Heat from my AV Processor

[drumace]

Hi guys,
I have the Marantz AV8801 which I bought in the US (120V/60hz model) and I'm using it in my country (230V/50hz with a 100VA step-down transformer by Tacima).
The processor works fine. The only "issue" I experience is the heat coming from the unit after playing a movie. The unit gets pretty hot (still touchable).
The unit is stored in an open cabinet with 4" space above the top (no space on sides) and 10" space between the back wall.
I want to make sure this is normal and whether my unit is in sort of a danger.

Thanks!

 

[M Code]

Needs 4-5" free-air clearance for the L/R sides and top cover, check the front page of the operation manual.
Today's processors and AVRs run hot due to less component overdesign and overclocked processors. Just a 10% increase in its average temperature will decrease it reliability by 40%..
Heat is the worst enemy for electronics..

Just my $0.02...

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi guys,
I have the Marantz AV8801 which I bought in the US (120V/60hz model) and I'm using it in my country (230V/50hz with a 100VA step-down transformer by Tacima).
The processor works fine. The only "issue" I experience is the heat coming from the unit after playing a movie. The unit gets pretty hot (still touchable).
The unit is stored in an open cabinet with 4" space above the top (no space on sides) and 10" space between the back wall.
I want to make sure this is normal and whether my unit is in sort of a danger.

Thanks!

First of all you do not have enough ventilation. A pre/pro should not get that hot.

Unfortunately you have undersized your converter. Watts and VA are NOT the same thing.

The power consumption is the actual power consumed over time. However in AC circuits the load is inductive and voltage and current are somewhat out of phase. This varies according to the device and is usually not specified. However there are two power consumption parameters in an AC circuit. The true power and the apparent power. The apparent power power is calculated from the cosine of the phase angle. Now the apparent power demands do have to be met by the powering device.

Usually the apparent power is in the neighborhood of 25% higher than the true power. So your converter should be at least 125 VA and to be on the safe side I would get a 150 VA.

I would bet you are getting a distorted wave form form that converter at times, which will not be good for your pre/pro.

 

[drumace]

Thanks guys for these answers.
Regarding the VA, I asked Marantz support for their opinion and they told me my step down VA rating should be fine but now I'm not sure how knowledgeable they are.

Thanks!

 

[PENG]

Thanks guys for these answers.
Regarding the VA, I asked Marantz support for their opinion and they told me my step down VA rating should be fine but now I'm not sure how knowledgeable they are.

Thanks!

The VA rating is slightly under size but transformers can be loaded over it's rating by 10-20% for a long time so for normal use you are fine but I agree with TLSGuy that a 125VA one will be more appropriate. Marantz tech support are not very technical unless you insist to talk to the higher level technicians.

I am more concern about the frequency. If the Tacima transformer is literally just a transformer, that is, without changing the frequency, then with 230V 50Hz input, the Marantz will draw more current by the factor of (230/2)X60/50 (approximately) or 15%. No short term issue, but not a good idea. So I suggest you contact Tacima and ask them if the unit does frequency conversion as well, and how is that done.

Regarding the heat issue, the AV-8801 does run quite hot, hotter than my power amps (I don't listen now) so I put one fan on top and one at the back. With the forced cooling, I am getting around 37 deg C at the hottest area on top and the side, without the fans, I would get close to 50 deg C.

 

[drumace]

Tacima transformer does not change frequently (actually, I'm not familiar with any AC converter that changes the frequency without costing a fortune).

 

[M Code]

The VA rating is slightly under size but transformers can be loaded over it's rating by 10-20% for a long time so for normal use you are fine but I agree with TLSGuy that a 125VA one will be more appropriate. Marantz tech support are not very technical unless you insist to talk to the higher level technicians.

I am more concern about the frequency. If the Tacima transformer is literally just a transformer, that is, without changing the frequency, then with 230V 50Hz input, the Marantz will draw more current by the factor of (230/2)X60/50 (approximately) or 15%. No short term issue, but not a good idea. So I suggest you contact Tacima and ask them if the unit does frequency conversion as well, and how is that done.

Regarding the heat issue, the AV-8801 does run quite hot, hotter than my power amps (I don't listen now) so I put one fan on top and one at the back. With the forced cooling, I am getting around 37 deg C at the hottest area on top and the side, without the fans, I would get close to 50 deg C.

Note that the UL/CSA required non-replaceable power transformer circuit breaker opens at 65 degrees C..

Just my $0.02...

 

[drumace]

Note that the UL/CSA required non-replaceable power transformer circuit breaker opens at 65 degrees C..

Just my $0.02...

OK, so if the current transformer I have doesn't run hot and the fuse had never burnt, does it mean I should stay with it until it fails and only then replace it with a higher VA transformer?

 

[M Code]

OK, so if the current transformer I have doesn't run hot and the fuse had never burnt, does it mean I should stay with it until it fails and only then replace it with a higher VA transformer?

As long as the unit is used under normal operating conditions the circuit breaker will not open. It is designed to prevent a fire if something catastrophic happens due to abnormal high internal temperature conditions within the unit.

Just my $0.02...

 

[PENG]

Note that the UL/CSA required non-replaceable power transformer circuit breaker opens at 65 degrees C..

Just my $0.02...

Yeah but even then there is no way I would let my gear operate at that kind of temperature whether there is inside or outside temperature. I like to have lots of safety margin after spending >3K on it.

 

[drumace]

Update: I ordered a 300VA transformer to prevent any possibility of over consumption.
Regarding the heat, I'm considering using a large PC fan which works on 12V and hook it to the trigger out of the AV8801 or the one on my power amp.
Do you think it should work fine without damaging the trigger out?
Thanks