Hi I just purchased a Crown XTi 800 amplifier to power my home subwoofers. This is a PA amp but is often used in home audio due to its quiet fan.
Can I use one of these smart plug below in link that uses the Australian (I am in Australia) 240V house supply wall socket. The smart plug allows wifi access with an on and off function included that can be can controlled via a phone.
Effectively I would be powering the amp on and off through the wall socket with my phone. Is this ok or perhaps harmful to the amp.
Tim
TP-Link KASA KP115 Smart Plug With Energy Monitoring - Bunnings Australia
Can I use one of these smart plug below in link that uses the Australian (I am in Australia) 240V house supply wall socket. The smart plug allows wifi access with an on and off function included that can be can controlled via a phone.
Effectively I would be powering the amp on and off through the wall socket with my phone. Is this ok or perhaps harmful to the amp.
Tim
TP-Link KASA KP115 Smart Plug With Energy Monitoring - Bunnings Australia
You can use the smart plug without any issue to the amplifier. However I don't think the XTi amplifiers have soft start circuitry and even though the switch is rated for 10 amps, the relay inside it probably isn't suitable for repeatedly switching on a large power amplifier because of the inrush current. I wouldn't be surprised if the smart switch failed after a few months.
Keep an eye on the temperature of the switch. If the relay contacts bounce and arc at switch-on, the contacts will become pitted with use and then may overheat and melt the case of the switch. You will not know this is happening until it fails. Personally I think it's a bad idea. I've had problems with similar remote switches (not wifi), even ones sold as 'heavy duty'. Keep your insurance up to date.
I checked there website says the kasa k100 plug can be used up to 13 amps and 1800 watts my amplifier is only 200 watts RMS x 2 output. But it also says not to use with items that have an irregular current draw.
Tim
Tim
From the FAQ: Please also note some devices have very high peak current when it powers on and that high peak current would also damage the smart plug".
What should I do if my smart plug feels warm? | TP-Link Australia
The inductance of the transformer in a big amplifier's power supply causes arcing (sparks) when the switch relay contacts make and break. As well the amplifier will draw a lot more current than the switch relay is rated for until the power supply capacitors are charged up. Once the power amplifier is on and stable (which only takes a fraction of a second) the power amplifier doesn't drawer many watts.
It is the arcing and heating of the relay's contacts at turn on due to the amplifier's high energy power supply that will cause premature failure of the relay. A 2400 watt heater is actually an easier load to control for the relay inside the smart switch.
What should I do if my smart plug feels warm? | TP-Link Australia
The inductance of the transformer in a big amplifier's power supply causes arcing (sparks) when the switch relay contacts make and break. As well the amplifier will draw a lot more current than the switch relay is rated for until the power supply capacitors are charged up. Once the power amplifier is on and stable (which only takes a fraction of a second) the power amplifier doesn't drawer many watts.
It is the arcing and heating of the relay's contacts at turn on due to the amplifier's high energy power supply that will cause premature failure of the relay. A 2400 watt heater is actually an easier load to control for the relay inside the smart switch.
Thanks John I'll take the one I have back I won't risk it, I'll just have to get up off my lazy *** and turn it on.
Tim
Tim
Would there be sufficient internal space for an intrepid DIYer to install/upgrade the Crown’s mains input to include something like say Neurochrome’s ISS module, which should sufficiently reduce the in-rush current and risk of damage to the smart outlet’s components?
Intelligent Soft Start: High-End Amplifier Soft Start and Remote Start – Neurochrome
Yep. That'd be a good choice.
Nominally the ISS is designed to be used with a 12 V trigger signal and/or a front-panel switch, but you can wire it such that it turns itself on when the mains voltage is applied. In that case it'll simply limit the inrush current whenever the mains voltage is applied to the amp.
Tom
Nominally the ISS is designed to be used with a 12 V trigger signal and/or a front-panel switch, but you can wire it such that it turns itself on when the mains voltage is applied. In that case it'll simply limit the inrush current whenever the mains voltage is applied to the amp.
Tom