Tube amp with no power switch

[FullRangeMan]

My suggestion is this made in USA CW switch 16Aac/250V 10,000 cycles at just $4
GTS448F101AHR CW Industries | Switches | DigiKey
Chinese switches typically are 2,000 cycles, though overseas ship in this shop is a PITA.

 

[Japan IV]

Thanks for the additional replies everybody. I ended up circumventing the power switch and using an APC switched surge protector I had somewhere else in the house. When I'm done I switch it off then unplug it from the wall. Works great!

 

[DF96]

So. Just replace the switch with a higher-amperage one. Seriously.
End of discussion in my book.

He said the switch broke - he didn't say how it broke. It could have been that the toggle came off in his hand or some other piece of plastic just snapped.

If it was back emf damaging the contacts then the best solution is not a bigger switch (unless the original was underspecified) but a cap or snubber across the transformer primary.

 

[zacster]

"Alexa, turn on the tubes".

I never go anywhere near my power switches anymore.

"Alexa, play classic rock" and classic rock comes out of my system. Not the best sounding but good enough for background music.

The TP-Link outlet switch that I use has a built in soft start.

 

[Burnedfingers]

Its funny how amplifiers such as the Allen model 75 have lasted all these years without a soft start and with solid state rectifiers. I'm curious as to why some think its necessary to either have a rectifier like the 5AR4 or a soft start circuit. We aren't dealing with output tubes needing to be fed heater voltage first warmed up before the B+ is turned on. I don't see anything mentioned that has large transmitter tubes as output tubes that would need heater first followed by delayed B+.

 

[Burnedfingers]

I have my mono block amps plugged into an outlet strip that I turn on or off and I leave the power switches on the amps in the on position simply because I don't enjoy replacing their power switches every 4 or 5 years.

 

[soulmerchant]

The $4 NKK switch in my picture is good for minimum 25'000 cycles.

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/NKK-Switches/S2A/

I have used these and ones like them for years without failure. I remember when they cost less than $2..

 

[Burnedfingers]

Unfortunately I have slide type switches and its harder to find a good one.