Amp Camp Amp 1.6 - Power Consumption

Hi Zen Mod. I have a standard build Amp Camp Amp V1.6 with the 24V SMPS. I am not sure what you mean by "1A6". Is that 1.6 Amps? So 1.6 Amp x 24V = 38.4 Watts? Or using TungstenAudio's reply 1.45 A x 24V = 34.8 Watts? I have now had the ACA 'ON' for over 200 hours burning it in (if there is such a thing as burning in!) and it is sounding phenomenally good. A thermometer sitting on top of the heat sinks is consistently 45 C with the room temperature around 20 to 25 C.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Just looked up my test notes for the ACA build I did, at 24VDC supply (linear regulator) and 1.35 amps bias, that gives you a power dissipation in the output stage to be 32.4 watts per channel - so 65 watts in a stereo chassis. The temp of the heatsink (enclosure supplied with kit from the DiyA store) immediately above the output device was a comfortable 55 degC.
 
To throw some further light on the power consumption of the Nelson Pass Class A Amp Camp Amp V1.6 with the 24VDC 5 AMP SMPS I purchased a ‘Reduction Revolution’ Plug-in Power Meter (Model: RRPM02) for A$25 (US$17). This model was tested by the Australian Consumers Association and found to be accurate at this price point. I tested it on a light bulb marked 72 W and the Reduction Revolution measured it as 74.3 W.

I then tested the Amp Camp Amp and it measured between 71.0 W and 72.1 W depending on the day, but averaged around 71.5 W. This converts to 0.0715 kW and 0.0715 kW/h. My cost of electricity is AUD 31 cents (US 21 cents) per kW/h including the monthly supply charge. So the ACA costs about AUD 2.2 cents (USD 1.4 cents) per hour. If you run the ACA for 24 hours it will cost about AUD 53 cents (USD 36 cents). The Amp Camp Amp drew an average of 71.5 W regardless of whether it was playing music or not.

This compares to my Class AB Modulus-86 Mono Blocks which draw a total of 15.4 W according to the ‘Reduction Revolution’ Plug-in Power Meter. So the cost is about AUD 0.5 cents (USD 0.3 cents) per hour. If you run the Modulus-86 Mono Blocks for 24 hours it will cost about AUD 12 cents (USD 8 cents).