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Post subject: Turn it off or leave it running?
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 3:44 pm
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Hey guys. I have a pretty basic question for the technical minded. I play guitar for around three hours per day and was wondering. Say i take a fifteen minute break every hour. Is it better to turn off my BJr then restart it or should I just leave it running. I am afraid there may be damaging voltage spikes if I keep turning it off and on but to leave it on during breaks is a waste of electricity and will burn out the tubes prematurally. Or does it really matter?


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Post subject: Re: Turn it off or leave it running?
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:00 pm
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Leave it on.

It is the heating/cooling cycles that are detrimental to electronic devices. You might waste a small amount of electricity, and you might not, but certainly better for the tubes and other components to remain warm once they are warmed up. Depending on how long the amp is turned off, you can use as much electricity turning it back on and warming up, than if you just left it on for a few minutes.

Considering 6 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity used, an amp using 100 watts at idle (to make the math easy) for 10 hours, will cost 6 cents for the entire 10 hours. So leaving your amp idling for 15 or 30 minutes, or even a hour, will cost virtually nothing.

This is the perfect time to use a standby switch if you have one. The standby is a good compromise, keeping the tubes warm not hot, but using less electricity and reducing the heat given off by the tubes during breaks.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


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Post subject: Re: Turn it off or leave it running?
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 4:39 pm
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Thanks Shimmilou. Sounds like solid advice.


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Post subject: Re: Turn it off or leave it running?
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 6:29 am
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this makes sense. i see some tube amps with no standby switch, and the guys using them just leave the amps on during a break


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Post subject: Re: Turn it off or leave it running?
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 3:33 pm
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+1 shimmilou


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