How hot does your amp get?

[fishyfishfish]

Just a quick question: Biased up my Bogner to 32mA, amp sounds like it should, played a medium club and back of the amp was hot. Really hot. checked the bias again and same: 32mA, should I just install a fan, or am I missing something with the "Up side down" chassis?
Or am I just being a worry wart sissy pants.
Fish.

 

[fluff191]

You are being a worry wart sissy pants.





The upside down chassis doesnt evacuate heat as good as an upside right chassis. Its ok though.

 

[94Tremoverb]

If you can't keep your hand on the back surface of the chassis or the top of the power transformer cover for more than a few seconds, it's too hot - at that temperature things like electrolytic caps start to degrade faster than normal. Anything less than that is fine.

You can fit a fan if you're worried, and actually it's better to aim it at the power transformer, which is the main source of heat other than the tubes themselves, and will conduct a lot into the chassis which is more where you don't want it. The tubes are meant to run hot, it won't hurt them.

 

[Old BF Shred]

Especially in a "combo" (upside down) mount chassis, you can't go wrong with a fan. :wink:

Heat reduces life of electronic components. A fan will pay for itself over the years on not paying for parts and repairs. I recommend adding an on/off switch to it to eliminate the noise if you want to record.

It's cheap insurance, either way.

 

[gonzo]

iv'e always run a fan in the back of my boogie....


and it has never overheated, tripped, or burned a tube out.

i guarantee i got an extra 6 months of power tube life out of my 6l6's when i was gigging full time, just from the fan.

unplug it when you're recording.

 

[fishyfishfish]

Thanks for the replies. Never had an inverted-head-with-no-fan besides my lonestar. Just normal paranoia from the right side up club.