[GrooveControl]

My B60 is living in fairly tight quarters these days.  I have enough space on top, but the sides only have about a 1/4" of room on each side. I haven't had a thermal shutdown yet, but the unit does get fairly warm. I stumbled onto this cooler at Amazon and started thinking it might be a good idea to cool the B60. 

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B078PQJSRY/?coliid=I3KWKL3KQS4VJ&colid=MIQWLSL1K4D&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im

What do you guys think?  No shutdown, no worries, leave it be?   Or will cooling B60 help prolong the life of the unit?  I would run the fan at low speed as I definitely don't want to hear it. If you have used this cooler or anything similar please share your experience with it. 

Thanks.

BTW: I had a Bryston F1 way back when. It worked great in the PA rack, not so much in the house.

[RDavidson]

Most heat will rise out, though I see the vents are on the side on the B60. I kind of doubt a fan would do much. As you have plenty of space on top, I really think it'll be perfectly fine. Keep in mind Bryston gear is often used in studios where they are in racks surrounded by lots of other heat producing gear. This is a much worse condition than your B60's situation and yet Bryston gear is very well known for reliability.

[gberger]

Mine is on a kitchen shelf, with a  flat antenna and FM tuner stacked on it. 3" narrow space each side..
It's been flawless for over ten years, and I run it four to five hours a day.  (Drives a pair of Boston Acoustics speakers.)

[Timslim18]

My B60 is living in fairly tight quarters these days.  I have enough space on top, but the sides only have about a 1/4" of room on each side. I haven't had a thermal shutdown yet, but the unit does get fairly warm. I stumbled onto this cooler at Amazon and started thinking it might be a good idea to cool the B60. 

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B078PQJSRY/?coliid=I3KWKL3KQS4VJ&colid=MIQWLSL1K4D&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im

What do you guys think?  No shutdown, no worries, leave it be?   Or will cooling B60 help prolong the life of the unit?  I would run the fan at low speed as I definitely don't want to hear it. If you have used this cooler or anything similar please share your experience with it. 

Thanks.

BTW: I had a Bryston F1 way back when. It worked great in the PA rack, not so much in the house.

Firstly, I would check if your unit is over heating.  Can you get a temperature reading from the top of the unit in question?  How hot is the top of the unit when you touch it?

I had a similar temperature concern with a 875 amp a couple of years ago.  The running temperature was 95+ degrees F.  I got the same fan unit you described and the temperature was brought back down to a reasonable level.  The fan speed setting given my cabinet content and dimensions required a noisier fan speed than ideal.  However it effectively brought down the temperature.  I can only assume the cooling will ensure a longer life than you would otherwise get.

[GrooveControl]

Can you get a temperature reading from the top of the unit in question? 

I forgot my DVM has the ability to measure temperature.  Here it goes...

Room temp was 24C, 75F
Cavity above the B60 was 31C, 88F
Touching the top of B60 was 38C, 100F

This was at idle, not playing anything. This amp is always on.  I'm guessing that's too hot.

The 3B SST manual says to allow at least 3.5" clearance on top and sides, but the B60 doesn't mention anything about clearance. Looks like I will need to do something, either the fan, or possibly put the amp on the floor under the stand.

@ TimSlim18, you mention having the same fan. Apparently there are 6 speed levels. Is your fan the front exit style, and at what setting does it become audible? 

Thanks. 

[Timslim18]

I forgot my DVM has the ability to measure temperature.  Here it goes...

Room temp was 24C, 75F
Cavity above the B60 was 31C, 88F
Touching the top of B60 was 38C, 100F

This was at idle, not playing anything. This amp is always on.  I'm guessing that's too hot.

The 3B SST manual says to allow at least 3.5" clearance on top and sides, but the B60 doesn't mention anything about clearance. Looks like I will need to do something, either the fan, or possibly put the amp on the floor under the stand.

@ TimSlim18, you mention having the same fan. Apparently there are 6 speed levels. Is your fan the front exit style, and at what setting does it become audible? 

Thanks.

I have to set the fan at level 4 of 6 in my cabinet being open all the time to achieve 84 degrees F.  There is an audible difference in fan/air movement noise between 3 and 4 with my furniture type custom maple cabinet doors open.  I close the cabinet temporarily for serious listening and then there  is no fan sound issue.

[GrooveControl]

So last night I moved the B60 to the top of the cabinet. Being low profile it slipped in under the TV.  I measured the temp this morning after leaving the unit on, but not playing anything, all night.  It registered 35C 95F.  Only 3C 5F degrees less than in the cabinet. 

I don't know what normal or acceptable operating tempter is for the B60 is. 

[rimclean]

If the B60 is anything like the 2b then it is designed to shut down when it reaches 80 degrees Celsius. 

Essentially the entire case is the heat sink on the B60, and it dissipates heat quite well. 

[Pundamilia]

Can one assume that 80 deg. C. is the thermal shutdown threshold designed into all Bryston equipment? 

[Mike Pickett]

Can one assume that 80 deg. C. is the thermal shutdown threshold designed into all Bryston equipment? 

It is safe to assume that most of our amplifiers, including the B60, use a thermal breaker rated at 80 C.  The idle temperature of the unit will vary depending on ambient temps and ventilation, but 38 C is nothing to worry about.

Forced ventilation could be necessary in some cases if a unit is overheating in normal use, but I would try to only use a fan to remove hot air from a cabinet.  Don't blow air directly on any amplifier, as this will interfere with the normal operation of the bias circuit.

Thanks,

Mike

[GrooveControl]

... but 38 C is nothing to worry about.

Thanks Mike. That’s the outcome I was hoping for.  Back into the cabinet it went. 

Cheers.

[Pundamilia]

Once again, Bryston comes through!

Thanks Mike. That is good information to know.