UPA 1 Safe Running Temperature

[ejman]

I was playing a CD today with good driving bass and getting regularly to 100 db peaks using my Magneplanar MMG's ( with the assist of an HSU 12 WA Sub) according to my Radio Shack SPL meter. I have 2 UPA 1's driven by a USP 1. The UPA's are stacked on top of each other with 6 inches of clearance to the next shelf on the top UPA. Just out of curiosity I put a kitchen thermometer on the top UPA in the area of the Heat Sink and noticed it hit 132 degrees F towards the end of the CD.

Is this normal - within the safe operating range? What is the thermal cutoff ( I assume the amp has one) set at?

[ngmitter]

I too would like to know the answer to this. I have nearly identical spacing to ejman, with two UPA-1s stacked on top of each other, then about 6-8" of clearance above them. I never actually measured the temperature, but it was quite warm. After an hour or two of pretty high SPL listening, I didn't experience any issues, but I want to make sure I'm not limiting the life of the amp or posing of a risk of danger.

[joel]

I'll be interested in this aswell, mine are not even stacked and it's not like they run hot or so. But is it normal for the amp to get warm above the transformer and the resistors right behind it? My heatsink is always ice cold even if the other parts are getting slightly warm. On my other amp I used to be able to fry some eggs on the heatsink after a bit of workout.

[ejman]

Bump, Any ideas anyone? Does anybody from Emotiva's technical staff have anything to contribute on their amps operating temperatures?

[jackfish]

As long as there is enough ventilation to dissipate that 132 degrees of heat I wouldn't think it is a problem. 132 degrees really isn't that warm and 6 inches is plenty of clearance. I think I only have about 4 inches and mine don't get that warm. An A/B amp has to generate heat, that's part of its design.

[jeffakamax]

I run a 120mm fan on all my amps. The ones I use are 19db and you cannot hear them at all.
Heat wreaks havoc with amplifiers and will considerably shorten their lifespan.

I drive mine hard and they will definately get hot without the fans.
There is a reason why Pro Amps are so relaible, they have fans and stay cool.

Fans are cheap, amps are not.

[joel]

Sept 15, 2010 10:35:10 GMT -5 jeffakamax said:

I run a 120mm fan on all my amps. The ones I use are 19db and you cannot hear them at all.
Heat wreaks havoc with amplifiers and will considerably shorten their lifespan.

I drive mine hard and they will definately get hot without the fans.
There is a reason why Pro Amps are so relaible, they have fans and stay cool.

Fans are cheap, amps are not.

Thinking of putting two 120mm fans behind my UPA-1's, since they only have 2 inches to breath once I rearrange at home. What's the easiest way to get them working properly, plan to use them with some fan-controller. Can I plug it right into the wall outlet somehow?

[jeffakamax]

I just use a DC adaptor plugged into the switched outlet on the receiver. That way they go on/off without any interaction on my part.

My XPA-2 & 3 are both have about 1½ top clearance in my rack so the fans are needed and they definately keep the temp under control.

[joel]

Sept 15, 2010 16:22:03 GMT -5 jeffakamax said:

I just use a DC adaptor plugged into the switched outlet on the receiver. That way they go on/off without any interaction on my part.

My XPA-2 & 3 are both have about 1½ top clearance in my rack so the fans are needed and they definately keep the temp under control.

Sweet thanks, I'll be buying some Noctua 120mm fans soon and install by my amps. I feel like I'm running out of space for all my stereo equipment ;D

[erict]

A good source for fans and fan kits.

www.coolerguys.com/

[jeffakamax]

www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/heat-buildup-and-your-components

If you want to ensure that your expensive electronic components enjoy a long and full product life cycle, you must make sure to keep them operating at a comfortable, cool temperature. The number one factor that kills electronic components is overheating. Even short of an outright meltdown, excessive heat causes electronic components to function less reliably and reduces their overall life span.

Stay below 85 Degrees F
To achieve optimum performance and optimum equipment life, it is recommended that you keep your system operating at a standard temperature below 85 degrees F. Most studies show that every 10 degree increase over 85 degrees F leads to a whopping 40% reduction in your equipment’s life span.

[ejman]

Thanks for all the responses, very interesting on the use of the fans. I finally decided to split the UPA-1stack so that each would have plenty of cooling space. result, they do run much, much cooler into the 4 ohm load of my MMG's.

[thefactor1]

Thats strange because my XPA-3 barely gets warm unless im pushing it hard and then its just warm not hot and its stacked .

[thefactor1]

Sept 18, 2010 10:34:57 GMT -5 erict said:

A good source for fans and fan kits.

www.coolerguys.com/

Thanks for the link my friend : )

[kse]

What are people's thoughts on stacking say, an Oppo-83 or an ERC-1 on top of a UPA-1?

[monkumonku]

Sept 25, 2010 7:33:23 GMT -5 kse said:

What are people's thoughts on stacking say, an Oppo-83 or an ERC-1 on top of a UPA-1?

My ERC-1 is on top of the UPA-1 and I've had no problems. It is better to put the ERC-1 on top because that seems to need more ventilation than the USP-1.

[joel]

Haven't gotten any fans yet, but where does your UPA-1's get warm? My heatsink is dead cold, but my transformer is getting warm. I mean, if the heat would be a problem, the heatsink would probably get warm aswell, since that's its only job right?

[ejman]

Sept 25, 2010 10:58:51 GMT -5 joel said:

Haven't gotten any fans yet, but where does your UPA-1's get warm? My heatsink is dead cold, but my transformer is getting warm. I mean, if the heat would be a problem, the heatsink would probably get warm aswell, since that's its only job right?

The 132 degrees I measured (when they were stacked) was with the thermometer probe right over the heath sink. After thinking about it it kind of makes sense that this would be about the maximum temperature the amp would hit.

My Magneplanar MMG's are 86 db efficient at 2 watts - 1 meter distance i(Speakers have a fairly even 4 ohms load). I don't listen at one meter, I listen at about ten Feet i.e 3 meters so being that the drop in efficiency with distance with planar speakers is about linear, 2 meters should result in in about 83 db and 3 meters about 81 db for 2 watt input.

Now, it takes a doubling of power to increase 3 db's so:

84 db - 4 watts
87 db - 8 watts
90 db - 16 watts
93 db - 32 watts
96 db -64 watts
99 db- 128 watts

I was hitting peaks of about 100 db so with my speakers, the UAP 1 amp was hitting about 1/3 power at roughly 100 db's. With a class AB amp, 1/3 power generates the maximum heat so no wonder it was cooking!

It's interesting that at 99 db's there really isn't that much headroom left with any Amp! (When using the Magneplanars)

102 db - 256 watts - approaching rating of UPA 1
105 db- 512 watts - Slightly beyond the rating of an XPA-2
108 db- 1024 watts - Beyond the rating of an XPA-1

I guess the moral of the story is that if you want rock concert levels in your house don't use Maggies. ;D

[joel]

Sept 25, 2010 21:24:53 GMT -5 ejman said:

Sept 25, 2010 10:58:51 GMT -5 joel said:

Haven't gotten any fans yet, but where does your UPA-1's get warm? My heatsink is dead cold, but my transformer is getting warm. I mean, if the heat would be a problem, the heatsink would probably get warm aswell, since that's its only job right?

The 132 degrees I measured (when they were stacked) was with the thermometer probe right over the heath sink. After thinking about it it kind of makes sense that this would be about the maximum temperature the amp would hit.

My Magneplanar MMG's are 86 db efficient at 2 watts - 1 meter distance i(Speakers have a fairly even 4 ohms load). I don't listen at one meter, I listen at about ten Feet i.e 3 meters so being that the drop in efficiency with distance with planar speakers is about linear, 2 meters should result in in about 83 db and 3 meters about 81 db for 2 watt input.

Now, it takes a doubling of power to increase 3 db's so:

84 db - 4 watts
87 db - 8 watts
90 db - 16 watts
93 db - 32 watts
96 db -64 watts
99 db- 128 watts

I was hitting peaks of about 100 db so with my speakers, the UAP 1 amp was hitting about 1/3 power at roughly 100 db's. With a class AB amp, 1/3 power generates the maximum heat so no wonder it was cooking!

It's interesting that at 99 db's there really isn't that much headroom left with any Amp! (When using the Magneplanars)

102 db - 256 watts - approaching rating of UPA 1
105 db- 512 watts - Slightly beyond the rating of an XPA-2
108 db- 1024 watts - Beyond the rating of an XPA-1

I guess the moral of the story is that if you want rock concert levels in your house don't use Maggies. ;D

Nice post! My speakers are a bit more efficient ( www.madisound.com/catalog/PDF/vifa/P17WJ00_D27TG45%20Leap%20Design.pdf ) and the heatsink never even gets warm, but as I said the transformer does. But I guess it can take a lot higher temperatures, and if it gets too hot for it to handle, the heatsink would come in use. So I guess it's all good, I'll be crossing my fronts at 80Hz when I get my XSP-1 so that would make them run even cooler.

[RadTech]

Good thing you don't have an Onkyo in the mix! lol ;D