Gear Gets Hots

Posted on

Contributor Since: Sep 09, 2002

no it's not stolen..

when i leave my mixer or my compressor on for long periods of time they get pretty warm wether i'm using them or not. Easily over 100 degrees (100 degrees would be body temperature). Should I be turning my gear off everytime i'm done using it, or is this normal operating temperatures?

[ Back to Top ]


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 03, 2003 10:15 am

well, if you are not using them, it's a good idea to shut them off. At the very least get a cooling fan mounted in your rack...get that hot air outa there...

Bane of All Existence
Member
Since: Mar 27, 2003


Nov 03, 2003 10:24 am

remember that if you're testing temperature relative to your senses, room temperature feels like "normal". 98.6 degree fahrenheit days are pretty hot, even though it's how warm we are inside.

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Nov 03, 2003 10:49 am

anyone can accurately judge 100 degrees by imagining how warm touching a person's body is. my gear feels like maybe 105, cause if i touched a person and they felt that warm i'd be alarmed by such a fever

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Nov 03, 2003 12:00 pm

my mixer gets hot all the time...im guessing its the transformer...

i turn it off when im not using it though...

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Nov 03, 2003 04:31 pm

I never leave my gear on-- If I do it's just by a mistake. It's probably best to leave it off when not using it. My ART TPS (Which I'm really loving these days- especially the Output Protection Limiting and V3 features) must get up to like 200 degrees :o I make sure its at the top of my rack so it doesn't set my other gear ablaze.

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Nov 04, 2003 02:27 am

my room gets to be an oven sometimes because i leave all of my gear on overnight, lemme tell you the amp in the yamaha board can get pretty hot, that and my computer with dual monitors...

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Nov 04, 2003 10:08 am

we've already had some frosts here in the mid-atlantic and i have yet to need to turn my heater on in here. in fact it's been roasting in here latety. my 17" monitor alone kicks off enough heat to keep me comfy-warm.

i can't wait to have a power suppluy/conditioner than i can just plug all my audio gear into and turn it all on or off with one switch

Member
Since: Jan 27, 2003


Nov 04, 2003 11:47 am

Anytime current is being used on equipment it is going to get hot. If you look at the Idle current draw on the equipments spec sheet and the draw is more than milliamps it is going to get hot. Some new equipment is energy compliant. When there is a low current draw from the power supply during a set periood of time it will send the main powersuppy into sleep mode. I do know when equipment changes from hot to cold w/vibration it will cause cold solder on stress points on the equipments pcb after a long period of time.
Bass Heads ontop of a cab are really bad for this.

Long time out of school but something like this voltage x current = wattage
I would have to go back and look at my text books again....that was back in 1982......d@## I'm gettin' old

GutterGimppy

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Nov 17, 2003 12:26 am

I wouldn't worry much about the gear running above body temperature. It's when the gear starts smoking and or smelling bad that you have problems. They all produce a fair amount of heat. Nice in the winter, kind of a hidden feature. But yes, that inherent heat will eventually break down componants so turn the stuff off if it is not in use. Especially anything that has a tube in it. Heat kills tubes. No such thing as a perfect vacume and the filiments will burn through. Normal wear over time...so....make the best use of the time and turn it off when not in use.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Nov 18, 2003 10:41 pm

I have left my gear on 10 to 12 hours at a stretch, and sometimes this goes on for weeks. There has been no ill effects from this practice. When I run all the racks at once, dB can tell you the room temp goes up by about 10 to 15 degrees. In the winter, I will turn all the racks on and leave the door closed for about an hour and its toasty in here.

But that said, Walt is right. Unless you are going to be using it frequantly even for short periods of time, turn it off. But if yo think you will be using the gear several times, it is just about as bad to be turning it on and off 3, 4, 5 times or more per day.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Nov 19, 2003 10:55 pm

Good point Noise, Like a Deisel. Everything spikes on start up and works hard then settles into a quiescent or idle.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Nov 19, 2003 11:47 pm

Love the analogy Walt. Although as you said, I dont recomend leaving equipment on for hours unless you have it serviced on a fairly regular basis, or take extreme care to open your racks, pull out each piece and blow all the dust and crap out once every two or three months. I know the studio may be a mess, but I try very hard to preserve my gear by keeping it clean this way. It prevents it from getting to hot from no airflow through it because all the heat sinks and parts the dissapate heat are covered with a half inch of dust and crud.

Related Forum Topics:



If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.