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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Simple question: Cold
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Message started by drford on 02/15/21 at 21:18:05

Title: Simple question: Cold
Post by drford on 02/15/21 at 21:18:05

Hi All,

As my amp slowly moves up the waitlist, I bought a cheap Tubecube a few months ago so I could 'learn' more about running a tube amp. I figured if I'm going to do something wrong-headed, I'd rather do it on a $150 amp :) Actually, the setup through Randy's F-15's sounds pretty darn good, but I digress.

My question is about cold starting the amp - can you mess it up? In this bitter cold snap, Texas is sitting at -13C (yikes!) and so my music room runs about 50 degrees at night no matter how I set the heating. The house just wasn't built for this.

When I get up first thing, I usually just fire up the amp and play an album to start the day. But when it is this cold, I get a few pops and cracks as it comes to temperature; one of my Tung Sols failed and I had to replace it. Coincidence, or should I worry? Does it matter? I don't mind for this amp, but I'll most certainly care when my SE34I.5 Rachael arrives.

Is there something I need to do when it's wicked cold out?

Richard

Title: Re: Simple question: Cold
Post by Archie on 02/15/21 at 22:31:42

The only concern with cold that I've read is when the amp is shipped and may have become very cold -- like freezing and below. It was recommended to let the amp warm up to room temperature before firing it up.

Title: Re: Simple question: Cold
Post by canonken on 02/15/21 at 22:42:23

Yeah, I would worry about it being below freezing and taking it into a warm place. The issue there being condensation and the rapid temperature change. For example with TVs and LCD screens, fine if they get cold during shipping, but leave them in the box, in the house for a few hours to let things SLOWLY get up to room temperature, avoid condensation, and you are good.

If it is already installed, sitting in the house (and hopefully it does not get too much colder for your sake!), I would not hesitate to switch it in.

It is going to warm up slowly (in a good way) on its own and be fine.

Title: Re: Simple question: Cold
Post by drford on 02/16/21 at 13:16:39

Thank you all - I will relax about it (and put on mittens and a bobble hat for my morning listening :) ).

Sorry for the newbie questions, but the list of what I don't know about tubes is LONG.

Richard