Last edited by Big Daddy; 12-04-2008 at 03:14 AM.

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12-03-2008, 04:49 AM	#2
Big Daddy Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Southern California Home Theater Gallery:79 Blu-ray collection:122 Trading Score:1	Usually they fill high quality subwoofers with polyfil or similar material to dampen the cabinet. They are fire resistant. It is possible that there must have been a spark and since polyfil does not catch fire, you ended up with a lot of smoke. If there is any damage to the driver or other parts, it can easily be repaired. Parts Express is the best source for speaker parts.

12-03-2008, 05:04 AM	#3
lpfan71 Member Member since:Nov 2008	Your story is really making me consider turning off my sub woofer, at least at night and when not using surround.

12-03-2008, 05:05 AM	#4
ixlegitballinxl Banned Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Magic Kingdom, FL Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray collection:631 Trading Score:22	yea, no kidding... scary stuff!

12-03-2008, 05:13 AM	#5
yellowblanket Senior Member Member since:Oct 2007 Home Theater Gallery:9 Blu-ray collection:1 Trading Score:1	i just ran downstair to turn mine off... you jerk

12-04-2008, 02:34 AM	#7
JasonR Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Trading Score:12	Will it still turn off if the receiver is only set into standby and not powered off?

12-04-2008, 11:27 PM	#8
C_Doc Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Montreal, Kébek Home Theater Gallery:16 Blu-ray collection:44	My old 10" JBL subwoofer blew out like that, on a few occasions. The first time, it woke up in the middle of the night, making whining noises. I went and unplugged it, then plugged it back in... It start blasting 150watt shots full blast into our apartment BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM... heh I found on a forum the bad capacitor that had blown, and fixed it for a whole 39 cents, and it was good to go for another 2 or 3 years. I did put a switch on the back of it at that point, to turn off the power completey. It went out again the other day, and I fixed it one last time, then jacked it up and ran a new JBL Sub12 under it.. hehe Now, it's someone else's problem: I gave it to my dad and he sold it at the flea market.

12-04-2008, 02:03 PM	#12
MacDaddyOJack Blu-ray Guru Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Richmond, VA PSNetwork: MacDaddyOJack Trophy Level: 12(4%) Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:71 Blu-ray reviews:23 Trading Score:4	I think it's next to impossible for the driver to start a fire or spark, so it must have been your amp. I'd make sure you don't have any wires or parts touching and maybe contact eD to see if they have heard of the problem before.

12-03-2008, 04:37 PM	#13
PS3-Playb3yond Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Cincinnati, OH Blu-ray collection:19 Blu-ray reviews:5 Trading Score:13	Things just don't suddenly smoke for no reason...was your sub near the heater or something?

12-03-2008, 04:47 PM	#14
coolmilo Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Silicon Valley Home Theater Gallery:16 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:2	What is the brand/model of the sub?

12-03-2008, 04:50 PM	#16
un4gvn94538 Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Limbo (Bakersfield, Ca.) 4K collection:143 Blu-ray collection:811 DVD collection:54 Digital collection:1494 Trading Score:277	my subs plugged in at the back of my receiver. when the receivers off, the subs off.

12-03-2008, 04:56 PM	#18
Lepidopterous Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Feb 2008 Location:DjMethod was here Blu-ray collection:696 Trading Score:2	I'm really curious to know what caused it. I just turned my 650W off. Don't they say the stand-by light is the silent energy-drain?

12-04-2008, 10:20 AM	#20
X400 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Kent Blu-ray collection:328 Blu-ray reviews:41 Trading Score:23	Well i checked out the units and the amps gone... the subs gone too the place i bought it from is going to replace the amp (theres a 5yr warranty on it) the amp is a Elemental Designs plate amp LT350 and its a Creative Sounds sub. the caps on the ED amp are made-in-china as well as most of the other components in it :/ was thinking of just replacing the capacitors myself with some better quality ones instead of getting the amp replaced.. but we'll see

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