How much is your electricity bill?

[HeadSh0T]

I'm considering building an amp for the first time but seeing the power ratings on transformers people are using is scaring me..

You guys must pay a lot for electricity.

Do I need a high-current circuit in my house to prevent tripping the circuit breakers every time the amp is switched on?

I'm thinking about building either an Aleph30 or Aleph5..

Although the power consumption for these two are 200W and 300W respectively, people are using 1KVA transformers! why is that?

[stefanobilliani]

You guys must pay a lot for electricity.

Yes , every time the bill is bigger

I'm considering building an amp for the first time but seeing the power ratings on transformers people are using is scaring me..

Don't be scared of transformers they are friendly tools

Do I need a high-current circuit in my house to prevent tripping the circuit breakers every time the amp is switched on?

Here in Italy we have 3000Watts at the house circuits and 2 zens V2/channel never tripped the breakers

I'm thinking about building either an Aleph30 or Aleph5..

Why not?

Although the power consumption for these two are 200W and 300W respectively, people are using 1KVA transformers! why is that?

That is to assure the PS continuous and stable , read the article regarding Power Supplies at
Passlabs.com

[Nelson Pass]

Teenage children are much harder on the electric bill than
power amplifiers.

[Lisandro_P]

It's a matter of design; using a transformer rated for more VA than you need ensures better regulation, less electromagnetic noise (as there's more iron to harness it), and runs cooler. The rating only matters when you first power the amp (hence the need for soft start circuits in really big ones), but once the magnetic field is stabilished it'll only consume what you need, no matter the VA rating. It's not uncommon to use transformers rated for 2x you power needs; in fact it's a good idea.

[HeadSh0T]

I see.. Thanks Lisandro, stefano. I was worried that the lights in my house would dim when I turned on the amp.. and not just mine but my neighbors' as well! (j/k) my wife's hair blower already does that!


I don't have teenage kids.. i've only been married for 3 yrs so I'm the principal consumer of power in my house now.

Already paying through the nose for electricity and natural gas...
I guess a little more wouldn't hurt..

[Lisandro_P]

Dimming lights are *cool*! I had a hv powersupply that draw a lot of power on turnon and dimmed the lights on the room... i felt like Dr. Frankenstein

[jleaman]

Originally posted by Nelson Pass
Teenage children are much harder on the electric bill than
power amplifiers.

So your saying that i cost more. LOL

I can believe that when my amps are done. : o)

[till]

How much is your electricity bill?

Too much.

[SY]

How much is your electricity bill?

More than the GNP of seven or eight Third World countries. Teens may be hard on the budget, but my wife is even harder on it.

[jackinnj]

Originally posted by Nelson Pass
Teenage children are much harder on the electric bill than
power amplifiers.

College kids are harder on the budget than teens. 4 years of college w room, board and beer money is about a "large and a half". Of course, due to the fact that our socialist legislature in the Peoples Republic of NJ drove out insurance competition, you can easily pay ten grand for a couple cars if you have teens.

In the summer, our electricity can run about $600/mo.