2. amps-preamps
  3. 1388050814

When to power off a tube amp?

So I just got new tubes for my Lyr and really don't want to damage these tubes and want them to last for as long as possible. So I had a few questions and was hoping you guys could help me, thanks.

1) Should I turn off the amp if I am going to away for like an hour or so? Would that decrease the life of my tubes more than leaving it on that whole time I am not using them?

2) Should I let my tubes warm up before using them? If so, how long should I wait?

3) Is unplugging my headphones before turning off my amp necessary?

And just a random question out of curiosity, what if you use two different tubes in a tube amp? lol.

Thank you guys, any help would be much appreciated.
highrolller
jburidan
672 posts
 
I unplug my 300B SET monoblocks when I'm not using them because they consume lots of electricity, and leave other equipment on 24/7.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Any tube amplifier should never be left unattended. (""More than an hour"") The tube amp could burn down your house in fifteen minutes.. I would say ten minute unattended is max if you do not like taking chances with catastrophe.
Now tube amps blowingup and starting on fire in not common. but still possible and not a good risk to leave unattended.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
2,678 posts
 
1-Turn off when unattended
2-Warm up is usually about 15 minutes
3-unplugging headphones is not necessary
4- Stop worrying and enjoy!
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
2,678 posts
 
BTW, you can use different tubes as long as they are the same type!
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
If you go out for just an hour or so leave them on. So long as you home insurance is paid up.

Turning off is not so much the problem, it's the turn on that is the tube deteriorator in most amps.
As nearly all of them bring on the heater supply and the HT(high tension) supply immediately. That means the HT hits a cold tube.

In nearly all the tube amps I've built I bought the heaters on first with the main switch and with a 30sec auto delay circuit then the HT was connected automatically. So there wasn't a sudden shock to a cold tube with the HT.

Cheers George
More to discover