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Author Topic:  Amp on/off question
George Kimery

 

From:
Limestone, TN, USA
Post  Posted 14 Mar 2018 12:11 pm    
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Does it make any difference if I use the on/off switch on my Rack Rider power strip to turn my amp on/off? My thinking is why wear out the switch on my amp when I can just use the power strip? There is nothing else on the strip except a Wet Reverb stomp box.
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Chris Tarrow


From:
Maplewood, NJ
Post  Posted 14 Mar 2018 12:50 pm    
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Why risk a surge that the amp may not be designed to handle?
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Bill A. Moore


From:
Silver City, New Mexico, USA
Post  Posted 14 Mar 2018 2:00 pm    
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I would bet the power strip switch wears out long before the one on the amp!
I used to use a rack full of PA, and the sequence was amps on last, and off first, keeps the speakers from getting a jolt from the inrush current.
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George Kimery

 

From:
Limestone, TN, USA
Post  Posted 14 Mar 2018 4:30 pm     Amp on/off question
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Thanks for the responses. I had not thought about power surges, although I would think the Rack Rider would have surge protection built in since it is a rack mount unit designed for music gear. My whole reason for using the on/off on the Rack Rider is to save the switch on my amps. If the switch goes bad on it, no big deal. The amp would still work and I would rather replace the switch on the Rack Rider than the amp, or even just get another Rack Rider. They are inexpensive.
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Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 14 Mar 2018 5:25 pm    
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Asking the same question here, years ago, the answers were a resounding "no problem turning amp on/off from a power strip".
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Jerry Jones


From:
Franklin, Tenn.
Post  Posted 14 Mar 2018 5:35 pm    
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Isn't your Rack Rider also a power conditioner?

I use a Furman M8-S power conditioner and sequencer. Cuts everything on or off in a predetermined order. This works great if you're playing for short periods of time.... one switch on or off. Smile
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Georg Sørtun


From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
Post  Posted 14 Mar 2018 8:48 pm     Re: Amp on/off question
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George Kimery wrote:
[…] I would think the Rack Rider would have surge protection built in since it is a rack mount unit designed for music gear.
If so, no problem using the Rack Rider power strip to turn the amp on/off.
May not do much to preserve the amp's own swith though, as such switches are designed quite robust and can do with the contact-cleaning (to remove surface-dust/-polution) they get when switched on/off.
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2018 12:25 pm    
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What Georg said.

I've found amp power switches to generally be FAR more robust than those used in power conditioners. If the amp switch is a metal Switchcraft-type I'd absolutely use it instead of the plastic power strip switch.
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Godfrey Arthur

 

From:
3rd Rock
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2018 1:52 am    
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Be careful with surge protectors.

They are not all created equal especially the cheap strips with surge protector.

On some, the circuit board epoxy catches fire and burns like a candle from over heating.

Some rack mount power strips look good but opening them up there is minimal circuitry using MOV technology for the claim.




Some of the better power strips with surge protector have high value insurance offers against damage caused by their products. $50k to $250k.

And there is a wide price range for the more discreet models.

Err on the side of caution vs convenience.




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