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ST35 and heat
Posted:
Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:50 amby coolhandjjl
I am planing on a ST35 kit build with no cage/cover. Gotta see the tubes! The creative designs I see here are second to none! Can the amp be placed into a open backed cabinet or shelf with a few inches of clearance over the top, or does it need to be on the top of the cabinet?
Re: ST35 and heat
Posted:
Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:24 pmby 20to20
coolhandjjl wrote:I am planing on a ST35 kit build with no cage/cover. Gotta see the tubes! The creative designs I see here are second to none! Can the amp be placed into a open backed cabinet or shelf with a few inches of clearance over the top, or does it need to be on the top of the cabinet?
The tops of the tubes get hot enough to bake cookies, so your cabinet is what you really want to protect.
Re: ST35 and heat
Posted:
Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:01 pmby coolhandjjl
Did those old cages have some sort of ceramic wool or asbestos lining under the top?
Maybe on the top of the cabinet is best then. I could see it better there as well.
Re: ST35 and heat
Posted:
Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:14 pmby Shannon Parks
The old amps were stuffed in cabinets AND a steel chassis AND many times a wood covering slapped on top of that. It was a real tube killer and cap melter. I think if the cabinet has plenty of airspace, you'll be fine.
Shannon
Re: ST35 and heat
Posted:
Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:58 pmby Geek
separks wrote:It was a real tube killer and cap melter.
Yep!
Take an I.R. thermometer to the insides of one that's been running for a couple hours
Re: ST35 and heat
Posted:
Fri Jan 04, 2013 2:10 amby rmyauck
Maybe add a couple of 12V computer case fans blowing out , running on a 6V wall wart for quiet running. Try reflective insulated foil over the tubes if possible.
If you can put it on top as you mentioned will let the heat out best. Fans should help the tubes and caps last anyway also.
Randy
Re: ST35 and heat
Posted:
Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:54 amby coolhandjjl
Thanks for the great suggestions.
Re: ST35 and heat
Posted:
Sat Jan 05, 2013 2:21 amby nyazzip
i put a 12v computer fan(and run it at 3-4v) plus aluminum heat sink on top of my power transformer, and it went from "untouchable" to about 110F. i used it in a cabinet with a closed back/ open front for awhile this summer and it was still fine...just a PITA reaching in there over hot tubes and groping in the dark for the power switch.
depending on the way you hook up the fan, you can have it suck heat off of the amp, or wash air over it....either way, cooler transformer=cooler PCB and stuffings
Re: ST35 and heat
Posted:
Sat Jan 05, 2013 4:57 pmby coolhandjjl
nyazzip wrote:i put a 12v computer fan(and run it at 3-4v) plus aluminum heat sink on top of my power transformer, and it went from "untouchable" to about 110F. i used it in a cabinet with a closed back/ open front for awhile this summer and it was still fine...just a PITA reaching in there over hot tubes and groping in the dark for the power switch.
depending on the way you hook up the fan, you can have it suck heat off of the amp, or wash air over it....either way, cooler transformer=cooler PCB and stuffings
I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.