[undertow]

This is either in my Thread or another one, but yes one of my Power supplies failed within a few weeks.

They ran super hot. It was replaced, and I used the CPU fin coolers across the plates and worked perfectly.

My opinion performance in sound was also better with the heat under control. I also used oversized chassis, not by much, but a little oversized and well vented on the bottom and top.

Not saying this failure was completely due to heat, but it can't hurt!

[jtwrace]

Once again, I'll say to read this post: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=106814.msg1098708#msg1098708

[Rclark]

I think it might be how you build them too. JT built mine, and says the chassis is your heat sink. I have run mine night and day for long, long hours, I never shut them off, and they are never more than slightly warm to the touch (the cases). Clearly these were put together properly, I never worry about heat, and they are sealed.

(JT, btw I think I'm going to attempt to finish them second or third week of Feb, in that style I mentioned.)

[yetis]

Before reading Bruno's comments, I didn't know what to make of the heat.  I can tell you that I did NOT plan for the level of heat when selecting a case.  Few of the cases available have any real cooling functions that are common on class A amps, etc.  I find it interesting that other Class D amps don't seem to generate the same level of heat, so I wonder if that has something to do with its increased performance?  Logic works in the class A/A-B/B amp performance.  I guess the Halcro amps generate a fair amount of heat, but use cases to handle the heat they generate?

An update. So I have three amps and three power supplies in an aluminum case that is well ventilated, passively cooled case. Recently, after being left on for a couple days, the center channel has started clipping and you can hear the power supply turning on and off. I think three in one case is just too much. Will be replacing top of case with even more ventilation and adding cooling fins internally, wherever I can! Weird that only the center one clips, as it's the newer of the three, version 6 vs version 1.

[jtwrace]

An update. So I have three amps and three power supplies in an aluminum case that is well ventilated, passively cooled case. Recently, after being left on for a couple days, the center channel has started clipping and you can hear the power supply turning on and off. I think three in one case is just too much. Will be replacing top of case with even more ventilation and adding cooling fins internally, wherever I can! Weird that only the center one clips, as it's the newer of the three, version 6 vs version 1.

Are you sure it's temperature related?  Once cooled down it's fine?

[Don_S]

Do you have access to a multimeter with a temperature probe?  Maybe the one in the middle is running hotter because it gets less ventilation.  And maybe it is not temperature related at all.

An update. So I have three amps and three power supplies in an aluminum case that is well ventilated, passively cooled case. Recently, after being left on for a couple days, the center channel has started clipping and you can hear the power supply turning on and off. I think three in one case is just too much. Will be replacing top of case with even more ventilation and adding cooling fins internally, wherever I can! Weird that only the center one clips, as it's the newer of the three, version 6 vs version 1.

[Julf]

Do you have access to a multimeter with a temperature probe?  Maybe the one in the middle is running hotter because it gets less ventilation.  And maybe it is not temperature related at all.

I agree - measuring the temp should be the first step. My favourite tool for that is a non-contact IR radiation thermometer, but I also have a 1-wire temperature probe that I can easily insert in boxes - in fact, these days I tend to put a 3.5 mm jack in the back of each box, with a cheap 1-wire sensor wired to it inside the box - makes it really easy to find out the interior temperature if I need to.

[yetis]

Have purchased IR thermometer and will get back with the results.

[jtwrace]

Just be careful with them.  I try to stay away from them actually; I find them very unrepeatable.  I personally like contact surface thermocouples.  If your DMM has a port with that option that is much preferred. 

[persisting1]

Just be careful with them.  I try to stay away from them actually; I find them very unrepeatable.  I personally like contact surface thermocouples.  If your DMM has a port with that option that is much preferred.

+1