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Post subject: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:06 am
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Before posting I did a search for "standby" and discovered, to my great surprise, that this topic is somewhat controversial and people tend to have strong opinions regarding the use or non-use of the standby switch. It is not my intention to start a debate or open up a can of worms, so instead of asking the obvious question I'll ask this one instead. What, exactly, does the standby switch do?

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:46 am
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The standby switch removes the high-voltage B+ from the plates of the power tubes. The heater voltage remains, keeping the tubes warm and available for instantaneous use.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:13 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
The standby switch removes the high-voltage B+ from the plates of the power tubes. The heater voltage remains, keeping the tubes warm and available for instantaneous use.

HTH

Arjay


+1

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 11:36 am
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Thanks for the feedback, guys.

Besides maintaining the heater voltage to keep the tubes warm, does the Standby have any other effect on the pre-amp tubes? I'm assuming the pre-amp tubes do not get any high-voltage B+ but, as always, my assumption may be incorrect.

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 1:47 pm
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
Thanks for the feedback, guys.

Besides maintaining the heater voltage to keep the tubes warm, does the Standby have any other effect on the pre-amp tubes? I'm assuming the pre-amp tubes do not get any high-voltage B+ but, as always, my assumption may be incorrect.


Actually, the standby switch disconnects the high voltage from ALL the tubes in the amp (except the rectifier, of course). The B+ just happens to be the first in line in the power supply circuit. See examples, below:

http://support.fender.com/schematics/gu ... ematic.pdf

http://support.fender.com/schematics/gu ... ematic.pdf

http://support.fender.com/schematics/gu ... _Rev-B.pdf

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 2:06 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
Actually, the standby switch disconnects the high voltage from ALL the tubes in the amp (except the rectifier, of course). The B+ just happens to be the first in line in the power supply circuit.


+1, Bill

I should've mentioned that as well.

:oops:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 5:24 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
bluesky636 wrote:
Actually, the standby switch disconnects the high voltage from ALL the tubes in the amp (except the rectifier, of course). The B+ just happens to be the first in line in the power supply circuit.


+1, Bill

I should've mentioned that as well.

:oops:

Arjay


Hey, that's OK. As you get older, the memory is the first to go. I always forget what the second thing is. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:14 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
bluesky636 wrote:
Actually, the standby switch disconnects the high voltage from ALL the tubes in the amp (except the rectifier, of course). The B+ just happens to be the first in line in the power supply circuit.


+1, Bill

I should've mentioned that as well.

:oops:

Arjay


Hey, that's OK. As you get older, the memory is the first to go. I always forget what the second thing is. :lol: :lol: :lol:


Indeed.

My wife tells me I've entered the tertiary stages of CRS.

(of course, she's also told me I suffer from DKS as well)

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:17 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
Actually, the standby switch disconnects the high voltage from ALL the tubes in the amp (except the rectifier, of course).
Thanks for the clarification, Bill. With the Standby engaged all the tubes remain toasty and ready to rock.

Given a duration of time, let's take 3 hours as an example, and a tube amp, say a HRD, would it be correct to say that A would take the greatest toll on the tubes and F the least?

    A. Playing a guitar through the amp on the Drive channel at Drive = 6, Master = 6
    B. Playing a guitar through the amp on the Clean channel at Volume = 6.
    C. Leaving the amp ON but not playing through it.
    D. Leaving the amp on Standby.
    E. Turning the amp ON.
    F. Taking shimmilou's advice and making sure the amp is OFF and UNPLUGGED 8)

(edited to correct A. & B. which were reversed)

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Last edited by Bluer Monkey on Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:25 pm
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It is the heating (switching the amp on) and the cooling (switching the amp off) that exacts the greatest toll on the life of a tube. Once warmed to standard operating parameters, you can push one 24/7/365 and it'll be perfectly content to perform its mission throughout the entire design envelope.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:00 pm
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That sums it up perfectly Retroverbial. It really goes for all electronic devices, even solid-state, like TV, stereo, even light bulbs, etc.

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 9:29 pm
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Switching any electronic device on and off is a bigger strain on the device then leaving it on continuously. Of course, leaving it on continuously will run up your electric bill. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 11:18 pm
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Residential kilowatt-hours are a bargain compared to some NOS tubes.

:lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 12:35 am
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Arjay, "Ready-Kilowatt" sure isn't as much fun as a quad of these puppies. :D

http://www.hifitown.com/pictures/tubequ ... 6gc18d.jpg


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Post subject: Re: The Standby
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 2:53 am
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Oh yeah......THE HOLY GRAIL!!!

8)

Arjay

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