2. tech-talk
  3. 142378-4181

Threat of fire from audio equipment

Just read Art Dudley's new piece in Stereophile, and found myself becoming all sorts of worried. For many, many years now, I've left solid state equipment powered on -- except during thunderstorms or when heading away from home for extended periods. Now, I'm rethinking this practice.

See Mr. Dudley's article here:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/listening-193-nordost-flatline-cables

My questions:

Is what happened to him the rarest of things, like someone's being struck by lightning? Is putting an amp (or another piece) into standby mode any better than leaving it on -- when it comes to preventing fire, that is -- or can a unit in standby mode burst into flames just like one that's powered on fully? Do others worry about fire? As much as I appreciate a fully warmed-up system, if fire is a legitimate concern, I'll routinely switch things off when I'm not around and listening. Or about to listen.

I'd love to learn what others -- especially those who understand engineering and electricity -- do with their equipment.

Thanks very much.

Howard
 
hodu

Showing 3 responses by elizabeth

elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
The title should have been: "Chicken Little says: THE SKY IS FALLING... THE SKY IS FALLING..."
Agree on the smart phone burning your house down way before the stereo.... Though if you are not at home, the phone is most likely to burn your bum.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Like the wheel that fell off the car... Do you worry YOUR wheel is going to fall off?            
Or the pipe that broke and destroyed that home.. Do you then worry about YOUR pipes?             
The athlete who was in seemingly perfect shape and died of a heart attack. YOU worry?                  
Like the episode of Young Sheldon... When he stops eating solid food because he heard someone might choke to death.... ??
"A coward dies a thousand deaths, The Brave only once.' is how I look at the problem.               
And yes I read the original article.


elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
As long as that extinguisher is for ELECTRICAL FIRES.. Not a good idea to use a liquid type on line electronics.     
The dry type is the one you want..And yes a good idea. I keep one around.
More to discover