Do power amps need "extra" space?

[sinestro]

So if you're mounting something like a 2U tube power amp in a rack with a 2U processor do you need more than a 4U rack? Is heat dissipation really a concern or more of an internet forum phenomena. I couldn't find anything in the Randall, Fryette, or Mesa manuals saying there needed to be extra room in the rack when using their tube power amps.

 

[glpg80]

Heat rises

Vents allow heat to be dissipated

Cover up the vent holes and heat can no longer escape

If the product was not designed for front to back or back to front air ventilation with fans - or you're one of those dumb asses that are more worried about fan noise than safe operation, then yes you will need to provide ample room for heat to escape. If the product has ventilation from front to back or back to front with fans and you're not one of those dumb asses that cares about fan noise - then you do not need more than is required to mount the power amp unless you want to just for safe measure.

 

[mjtripper]

it depends on the they vent through the top or used forced air front to back. As the other stated - you need vents. Where ever they are you shouldn't block them.

 

[zuel69]

You off your meds? Your condescending reply's to these guys looking for a little guidance seems to have gotten worse again.

Heat rises

Vents allow heat to be dissipated

Cover up the vent holes and heat can no longer escape

If the product was not designed for front to back or back to front air ventilation with fans - or you're one of those dumb asses that are more worried about fan noise than safe operation, then yes you will need to provide ample room for heat to escape. If the product has ventilation from front to back or back to front with fans and you're not one of those dumb asses that cares about fan noise - then you do not need more than is required to mount the power amp unless you want to just for safe measure.

 

[mrkmas]

Depends on how the power amp is cooled, where it is vented, location of tubes, and what type of tubes are used. Last thing you want it for the poweramp to overheat due to vents being obstructed by another rack unit above it.

Do you have any poweramps in mind?

 

[glpg80]

You off your meds? Your condescending reply's to these guys looking for a little guidance seems to have gotten worse again.

I dont know what is worse - the lack of common sense in this thread or your ability to act like i give two flip shits about your opinion. Dont like my reply then dont read it

For any others searching the forum of this question there are zero rocks left un-turned. Either the unit was designed for top down ventilation or front/back ventilation with fans. In either case you never obstruct airflow. Doing so will almost guarantee problems down the road with components not operating within safe guidelines.

 

[JTyson]

My Marshall Dual-Monoblock likes an extra space above it even though it is fan cooled.
The emulator I had directly above it would get hotter than I was comfortable with after the rack being on for hours at a time (recording all day) I added a space and no more worries

 

[sinestro]

Thanks for the common sense lesson about not blocking vents and the physics of heat rising. We definitely didn't cover that in 3rd grade, good to know.

I'm narrowing it down to the Randall RT250 and the Fryette 2/90/2. The Randall seems to vent side to rear and the Fryette front to back with another vent on top.

Neither manual explicitly mentions that it's a problem to mount in the top of a rack, probably 3/4" up there, which added to my confusion as to why people are building their racks with extra spaces between units. Wasn't sure if it was for looks or function.

 

[mrkmas]

Neither manual explicitly mentions that it's a problem to mount in the top of a rack, probably 3/4" up there, which added to my confusion as to why people are building their racks with extra spaces between units. Wasn't sure if it was for looks or function.

I think most people give the power amps some extra space (vent locations aside) just to give the unit that much more air around it to dissipate the heat.

 

[mentoneman]

going one step further i reconfigured the foh rack i use so that fx units have a gap between each other because i noticed unwanted heat build up when the units were stacked directly on top of each other.

i had a tc m2000, lexicon pcm 91, yamaha spx2000, presonus acp-88, klark-teknik quad gate, ashley stereo 31 band eq, and 2 bss soundwebs stacked together,

and the tc, yamaha, and the soundwebs would get pretty darn hot on the faceplates.

now with the gaps, no problem.