SAFETY VIDEO | All About Fuses | Changing the Fuse in Your Amp 

that was the most polite way to say, "Don't be a window-licker and unplug your amp every time....", that I've ever seen.

"...that would not feel very good." Getting shocked SUCKS! I appreciate that you cover so many basics. I'm not "formally" educated in electronics and this is all very good for me. Congrats on the growth of your channel!

"Caution! Disconnect power supply before changing fuse. " Says so right on the amp. Conveniently, near the fuse. Thanks for the discussion of the 2 approaches to switch wiring. !

You are exactly correct. The hot should go to the fuse first, and then the switch. I know many people believe it should be the other way around. The reason is if you have the switch first and it happens to be turned off, then unknowingly switching it live while changing the fuse could really spoil your day. Also if your switch happens to fail short, you will learn how to fly like superman. If you know that fuse socket is live, then you are more likely to be taking care .... or even better, disconnect the power

Colleen, I've been meaning to write to you for a while. I love watching your videos so much; I hope you make many more. I think that anyone that repairs things for a living is living a noble existence, esp.in our nightmarishly disposable society. I love your chill vibe. You have singlehandedly inspired me to start learning electronic basics as I've wanted to for many years. There seems to be a high ratio of comments to views on your channel. I hope you don't have to endure too many people of a certain gender eager to prove they know more than you. Keep up the great work and thanks again.

Love the improved audio! Nice to see your channel growing so quickly.

I agree with Coleen. Circuit protection (fuses and or breakers) should always be first in the electrical stream. Switches can fail short and if they are unfused, expect sparks and flames...

Congrats on 20k plus subs. High quality content and presentation will do that. Well done!

Great to hear the improved sound quality! Your videos are amazing, all the hard work you put into it is paying off!! 🎸😎👍

You are correct, Colleen. As an electrician, over-protection (fuse) comes first. That is the case in all levels of electric... To protect everything on the load side of the line. And yes, the sound is much improved. Thank you and good luck.

Well done Colleen !!!!! You are spot on

Seriously awesome videos! For some reason you make it incredibly simple to understand. Your a great teacher and you point the camera in the right place! A+

You are a good teacher and a pleasure to watch.

Glad you posted this new video, Colleen. I'm glad you go to great lengths to emphasize safety. One thing I would like to add is that people get confused about voltage and amperage. A lot of people don't realize that it only takes one quarter of an ampere, .25, to kill a human being. People have had voltage in the five or even six figures go through them and have survived. But it's not something I would bet mine or anyone else's life on. Electrical burns, for example, are the worst that can happen to a person, because they burn from the inside out as electricity tries to go to ground. So you keep right on stressing electrical safety! And thanks once again, I have learned so much from you, and I look forward to every new video!

Audio quality is A++++

Yay! The audio is so much better. Very pleasant to listen to now. :D

Thanks so much I have had amps for years and never been educated in such a cool way

That was a lot of fun to watch. Reminded me of my first electronics lesson back when I was 12 yo. The teacher, as we entered the room, asked us if we liked to laugh and we said yes. Having a electrician grandfather, I had fallen into that same trap many times but I kept my mouth shut and hoped it was something else. It wasn't, He gave us a 220v shock, at a very low current and short duration just to make us aware of what it means to play games with electricity. Later on, in uni, every time I saw my flatmate, an electrical engineering student (I was in mechanical engineering) doing repairs on a live wire and I used to ask him... do you like to laugh? He didn't understood at first but luckily eventually he learned to shutdown the power before starting to work.

Thanks, Colleen! The lav mic is working wonders

Great video and Channel! Always with great content! I learn every time I watch this Channel! Thank you Colleen!

Enjoyed this video and the audio improvement as well. Sound quality is much better.thanks.

It’s good to see you growing, congrats

Great job! Thanks for you and all others sharing this great art! I am learning from a tech with 60 years of design and experience and it is a fun hobby! I appreciate the safety reminder and learned why some of the wires are so thick and others thin in the fuse.

Love the video content on your channel. I appreciate the sharing of knowledge.

You have a great teaching style and the content is great. Thanks, I hope to see more.

You service and repair many many many more amps than I ever will, so I will take YOUR advice and not some random comment in the comments section. Keep up the videos they are awesome, cheers from Australia.

Just an amazing channel full of the best information available.

Sounds great CF!

Good advice, not just for the techs, but for the players who occasionally have to stick their fingers into high voltage areas. Thank you!

The new audio sounds perfect. Thanks for the safety tips! G'day from Melbourne, Australia.

Bless you for sharing your wisdom with us!!!

Another helpful video, appreciated again! This one is important for guitar players who often change their own fuses, I can't believe how many vintage amps have the wrong fuses!

I literally don't care about amps yet I keep watching your videos! you must be doing something extraordinarily well. Those 20k subscribers are well deserved.

I’m new to your channel great to see a lady so interested in tube amp repair. Much respect to you x

As someone who has a lot of experience with electrical and electronic equipment, I can say without any doubt that you are right about the fuse being before everything else. Anyone saying otherwise is talking out their ass. Honestly, the fuse should be as early in the circuit as possibly as anything prior to the fuse isn't protected. People like this haven't seen what happens when things go wrong. I've seen what happens when a car drives into a pole carrying 11kv with normal house voltage underneath, and a whole street suddenly has 11kv wiring. I've seen what happens when lightning gets into a network. In these cases fuses aren't much help, but still, modern conventions like this exist for a reason, these amps predate safety, and as another great RU-vidr always says, safety regulations are written in blood. And yes this is a regulatory requirement. Not only best practice but it's the law.

Absolutely correct. Fuse before switch and for good reason. All these classic amplifier schematics showing that and people think they know better? You and your channel are great.

Colleen , New to your channel...Enjoy your style and format ....Safety is always very important....Audio sound very good ...Take care..

This is the most informative, educational and inspiring channel that I have found:) I have been learning something in every educational video!!!

Please keep up these amazing videos.

Thanks so much for the education. I am happy I found your channel

Thanks for the better audio! I am still a firm believer in wiring the hot side to the switch first then the fuse holder. It's just common sense and safer...

Awesome video Colleen!

thanks again I appreciate your teaching style

From Barcelona Spain ♥️ i an woman guitarrist tankyou sou much ,☀️☀️☀️

I'm possibly going to get a job at an amplifier manufacturing place. Your videos have given me a cool insight as to how maps function. I appreciate your videos and look forward to seeing more in the future. : )

Audio is brilliant !! , fuse always before the switch , if the switch fails there is nothing to protect or stop full current to the switch , yes they do blow up . That’s regulation over here and we are 240v … Great Channel and great content !!!

Excellent short video. Think you may be the first to cover this ‘simple’ (aka ignorable) subject. Brilliant too that the channel is growing - keep on keeping on!

nice to see your channel grow.

Love these vids so much. Was just wondering about fuses I should have on hand for my little collection of amps and now I know where to start. Bought a new Rivera Era Concert and it’s a bit staticky so that’s the next thing on my plate. Will hit tip jar soon - Thanks!

Amazing videos, always a pleasure.

Love watching your videos Am learning a lot May Your Tribe Increase

A very informative video - Thank You!

I love Uncle Doug's videos but you have a new sub - thank you

I like how you resoldered the right side lead on my headphones jack, thanks

Please make more videos? Love your channel!

All good info. Thanks for the safety tips.

Viewing experience really keeps getting better and better ;) Stay well!

1) Dark hair + blue eyes + multimeter = beautiful amp tech 2) In case of touching a live wire the US 120V is better than the italian 230V! (I speak by experience...) 3) Keep up doing videos, love'em!

Hi, I would like to say I love your channel!

Your channel is super interesting, Colleen.

I used to be a test engineer at McDonnell. I ran 110 through myself on a few occasions. Gets your attention!

I was taught to use the one hand behind my back rule when *very carefully* testing voltages points in old tube televisions or radios, so in case you should bump something with your hand, you do not want it to travel through your heart and out through your other hand that might be in contact with a ground.

Fuse first. Always, fuse first! Great vids btw!

Nice video, Colleen. Good tips. Another one I tell people all the time is never "check" a fuse by looking at it. Always use a VOM to make sure it's got continuity. Sometimes you get lucky and a fuse is "visibly blown". But I've had a lot of fuses that "looked good", but weren't continuous. And of course, never, ever "fix" a blowing fuse with a larger rating.

Good upgrade on the audio!

Brains and beauty! Thanks for your straight forward and useful information. I'm a newer subscriber and definitely enjoying your channel.

Hi from Dublin -- also always check the correct fuse is in an amp when you get it -- and a bit part of safety is the hot goes to the fuse tip not the collar -- also please use the correct size blade for uk style holders -- and lastly some amp brands have fuses with can only be accessed internally -- keep up the great vids !

Thoroughly enjoy your videos but on a different note: Your hair looks glorious!

Love the new mic! First thing I noticed in the video haha

Timing of this video wow! I just blew a fuse on my 76 champ on power up. Might have to take to a tech now

Thanks for the video!

Solid content, good advice.

If you don't already know about Apex in the San Fernando valley, you should go and scrounge for electronics. They specialize in vintage electronics, alot of aircraft parts, old timey switches, transformers, tubes, resitors etc. Even some NOS stuff if you dig deep enough. Pretty amazing place. They pretty much have everything you need, to build or repair vintage amps with period correct vintage parts. Great channel btw.

Usefull reminders for sure

Very informative. Thanks

Great point about always unplugging. I still prefer switch, then fuse. I guess I am with Uncle Doug on that one.

For the Air Force this is Tech Order 33-1-32 input wiring checks. We are all proficient. Power cords, fuses, fuse holders, power switches, correct wiring, and proper temporary substitutions if needed.

Such a relaxing voice. The good looks don't hurt either, but love your explanations and teachings. Keep'em coming!

When you actually study the design and intended use case of those fuses holders they are relatively safe of course providing the hot is connected to the proper terminal and the user isn't doing anything more than you demonstrated here. There are certainly different types of fuse holders that would be impossible not to get shocked pulling the fuse out and that's why you don't see them manufactured into amps from the factory. I mean many people might think that those are the same and therefore interchangeable with the type of holder you might see under the dash of your car or connected to your car stereo but they are not. While they will technically hold the same size fuses not all fuse holders are designed or rated to be interchangeable or a matter of preference. Audio sounds nice. Great explanation and points. Your right, above all it is better to be safe than sorry. :)

Great video as always! The reason that the fuse should be first in the circuit is mostly because that way it protects as much of the amp as possible. Ideally it should not even be in the amp, but in the plug as British plugs are designed, as that way it also protects the line cord, but line cords are usually short enough that any reasonable conductor cross-section can withstand the full fault current long enough for the breaker to pop in the panel.

Wiring the fuse first is absolutely correct! Just make sure to take the live to the “pull out” end of the fuse. This way the amp will be dead when you pull the fuse, regardless if the amp is plugged in or not.

It's also worth noting that in the Fender amp, the end of the fuse holder gets the live. The other end goes to the circuit. So you'd have to stick a screwdriver or something inside to get a shock from it, which is part of the point of those styles of fuse holders.

Audio is much better C. Good job.

Great info!!!! Thanks!!!!!

Great reminder to unplug before fuse swaps. My Marshall made Vox AC30tbx has one of those awful flathead fuse holder. They're fine for the back of a head, but in the bottom of the back of a combo it's a pain in the ass. Mine is basically stripped from years of use. Maybe I should change to another one like your Champ here.

Ty...... as someone who lives a laugh, it’s like in the IT world, did you turn it off an on again? That’s amp repair 101. Glad you shared this. I guess lots of folks like to take chances while things are plugged in.

I have always hated the discussion of "fuse before switch?". In a lot of cases people will say Switch before fuse, so the fuse isn't hot if it needs to be changed. This is absolutely true, in only ONE case. If the device is hardwired to power! If the device has a plug, it should be fuse before switch. That way if the switch fails, the fuse can protect the chassis as well as anyone who comes into contact with it.

As an unapologetic Marshall fanboy...I'd love to see a vid on that Marshall you used in this video. That is if you're actually working on it. Regardless, love the channel and keep up the good work!

Excellent; you Go! Eager for the day you top 100k subscribers, 'cuz this content helps players and techs alike. Looking forward to your take on every point in the signal chain. Keep plowing this field! Hoping a client puts a Divided by 13 gem from the 2000s, (e.g., Ftr 37) in your shop for TLC. Thanks from Spokane and carry on, d.

Outstanding video

If the fues blows this is a sign that there is a heavy load or short circuit pulling current...so we use a lamp limiter to test this out...just remove the large tubes and power the amp up...if the lamp stays bright power off straight away. If skilled in electronics servicing then track the fault..all good tips to this ever growing field.

Finally, someone could tell me what I needed to know.

Fuse before switch! Yes! For the reasons you mentioned. And for those who think that if you put the fuse AFTER the switch there won't be any voltage on the fuse if the switch is off, you've got a painful and nasty lesson awaiting you! Because the fuse is still connected through the power transformer to the other side of the AC mains! Yes, it's the neutral, assuming everything is wired correctly, but that's never something you should assume. UNPLUG!

Nice and very informative and clear information...Learn something all the time. Thanks for the tips, and sharing..Ed..U.K..😀

Watching you I don't even mind the tech stuff.

Also important: not only should the fuse be connected directly to the hot side of the line cord (black in the US, blue in Europe), but the line cord should be connected to the rear of the fuse holder. It's correct in the amp on the bench that you showed. When connected this way, the fuse will lose contact with the line cord as soon as it moves a fraction of an inch out of the socket. I really appreciate your focus on safety. I got a 300 volt DC shock hand to hand when I was 18 (long story, not a guitar amp). I'm now 70. I still remember how much it hurt and how long the blisters on my hands took to heal.. Fortunately it was current-limited or I wouldn't have made it to 19.

Sounds good.

very professional

I used to work as a telecom technician, and every day I would solder jumpers on the main distribution frame of the exchange. There was on some circuits an ancient technology called 1+1 or 0+2 which multiplexed two phone lines over 1 physical pair, and these always had 110 volts rather than the usual 48 to 52 volts of a phone line. This was not fun when you were reaching your hot and sweaty bare arm through the frame between distribution blocks covered in 100s of sharp solder tags and suddenly you would get lit up and inadvertently jerk your arm across the tags. My hands and arms were always covered in little cuts.

It's sad, but you do actually have to tell people to unplug their amplifier before they work on it. I thought about it when you said that, and then I realized that you were right by telling everyone. Wow.