Hi, I'm beginning to use my brand new BL3s and I've discovered they have a strange behaviour: they have a little of "fever", they are overall heating around 38 degrees even using them at low volumes or in short listening periods... does that the normal BL3 working temperature?

Thanks. 

My BL3's run as cool as they look. You may have a problem.

 Cheers

Peter

Definitely not right. Are you using the correct leads?

There appears to be something wrong here in my view. The Beolab 3's have a maximum power consumption of 20 watts and typically is around 7 watts. What is the B&O type number on the speakers ?

Keith Saunders:

There appears to be something wrong here in my view. The Beolab 3's have a maximum power consumption of 20 watts and typically is around 7 watts. What is the B&O type number on the speakers ?

Thank you everybody, 

Yes its very strange indeed !

 They are brand new, and all leads (powerlinks mk3 and mains) are the original ones.
Type number 6891

Both speakers are exactly at the same temperature (around 38 deg) and plugged in a ordinary 220v wall plug along with other devices, excatly in the same place where BL4s were plugged before.

I'm going to do a try plugging them away from the study...maybe in the bedroom

Well, you have an interesting problem here.

I can confirm that the type number is correct.

What are your BeoLab 3 powerlink cables connected too ?

Are your Beolab 3's connected to the same mains power source as the video/audio device driving the powerlink ?

Keith Saunders:

Well, you have an interesting problem here.

I can confirm that the type number is correct.

What are your BeoLab 3 powerlink cables connected too ?

Are your Beolab 3's connected to the same mains power source as the video/audio device driving the powerlink ?

Thank you Keith.

Yes, they were plugged in the same mains power than Beoport (audio source), and another 15 various computer devices (around 700w in total) , surely the problem is there...a mains power overcharged.

I've tried them several hours playing in the bedroom and they are almost cold, a huge difference! apparently these speakers are quite sensitive; tomorrow I'll plug them to beoport again, but using an empty mains power to test.

Best regards.

Santiago,

It sounds to me that you have either have a power phase inbalance in your home mains supply, and earthing issue or one or more of your sockets has an earth/neutral line reversed.

Based on your feedback from running the speakers in your bedroom, then there is nothing wrong with the BeoLabs

I don't know how technical you are, but I would go to your local DIY store and purchase one of those cheap mains testers for about 10 Euros which plugs into the mains socket and has three small lights on the front which tells you if your mains socket is correctly wired.

If you happen to have a good multi-meter, then I would switch it to the AC range and measure the voltage between Earth and Neutral (NOT Live) at one of the mains sockets, the best situation would be for it to be zero volts, but I expect you will have a small reading.

I also noted that you state that the speakers were connected to a Beoport which could point to an earthing issue

Keith,

I'm impressed by how thorougly you have sought to assist Santiago with his problem!

Cheers!
 

Soundproof,

In my view, two heads working on an issue are better than one banging against a brick wall trying to understand a problem.

I also think that what may be very easy for one person to understand, can be highly complex for someone else.

So, the rule I used is simple, assume nothing, check everything and write it in a clear, yet simple manner.

I thank you for your kind words of support..

Keith Saunders:

Santiago,

It sounds to me that you have either have a power phase inbalance in your home mains supply, and earthing issue or one or more of your sockets has an earth/neutral line reversed.

Based on your feedback from running the speakers in your bedroom, then there is nothing wrong with the BeoLabs

I don't know how technical you are, but I would go to your local DIY store and purchase one of those cheap mains testers for about 10 Euros which plugs into the mains socket and has three small lights on the front which tells you if your mains socket is correctly wired.

If you happen to have a good multi-meter, then I would switch it to the AC range and measure the voltage between Earth and Neutral (NOT Live) at one of the mains sockets, the best situation would be for it to be zero volts, but I expect you will have a small reading.

I also noted that you state that the speakers were connected to a Beoport which could point to an earthing issue

I'm impressed by how thorougly you have sought to assist Santiago with his problem!

I'm impressed and deeply grateful.

Hello Keith, 

I'm not very technical, so I have not mains tester or multi-meter...  maybe I would get one soon.

I also noted that you state that the speakers were connected to a Beoport which could point to an earthing issue

Yes, and they are now connected to beoport again, which in fact has the mains earth unconnected (using a plug without the earth wire) but I could eventually reconnect it very quickly to test if that is causing the problem

I'm using now an exclusive and different mains power socket only for the both BL3s.

After several hours of working test I'll watch their heating reaction.

Thanks again. 

Whilst it may be an earthing problem, it may not be an earthing problem with the Beoport, in fact there is no mains earth connection on the Beoport itself.

How long did it normally take for the speakers to get very hot ?

You previously mentioned that you have many computer items powered on the same circuit, does this include mains extension leads which have built in surge suppressors ? if so this is the area we should focus our attention on first.

soundproof:

Keith,

I'm impressed by how thorougly you have sought to assist Santiago with his problem!

Cheers!
 

Hear hear!

If you have a problem, Keith will bend over backwards to help.
Keith is definately up there with the WOS (Wise old sages)

Andy T.

I agree! Very knowledgeable and always good advice.

Keith Saunders:

You previously mentioned that you have many computer items powered on the same circuit, does this include mains extension leads which have built in surge suppressors ? if so this is the area we should focus our attention on first.

No, there are some extension leads connected and they are strong but very simple: without surge suppressors (protectors).

Keith Saunders:

How long did it normally take for the speakers to get very hot ?

I'm not sure, but something like half-an-hour or maybe one hour

 

Santiago,

As previously stated, you may wish to purchase a mains socket tester like the one shown below which is a UK version, but they are all basically the same except for the plug type. It means you can plug it into each socket both wall sockets and extension sockets and see immediately if there is a problem or not. If there is a problem you can see immediately what it is.

Although Keith is certainly a lot more techy than I am, I had the same problem with my first pair of BL3s Santiago. After only a few days of use and at normal volume one of my BL3s felt very warm on its round backside. The LED on the hot BL3 was showing yellow / amber, so I was pretty sure he was telling me he was suffering.

I called my dealer and he immediately replaced the pair with a new pair. As far as I'm aware, the faulty pair returned to Denmark. I suggest that if Keith's very kind helping hand hasn't been of any success to you, then you also contact your dealer and ask for a new pair as I was offered.

By the way, how are you doing with your BS2? I remember we spoke under my previous username on the old Beoworld abouts your BS2 and SD cards from memory. Looking forward to the new BeoSound 6?

Best regards,

Henry:

Although Keith is certainly a lot more techy than I am, I had the same problem with my first pair of BL3s Santiago. After only a few days of use and at normal volume one of my BL3s felt very warm on its round backside. The LED on the hot BL3 was showing yellow / amber, so I was pretty sure he was telling me he was suffering.

I called my dealer and he immediately replaced the pair with a new pair. As far as I'm aware, the faulty pair returned to Denmark. I suggest that if Keith's very kind helping hand hasn't been of any success to you, then you also contact your dealer and ask for a new pair as I was offered.

By the way, how are you doing with your BS2? I remember we spoke under my previous username on the old Beoworld abouts your BS2 and SD cards from memory. Looking forward to the new BeoSound 6?

Best regards,

Hello Henry,

Thanks for your input. 

The leds in BL3s have never turned to yellow yet, anyway still they both get slowly warm to reach finally about 40 degrees, after 1 hour of use even at low volume. I've already told this to my B&O technician: he was very surprised and will ask directly to Struer.

Now I've connected BL3s as rears in my avant and they are always cold...I'm really happy with this new 5.1 setup, so at the moment they will stay there.

Looking forward to the new BeoSound 6?
Yes, I'm always looking forward to any new B&O device !!  

Regards. 

Santiago,

Whilst you have connected your Beolab 3's as rear speakers of your AVANT and they remain cold, this also confirms that there is nothing wrong with you BL3's. However we still do not really know what the problem is/was ?

Keith Saunders:

Santiago,

Whilst you have connected your Beolab 3's as rear speakers of your AVANT and they remain cold, this also confirms that there is nothing wrong with you BL3's. However we still do not really know what the problem is/was ?

No Keith, I don't know what the problem was, BL3s are now working right (cold) as rears, and BL4s are come back to beoport (even using the first multi mains plug...) and also those work fine there; so I'll stick in this configuration for the moment, in fact I'm very happy with the new sound in 5.1 setup with BL3s as rears, BL1s as fronts, and BL2.

Thanks, and regards. 

Hey, then you got a surround setup similar to mine
Although I don't have a BL2

Annoying problem though, but nice to hear that the speakers are fine

Keith Saunders:

Santiago,

Whilst you have connected your Beolab 3's as rear speakers of your AVANT and they remain cold, this also confirms that there is nothing wrong with you BL3's. However we still do not really know what the problem is/was ?

Hmmmm , today I could do for the very first time a BL3s very long time audio listening (more than 4 hours non stop) connected to the avant as rears, and in speaker 4 mode but all time at very moderate volume (28), and they are again both hot!! (rounding 40 degrees); annoying. Besides, the electrical circuit of the living room is absolutely different to the office (beoport)...and all the electrical system is quite new (only 6 years old: same as the rest of the flat) and very good proof quality: never had a problem. So definitely bad news to my dealer... now I'm only looking forward to see finally the yellow leds on

Santiago:

Keith Saunders:

Santiago,

Whilst you have connected your Beolab 3's as rear speakers of your AVANT and they remain cold, this also confirms that there is nothing wrong with you BL3's. However we still do not really know what the problem is/was ?

Hmmmm , today I could do for the very first time a BL3s very long time audio listening (more than 4 hours non stop) connected to the avant as rears, and in speaker 4 mode but all time at very moderate volume (28), and they are again both hot!! (rounding 40 degrees); annoying. Besides, the electrical circuit of the living room is absolutely different to the office (beoport)...and all the electrical system is quite new (only 6 years old: same as the rest of the flat) and very good proof quality: never had a problem. So definitely bad news to my dealer... now I'm only looking forward to see finally the yellow leds on

Santiago, as far as I am concerned no BL3s should be overheating as much as you have described, whether there is a problem with your mains socket or whatever. They should be able to look after themselves in my opinion, so if they're not working properly ask your dealer for another pair.

Oh, I meant to ask you before, have your BL3s just cut out / stopped playing at any stage? This is what happened to my right channel BL3 and it was then that I noticed the yellow LED from memory.