2. amps-preamps
  3. 125493-1264

Amps and Preamps has standby, but should I turn them completely off?

Hi guys, I know there has been discussions of this and the overall consensus seems to be leaving the Solid State amps / preamps on (or standby). I have a Parasound A51 that runs pretty hot. The heat sinks are hot to touch after running them for 2 hours. Ever since I move them to the 2nd floor (gets hot in the summer), I worry that they'd run too hot so I turn them completely off (by switching off the surge protector) after each use. Note that standby mode doesn't solve the heat issue -- it still generates a significant amount of excess heat. 

My question is:
1. Does turning them off after each use shorten their life?
2. Does turning them off increase the probability of failure?
3. Does the excessive heat damage them in the long run by leaving them on?

I am not too worried about warm up time because I use them 2-3 times a week tops. I just don't want the excess heat on the 2nd floor since it's already much warmer than the 1st floor. 

Thanks!!
angelgz2
czarivey
4,494 posts
 
Kijanki, 
I doubt if I will.
I doubt if I want!
40+ years from now is probably too long.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Timlub, caps unused for very long time, as I mentioned before, loose their rated breakdown voltage, but it takes very long time.  Caps might explode because of this, but often when caps are getting very old and dry the avalanche effect (High ESR=heat, heat=higher ESR), can build-up pressure and explode the cap. 

I'm not sure if charged capacitor has more pressure inside, but I'm pretty sure that warm capacitor does, so it might improve the seal, I agree.  I've seen few capacitors leaking, but it was decades ago when capacitors were not up to current design, materials and production standards.

Also, there were some very poor quality electrolytic caps made in China few years ago exploding in computer power supplies.  I would not be surprised to find them also leaking.  A lot of parts are made in China, including pretty much all ceramic caps and quality is excellent, but some Chinese companies might take shortcuts.  I would feel safe with electrolytic caps as long as the are branded by well known companies.  That way my home state "Illinois Capacitor" (now part of Cornell Dubilier) might have factories in China still being very reputable company.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Czarivey, same here
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
I had a 1960 Fender Deluxe guitar amp that had caps that only lasted 45 years…damn…replaced them after noting some leakage (sounded fine with the leaky caps) and afterwards the amp sounded exactly the same. Lesson learned.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
4,908 posts
 
Damn Wolf, cream Tolex with Oxblood grill cloth? Great, great guitar amp.
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