AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Tube-o-phile Circle => Topic started by: jaylevine on 23 Nov 2017, 03:33 pm
-
Just curious if beyond losing 300 plus hours of tube life there is anything else that I should worry about?
-
No, maybe you should just give thanks on this day that you didn't burn down the house! :)
-
+1
-
If the amp was not playing music then tube life loss is probably less than the total time left on. The tubes were not "working" so to speak. If it is a preamp you have little worries, power amp is a bit more concerning because of the output tubes but really the biggest issue as borism mentions not having a fire. Wow! Very happy to hear you did not have a catastrophy to come home to.
:thumb:
-
This is a very robust amp, some power transformers cant stand six hours running without overheating. Curious what is this amp?
-
Bob Latino VTA120
-
Bob Latino VTA120
Yep, that's a rugged amp. With that said however, I think you dodged a bullet. "Maybe" fuses would have saved the day if something went awry, but you never know. How does the amp sound now? Any signs of stress?
-
Haven’t turned it back on yet. Will do so after holiday sit down and report back tomorrow.
I guess it is definitely broken in now :)
-
Unfortunately fuses operate for short circuit not temperature.
-
Yeah. I wouldn't recommend leaving a tube amp on if no one is home. You're dealing with high voltages and tubes can explode. It is rare, but the potential for a fire is real. Better safe than sorry.
-
When I go out of town I turn off all AV equipment and unplug the surge protectors from the wall so even if there was a lightning strike everything is 100% isolated from the AC main. I never leave amps (SS or tube) while I am out of the home.
-
I've accidentally left mine on for a few days while I was gone, I was a little upset to find it on when I returned but no harm done, luckily.
-
When we leave for an extended time (more than 1 day), I reflexively turn off the breaker to the main listening room, equipment room and all lighting since my audio room is a room within a room.
So absolutely nada stays on. We’ve done it for 6 years and the breakers work fine, no signs of wear & tear.
Best,
Anand.
-
I always check and shut things down before I head out. Don’t really know how this happen, can only assume the switch stuck when I turned it off and it really didn’t fully dis-engage. Either way a hard lesson. I’m going to move the amp to a dedicated surge protector and just turn it on/ off going forward.
-
That's a brand new, or at least, very modern amp. So your odds were much better with it than a vintage amp which has older parts. I've never left a tube amp on overnight, but have had them on for 12-14 hours at a stretch. When running in idle, they don't get that warm. But there is always the risk of an output tube failing.
-
Well so far ok. Turned it on today and sounded fine. Will warm it up tomorrow to check bias ( quick check today looked low but I only had the amp on for 10 minutes and I usually wait an hour before checking bias).
-
Well so far ok. Turned it on today and sounded fine. Will warm it up tomorrow to check bias ( quick check today looked low but I only had the amp on for 10 minutes and I usually wait an hour before checking bias).
You will cook the amp again, let an tube amp power on more than 4 hours is against the safety rules of thumb for tubes amps imo. For bias setting 1 hour warm-up is suffice.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=83242)
-
You will cook the amp again, let an tube amp power on more than 4 hours is against the safety rules of thumb for tubes amps imo. For bias setting 1 hour warm-up is suffice.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=83242)
Not sure I get your point. I don’t normally leave the amp on more than the time I’m listening to it.