Cooling down before you power off?

[lex666]

Hi Guys,

I understand the benefits of warming up your tube amp before playing, but does anyone here let it cool off before powering off?

I always let mine cool off in standby mode for a little while... But then sometimes, I'll forget to shut the power off...

Is this a myth or is there actual benefits to cooling off? Do I risk damage if I power off right away? I'd rather do that than leave it on standby all nite...

Thanks,

 

[ErikH]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

Standby just allows the heaters to stay warm and keeps the filter caps charged without any outside signal coming through. It's just a more efficient way of powering them up. You wouldn't start your car with the gas to the floor, would you? I've always powered mine down without putting it on standby. This helps drain those caps as much as possible. If you were to put it on standby, then power down, some charge is left in the caps. Try it, but flip the standby switch off after the amp is off. It will come on briefly while the caps drain. There's no risk of damage really.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

Erik that's rather interesting.

I've never heard of powering down before going into standby. I've always went into standby for 30 seconds then powered down.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

The reason to put it on Standby after powering off is so that you don't have to worry about making sure it is on Standby next time you power up.

Leaving it on Standby for 30 seconds before powering off does nothing but waste 30 seconds of electricity. If anything, allow the amp to cool at least 10-15 minutes before moving it (i.e. loading it up for transport).

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

I've just always hit both switches at the same time. I've had the same amp since 1993 and it ain't blowed up on me none yet.

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

I just turn mine off, then on when I need it. But no standby switches on the C30. I do turn the volume all the way down before I turn it off, and when I power up I let it warm up for a minute or two with the volume down.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

All my amps pop if you power them straight down, isn't that bad for them?

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

All my amps pop if you power them straight down, isn't that bad for them?

My C30 does sometimes, but I think its only if I don't turn it down all the way first.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

I usually use the standby on switch-on and at rest between sets, and switch to standby, then off, so that I don't get the popping when I've finished.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

I like to let the amp idle for a minute or two on STANDBY, before shutting it off. But the Mesa's have cooling fans, so that minute or two helps to really cool the amp off.

I think the important thing here is to be aware that jostling the tubes when they are HOT could lead to premature failure. You need to wait at least a few minutes before throwing the amp into the back of the van.

Bill

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

Yeah, my amp is always the last thing I load up, to give it chance to cool completely.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

Think about this..... you power up and leave the amp on standby to get the tubes warmed up, get 'em hot, before playing, right? Now, doesn't it sound silly to think that putting the amp back on standby before shutdown cools them off?

 

[aleclee]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

Letting an amp "cool off" in standby before shutting it off is pointless.

Letting the tubes cool off (by being turned completely off) before moving the amp is a very good idea.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

:werd:

 

[baritone]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

Think about this..... you power up and leave the amp on standby to get the tubes warmed up, get 'em hot, before playing, right? Now, doesn't it sound silly to think that putting the amp back on standby before shutdown cools them off?

That's what I was thinking. When you're done playing, and you keep the amp on standby, the tubes are kept hot. I usually reverse the order, but I don't really wait in between switches.

 

[LJ King]

Re: Cooling down before you power off?

Any power up or power down ritual you want to use is fine. They will all have the same effect - none.

Standby switches are necessary for transmission tubes with a thousand (and usually several thousand) B+ volts, not for receiving tubes with 600 volts or less. They do prevent cathode stripping with high voltage levels, but the voltage level in tube guitar amps isn't high enough to cause any cathode stripping.

Current flow through any tube will not begin until the filament has heated up the cathode sufficiently to emit electrons. It's not possible to "shock" a tube with application of B+ voltage, as for example, having the standby in the operate position and just turning the power switch on.