power amp remote turn-on

wayne325 · 28th July 2006, 03:52 PM

Hello,

It seems that the large caps used in power supplies have a limited
lifetime and this problem is made worse by turning the amp on and
off each time it is used. Since I have Aleph 2s, leaving them on all the
time is not an option.

So, it seems there is the option of remote turn-on, whereby the amp
itself is not powered but the power supply is always energized.

I want to change the switch wiring and in parallel add a relay to do the
amp turn-on; the power supply would be energized whenever the
amps are plugged in. Of course I would retain the fuse as the primary
safety that can shut the whole thing down in case of problem.

I have a couple questions:

1) for an aleph 2, does one just power off the entire amp (ie everything
after the PS caps) with the
switch/relay, basically cutting all the amp from the PS? Or does one
just power off the output stage transistors - the voltage amp stays
powered up all the time.

2) is there a preferred relay for this purpose? I have 24V DC supply in
my preamp already so I would use 24V relays and wire the power amps
up to the preamp switch. I was looking at 8A relays but there are 20A
and 30A relays also and I prefer more overhead but want to have
high quality relays, I only need 2 so a couple extra dollars each does
not bother me.

3) Has anyone had bad experience with large turn-on/off pops
at the speakers as a result of this mod?

THanks for any replies!!!

Nelson Pass · 28th July 2006, 06:34 PM

The concern about the reliability of the big electrolytics is
not worth sleepless nights.

Over 35 years my experience is that they take a lot of abuse
and heat and last 15 to 30 years. I make no effort to extend
the life of capacitors, and when they die of old age I stick new
ones in.

wayne325 · 28th July 2006, 11:50 PM

Nelson -

Always a thrill to read your musings, even more so when it's an answer
to a question I posed !!!!

Thanks for the info.

Given this I may still do the remote turn-on one day, just for the
"coolness" factor !!! But I will probably wait longer now, I have other
things on the go.

Cheers!!!

W.

28th July 2006, 03:52 PM	#1
wayne325 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas	power amp remote turn-on Hello, It seems that the large caps used in power supplies have a limited lifetime and this problem is made worse by turning the amp on and off each time it is used. Since I have Aleph 2s, leaving them on all the time is not an option. So, it seems there is the option of remote turn-on, whereby the amp itself is not powered but the power supply is always energized. I want to change the switch wiring and in parallel add a relay to do the amp turn-on; the power supply would be energized whenever the amps are plugged in. Of course I would retain the fuse as the primary safety that can shut the whole thing down in case of problem. I have a couple questions: 1) for an aleph 2, does one just power off the entire amp (ie everything after the PS caps) with the switch/relay, basically cutting all the amp from the PS? Or does one just power off the output stage transistors - the voltage amp stays powered up all the time. 2) is there a preferred relay for this purpose? I have 24V DC supply in my preamp already so I would use 24V relays and wire the power amps up to the preamp switch. I was looking at 8A relays but there are 20A and 30A relays also and I prefer more overhead but want to have high quality relays, I only need 2 so a couple extra dollars each does not bother me. 3) Has anyone had bad experience with large turn-on/off pops at the speakers as a result of this mod? THanks for any replies!!!

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28th July 2006, 06:34 PM	#2
Nelson Pass The one and only Join Date: Mar 2001	The concern about the reliability of the big electrolytics is not worth sleepless nights. Over 35 years my experience is that they take a lot of abuse and heat and last 15 to 30 years. I make no effort to extend the life of capacitors, and when they die of old age I stick new ones in.

28th July 2006, 11:50 PM	#3
wayne325 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas	Nelson - Always a thrill to read your musings, even more so when it's an answer to a question I posed !!!! Thanks for the info. Given this I may still do the remote turn-on one day, just for the "coolness" factor !!! But I will probably wait longer now, I have other things on the go. Cheers!!! W.

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