For those running a Fryette PS100, how hot are these things supposed to get?

  • Thread starter Thread starter War_in_D
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War_in_D

War_in_D

Well-known member
Finally got around to using my PS100 tonight as the power section for a Kemper Rack and it was getting pretty warm. Is that normal for these? The fan was running, what I assume would be normally. Kind of smelled like something was getting pretty hot, but being it was the first time firing it up that would seem normal too until the tubes got burned in, etc.. Those 6550's in such a small space probably throw some heat, but just wanted to get some input from others that have one.
 
Not sure what normal is for these, but exercising caution is probably wise. My brand new PS2 got really hot, then a pop, then a burning smell, then dead. The retailer I bought it from is unresponsive so it's now sitting in my 'to fix' pile. Hopefully it's a fried cap or blown tube and nothing major.
 
I don't run mine very loud so it doesn't create a crazy amount of heat from that. But I run a dimed 100W Marshall into it ands THAT creates a lot of heat. The reactive load part is releasing most of that power as heat.

EDIT: Mine is a PS2 so only 2 power tubes. I would expect a PS100 to get even more warm just from it's own power section. Which is to say if you're cranking a high powered amp into it...it's gonna get pretty warm. But if you've ever felt an old Fender after a long night...you can barely touch the metal surfaces on the back!
 
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PS1 is still 2 6550s...when I had mine it got fairly hot; you've got 2 heat sources in the 6550s AND the reactive load. My experience was it got nice and hot, worked fine for what I used it for. For me though, I returned it since I already have an attenuator that I rarely use, and a W/D/W setup with an HH power amp+effects+cabs. I found that I had better tone with running my Supertremolo with pedals in front, volume on 0....nice low volume tone.
 
I guess when all else fails.. read the manual. Says right there:

Even though you may follow this advice carefully, you will still observe that the amplifier tends to run hot during use. This is normal and there is not only a cooling fan and plenty of ventilation in the chassis design, but all of the critical components and transformers are designed to withstand much more heat than you will normally experience at during typical operation.
Click to expand...

Now, my concern is that I might have a tube that's redplating. I have this thing racked, right at the top of my setup (to let the heat rise freely and not move into anything else) but there is some room for me to look into the vented part of the chassis. I'm seeing one tube that's lit up light a christmas tree, and I don't see anything from the other one. I guess I'm going to have to take it back out of the rack and see what's up. :mad:
 
False alarm, all is good. Also, since it's been racked it seems to be running cooler. Thanks for all the input!
 
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