I have an Audio Research D-70 tube power amp, and in the manual it says that when running the amp a constricted environment, ensure "ambient air temperate" does not exceed 50C. Where should take this measurement? Above the tube cage? Off to one side?
That makes me think they want a temp close to the amplifier, measuring the temperature the amp is experiencing.
It’s open at the front and back, so there’s some ventilation. I want to see what actual temps are to see if I need to add fans.
In that case you are not interested in the ambient temperature, you are interested in the temperature in/near the case.
Ambient is just what is says, the temperature of your ambient, the place where you are, the place/room in which the amp sits.
The ambient temp is specified because it is the 'base' temp to which the temp rise of the amp has to be added to get the amp temp.
Example: the max temp allowed in your amp is 80C. The amp temp rise in operation is 45C. Therefor, the max ambient in your room should not go above 35C otherwise the amp gets above the max of 80C.
Jan
Ambient is just what is says, the temperature of your ambient, the place where you are, the place/room in which the amp sits.
The ambient temp is specified because it is the 'base' temp to which the temp rise of the amp has to be added to get the amp temp.
Example: the max temp allowed in your amp is 80C. The amp temp rise in operation is 45C. Therefor, the max ambient in your room should not go above 35C otherwise the amp gets above the max of 80C.
Jan
Actually, with an amplifier that puts out a lot of heat, you should measure the ambient room temperature
even before turning the amp on. Somewhere in the middle of the room, away from walls, floor, and ceiling.
Boundary surfaces, and the air nearby, will tend to be warmer or cooler than the air in the middle of the room.
even before turning the amp on. Somewhere in the middle of the room, away from walls, floor, and ceiling.
Boundary surfaces, and the air nearby, will tend to be warmer or cooler than the air in the middle of the room.
I have always used at least a couple of 80mm computer fans (12V but run at 5-6V to quiet them) for any valve amps. Now I have a Class A Accuphase E-800 in a cabinet with doors but no back. The 2 fans I use now suck hot air out, ducted, to the open back. A remote probe thermometer sits on top of the cabinet with the probe siting on the vents of the amp. About 23-25 deg ambient and 49 deg on the amp. Seems to work.
Measure the intake temperature. Even without a fan, an amplifier sucks cold air in, and blows heated air out. I'd measure at the side where air flows to the hot tubes, at the level of the sockets, but not too close to the tubes.
Ambient definition:
Relating to the immediate surroundings of something.
Ambient is different for the resistor in the chassis, the amplifier on the shelf, the person in the room......
Relating to the immediate surroundings of something.
Ambient is different for the resistor in the chassis, the amplifier on the shelf, the person in the room......
Based on what you’re all saying, I’ll take the measurement next to the amp, near the base level of the tubes. It doesn’t make sense that the room would be 120F, so I assume ARC means the “ambient temperature inside the cabinet”.
It doesn’t make any sense that an ambient room temperature would reach 120F. Even if it did, that spec should apply to anywhere the amp is located, no?
They don’t specify any other temperature. No maximum. Your example uses 80C for the amp its self, but no such value is provided by ARC.
Ambient room temperature only had a broad effect on the temperature inside an enclosed space, which would vary greatly based on the size of the space and the amount of airflow. Therefore, it seems to make much more sense to assume “ambient operating temperature* means the temperature in the space where the amp is operating.
They don’t specify any other temperature. No maximum. Your example uses 80C for the amp its self, but no such value is provided by ARC.
Ambient room temperature only had a broad effect on the temperature inside an enclosed space, which would vary greatly based on the size of the space and the amount of airflow. Therefore, it seems to make much more sense to assume “ambient operating temperature* means the temperature in the space where the amp is operating.
Simple! Just wait an infinite amount of time for your sensor to reach ambient temperature, then attach sensor to heat source and wait and infinite amount of time before taking the reading. If you want true audiophile precision.
</physics joke over>
</physics joke over>
Are you saying that I should interpret the manual as meaning “as long as the ambient room temperature is less than 120F, everything is fine, regardless of where the amplifier is located, or what the actual temperature at the amplifier is”?
Hhaha! You start out by asking what ambient means, and now you're telling the rest of the world what it really means.
You crack me up!
Jan
You crack me up!
Jan