Power went out while playing on valve amp

karoo

HI guys.

Just need to share my f@cking frustration with you. While playing on my mesa, the municipal power went out. What the hel!!!!??????

What are the problems that can occur on a amp due to power failures? Shit, I hope she's ok, but I'm not gonna test her now!

F%#%$#% sakes!!!!!!!

MikeM

It's like turning your amp off? Unless there was a power spike, which would probably blow a fuse or two?

VellaJ

As MikeM said. Basically it's flicking the power switch without going through "standby." Valves are pretty hardy things when it comes to this, my dad still has valve radio equipment.

Just unplug it before the power comes back on, often there's a surge when that happens...

karoo

ok, so its not ideal that this happens, but the valves can handle it better than instant power on?

ezietsman

Power it off suddenly is not a biggie. Does nothing bad. Powering an amp with a SS rectifier up instantly without going the power-on, wait, standby-on play route is said to be bad by some.

vic

ez wrote: Power it off suddenly is not a biggie. Does nothing bad. Powering an amp with a SS rectifier up instantly without going the power-on, wait, standby-on play route is said to be bad by some.

And yet there are many old AC30's (no standby switch) with SS rectifiers which are still going strong....so no, not an issue.

Pierre-Cronje

ez wrote: Power it off suddenly is not a biggie. Does nothing bad. Powering an amp with a SS rectifier up instantly without going the power-on, wait, standby-on play route is said to be bad by some.

t
When power is switched on, on a valve amp, It should be done via the standby route. The reason for this is to prevent "cathode stripping". The heaters need to warm the cathode up before the H.T> voltages are applied to the Anode. On switch off or power failure there is no problem.