Author Topic: Tube power consumption...  (Read 3036 times)

OldiesButGoodies

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Tube power consumption...
« on: March 11, 2013, 08:45:47 PM »
Every once in a while I forget to turn off the 305s and find them glowing hot the next day.  This leads me to ask:  tubes have a "heat dissipation" spec measured in watts - the KT120 is 60 watts I think - is each 305 chugging 60x6 = 360 watts continuously when on or is it dependent on signal strength?  Is it consuming even more since there is heat dissipation all over from the transformers to the outputs? (is it like a class A amp or more like class AB?)  My sense is that it depends on the design of the tube amp,  but thought I would ask and get educated.  Thanks.

Offline TNRabbit

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Re: Tube power consumption...
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2013, 10:00:30 PM »
They are supposed to idle at a relatively low idle current:

"The Black Beauty 305 Mono Block Amplifier is the perfect blend of form and function and the ideal choice for serious music listeners. This amplifier was designed to drive the most demanding speakers and features a high impedance input, an automatic DC restorer circuit, a "set and forget" bias adjustment, and low idle current which greatly increases output tube life."
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Offline TNRabbit

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Re: Tube power consumption...
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2013, 10:01:31 PM »
From the website: 

Output Tube Idle Power:   Less than 14W each
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Sunfire Theater Grand-IV Processor/Sunfire Cinema Seven Signature Amp
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Offline OCCD

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Re: Tube power consumption...
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2013, 05:52:19 PM »
Rabbit is correct.
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OldiesButGoodies

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Re: Tube power consumption...
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2013, 06:51:50 PM »
Ok - thanks for the answer.  I should have RTFM (a copy of which my dealer did not provide  :P)

Pepe

Offline thuffman03

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Re: Tube power consumption...
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2013, 11:54:18 AM »
Owners manual and white sheets can be found:  http://www.bobcarver.com/vta305.asp
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Offline SHEEVS

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Re: Tube power consumption...
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2013, 05:26:39 PM »
breaker breaker