Plugging an amp into the wall

[davetroy]

Okay, so much for that fascinating title!

Most amp manufacturers seem to recommend plugging their power amps directly into the wall, not into a surge protector or line conditioner. That's the case with the amp I just bought, a McCormack DNA. I think the reasoning behind this has something to do with line conditioners and surge protectors limiting current. Is that so? But I live in a place (South Florida) that has numerous lightning strikes, etc., and I've already killed two TVs in the past through surges or lightning (probably surges, right?). So I'm hesitant to plug the thing right into the wall. So, my questions:

1. Does it really matter if I plug the power amp into the wall or into a line conditioner? If so, why?
2. If I shouldn't plug it into a wall, should I bother buying a line conditioner or surge protector that doesn't limit current?
3. Are power amps really less susceptible to power surges, etc., than, for example, TVs?
4. Is there any benefit to surge protection at the meter as opposed to using a strip or line conditioner?

Thanks for your help, and if these questions have already been answered elsewhere, please let me know.

Dave

 

[Johnd]

1. Yes...protection of your equipment.
2. No. I've been driving my 'digm 100's for years with my 5803 through a conditioner to ear-deafening levels. On my system, the conditioner does not limit current to an appreciable level. Besides, I want to protect my 4k receiver.
3. No. Any item plugged into a connected outler is susceptible to surges.
4. Yes. Whole-house protection. But those protectors are "disposable", and must be replaced periodically (every few months).

Cheers.

 

[porziob]

Okay, so much for that fascinating title!

Most amp manufacturers seem to recommend plugging their power amps directly into the wall, not into a surge protector or line conditioner. That's the case with the amp I just bought, a McCormack DNA. I think the reasoning behind this has something to do with line conditioners and surge protectors limiting current. Is that so? But I live in a place (South Florida) that has numerous lightning strikes, etc., and I've already killed two TVs in the past through surges or lightning (probably surges, right?). So I'm hesitant to plug the thing right into the wall. So, my questions:

1. Does it really matter if I plug the power amp into the wall or into a line conditioner? If so, why?
2. If I shouldn't plug it into a wall, should I bother buying a line conditioner or surge protector that doesn't limit current?
3. Are power amps really less susceptible to power surges, etc., than, for example, TVs?
4. Is there any benefit to surge protection at the meter as opposed to using a strip or line conditioner?

Thanks for your help, and if these questions have already been answered elsewhere, please let me know.

Dave

As long as any protection device offers enough current to allow the pwr.amp to operate @ max pwr. (taking into acct. the current required to also run any other gear also plugged into it), I see no downside to using it for your amp. Pwr. amps are as suceptible to surges as any other gear. I have no experience or opinion on devices @ the meter.

 

[PENG]

Okay, so much for that fascinating title!

Most amp manufacturers seem to recommend plugging their power amps directly into the wall, not into a surge protector or line conditioner. That's the case with the amp I just bought, a McCormack DNA. I think the reasoning behind this has something to do with line conditioners and surge protectors limiting current. Is that so? But I live in a place (South Florida) that has numerous lightning strikes, etc., and I've already killed two TVs in the past through surges or lightning (probably surges, right?). So I'm hesitant to plug the thing right into the wall. So, my questions:

1. Does it really matter if I plug the power amp into the wall or into a line conditioner? If so, why?
2. If I shouldn't plug it into a wall, should I bother buying a line conditioner or surge protector that doesn't limit current?
3. Are power amps really less susceptible to power surges, etc., than, for example, TVs?
4. Is there any benefit to surge protection at the meter as opposed to using a strip or line conditioner?

Thanks for your help, and if these questions have already been answered elsewhere, please let me know.

Dave

1)&2) You should ask the manufacturer. As you said, some do recommend plugging in their amps directly into the wall outlet. I know at least in one case, there is a technical reason.

 

[Haoleb]

Most of the time when its reccomended to plug directly into the wall its because you want the maximum available current and zero chance of overloading a conditioner/power strip etc.

The manufacturer of my amps reccomends plugging directly into the wall. And I do, But they also come with a 20 year warranty so i figure if anything goes wrong i can just get it fixed. If you have already had two tv's fail due to bad power i wouldnt reccomend plugging them in directly myself, Instead maybe look into something that is a non current limiting design and offers surge protection if you want to spend the money on something like that.

 

[stratman]

I too live in the land of lightning and 'canes, my Krells are always protected. And these suckers need lots of power.

 

[wire]

Most of the time when its reccomended to plug directly into the wall its because you want the maximum available current and zero chance of overloading a conditioner/power strip etc.

The manufacturer of my amps reccomends plugging directly into the wall. And I do, But they also come with a 20 year warranty so i figure if anything goes wrong i can just get it fixed. If you have already had two tv's fail due to bad power i wouldnt reccomend plugging them in directly myself, Instead maybe look into something that is a non current limiting design and offers surge protection if you want to spend the money on something like that.

Hehe
Must have a Bryston Amp with a warrenty like that . I have one also and do not put it through a power conditioner . I have mine for over 24 years and the only problem ive had with it was the power switch a couple of years ago .

 

[davetroy]

Most of the time when its reccomended to plug directly into the wall its because you want the maximum available current and zero chance of overloading a conditioner/power strip etc.

The manufacturer of my amps reccomends plugging directly into the wall. And I do, But they also come with a 20 year warranty so i figure if anything goes wrong i can just get it fixed. If you have already had two tv's fail due to bad power i wouldnt reccomend plugging them in directly myself, Instead maybe look into something that is a non current limiting design and offers surge protection if you want to spend the money on something like that.

Thanks. But are you sure the warranty includes power surges and lightning strikes? The warranty on most electronics doesn't.

 

[davetroy]

I too live in the land of lightning and 'canes, my Krells are always protected. And these suckers need lots of power.

What do you protect them with? What do you use?

 

[bongobob]

I'm not lucky enough to be running Krells but I use an APC H10 Conditioner\surge protector on my rig... -B

 

[Haoleb]

Hehe
Must have a Bryston Amp with a warrenty like that . I have one also and do not put it through a power conditioner . I have mine for over 24 years and the only problem ive had with it was the power switch a couple of years ago .

Nope not Bryston, Odyssey. Im sure it would be fixed under warranty should something happen because thats just the kind of company this is. But I wouldnt expect it. There are a ton of companies out that offer power filtration/surge protection specifically for amps. For about a month I had my amps plugged into a monster power center and there certainly was nothing wrong with that. It was just reccomended to plug directly into the wall so in my case theres no reason not to. If i already had two appliances get smoked by surges I dont think i would though. I also leave my amps on 24/7 (also reccomened by manufacturer) And again, If i lived in a real hot area for surges and lightning Im not sure i would do that either.

 

[wire]

Nope not Bryston, Odyssey. Im sure it would be fixed under warranty should something happen because thats just the kind of company this is. But I wouldnt expect it. There are a ton of companies out that offer power filtration/surge protection specifically for amps. For about a month I had my amps plugged into a monster power center and there certainly was nothing wrong with that. It was just reccomended to plug directly into the wall so in my case theres no reason not to. If i already had two appliances get smoked by surges I dont think i would though. I also leave my amps on 24/7 (also reccomened by manufacturer) And again, If i lived in a real hot area for surges and lightning Im not sure i would do that either.

Took a look at your site , those are some fine looking amps .
If you where in a real hot area , would not have to unplug your amp , I think there is still a big surge when you press the power button .

 

[Ampdog]

Mains surge protection

I live in one of the most lightning-prone areas in the world in summer. (Pretoria, South-Africa. That is why we had a lightning research facility here at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research where I worked.)

For us, definitely surge protection. It is required for guarantees on PCs. Even when switched off at the wall, surges can jump the switch and destroy. The surge when switching domestic devices on and off cannot compare. If not known, lightning surges can be as high as several thousand volt, though only for micro-seconds. But that is part of the problem: It sees wiring as high-impedance resonant sources, thus the possibility of such peaks. But not to bore with a tutorial.

One can get more expensive surge protectors where the manufacturers undertake to replace the equipment if damaged thus. (Conditioners on the other hand take care of noise on the mains. Here they are generally quite expensive and not worth the cost.)