Your welcome Stu.
First off, Kal is the expert and he knows his gear backwards and forwards. So you should follow his advice. Second, I understand your question about separate circuits and ground wire issues, but I think a separate house circuit is proporational to your concerns.
Now, if with a separate dedicated circuit, you are still experiencing "brown-out" type problems when using other applicances, it may very well be that you need a larger electric service. That's a horse of another color.
As to whether you may be harming your amp with power surges and the like, unless Kal was concerned, who am I to say more. ARC gear is pretty robustly built stuff and holds up pretty well.
You mentioned that you see tube bias drift at different times. Yes, line voltage conditions will affect tube bias voltage readings. Utility companies often adjust line voltage in reponse to unusual weather conditions or customer power usage demands. Nothing you can do about that.
What is interesting is that the bias readings went in different directions in response to line voltage changes. That's definitely strange. The only thing that comes to mind is that you might be ready for a tube change. ARC recommends retubing the power tubes at 2000 hours. I think the VSi60 also uses (2) 6H30 driver tubes. ARC recommends switching these guys out at about 3500 to 4000 hours. If you are approaching or have exceeded those number of hours, you're do. DO NOT wait until a tube blows. It may take out a bias resister and that means a service call.
Btw, can the VSi60 take KT-120s? I don't recall if you mentioned anything about your tubes. If you're still using 6550s and you're ready for a retube, ask Kal about using KT-120s. They sound wonderful.
So unless Kal is concerned about the unusual pattern of your amp's bias voltage drift, I wouldn't be concerned either. As I said above, ARC gear is very robustly built. Other than replacing tubes and an occasional blown bias resister, it's pretty maintenance free. At least, that has been my experience and my whole system is ARC.
Regards and let us know how you make out.
Bruce
First off, Kal is the expert and he knows his gear backwards and forwards. So you should follow his advice. Second, I understand your question about separate circuits and ground wire issues, but I think a separate house circuit is proporational to your concerns.
Now, if with a separate dedicated circuit, you are still experiencing "brown-out" type problems when using other applicances, it may very well be that you need a larger electric service. That's a horse of another color.
As to whether you may be harming your amp with power surges and the like, unless Kal was concerned, who am I to say more. ARC gear is pretty robustly built stuff and holds up pretty well.
You mentioned that you see tube bias drift at different times. Yes, line voltage conditions will affect tube bias voltage readings. Utility companies often adjust line voltage in reponse to unusual weather conditions or customer power usage demands. Nothing you can do about that.
What is interesting is that the bias readings went in different directions in response to line voltage changes. That's definitely strange. The only thing that comes to mind is that you might be ready for a tube change. ARC recommends retubing the power tubes at 2000 hours. I think the VSi60 also uses (2) 6H30 driver tubes. ARC recommends switching these guys out at about 3500 to 4000 hours. If you are approaching or have exceeded those number of hours, you're do. DO NOT wait until a tube blows. It may take out a bias resister and that means a service call.
Btw, can the VSi60 take KT-120s? I don't recall if you mentioned anything about your tubes. If you're still using 6550s and you're ready for a retube, ask Kal about using KT-120s. They sound wonderful.
So unless Kal is concerned about the unusual pattern of your amp's bias voltage drift, I wouldn't be concerned either. As I said above, ARC gear is very robustly built. Other than replacing tubes and an occasional blown bias resister, it's pretty maintenance free. At least, that has been my experience and my whole system is ARC.
Regards and let us know how you make out.
Bruce