Re: Amp on vs on/off on/off

in <2005093021423616807%jschur@verizonmailcom>,
John Schur <jschur@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> said:
> On 2005-09-30 19:55:12 -0400, "Guncho" <cgunter@xxxxxxxxxxx> said:
>
> >
> > Jim Anable wrote:
> >> Guncho wrote:
> >>
> >>> John Schur wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Hey All
> >>>>
> >>>> Is there an accepted practice regarding leaving a tube amp on for
> >>>> several hours at a time as opposed to turning the amp on and off when
> >>>> not being played during those several hour periods. I generally play
> >>>> for fifteen minutes or a half hour at a time with breaks of at least
> >>>> that length. If I'm planning on such a session lasting several (3-4)
> >>>> hours am I hurting the amp by leaving it on during the lulls?
> >>>>
> >>>> Regards
> >>>>
> >>>> John
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Just put it on standby.
> >>
> >> I think he already said that the amp doesn't have standby. Or was that
> >> another recent thread?
> >
> > Beats me?
> >
> > Chris
>
> Affirmative... my Reverend Goblin has no stand-by. I have been turning
> the volume down to zero when I'm not playing... don't know if that
> makes any difference.


any electrical gadget warms up (expands) when power is applied, and contracts
a bit when it cools. this can _theoretically_ cause microscopic fractures in
the component (ala metal fatigue) and can lead to a shortened life. (This is
what wears out lightbulb filaments, which are similar to tube heaters). Turning
on the power is probably the most "traumatic" thing you can do, (which is when
the bulbs almost always burn out) while leaving it on isn't nearly as bad.

but yeah, leave it on and turn down the volume; unless you're worried about your
utility bill :)


.

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