Class 'A' amplifier power output stages idle at 50% of their rated maximum output power. Add the power consumed by other aspects of the amplifier's electronics and the total idle wattage could easily run 60% or more of the maximum output wattage rating for the entire amplifier -- and as William points out -- consume this much energy with absolutely no output audio. Class A amps are the most linear of all classes of amplifier, meaning the least distorted, but are also the most power hungry.
Due to the way high-power audio amplifiers and their speakers are utilized, audio equipment people are loathe to turn equipment off until they're done with the event. If the solar electric system can't handle the load .. no matter how insane or wasteful the load happens to be .. they'll go out and rent a big generator that can. This is based on past experience .... Dan --- On Thu, 4/28/11, William Miller <[email protected]> wrote: From: William Miller <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV powered music festival To: "RE-wrenches" <[email protected]> Cc: "RE-wrenches" <[email protected]> Date: Thursday, April 28, 2011, 10:58 AM Friends: I can not speak to the subject of tube amplifiers specifically, but in my experience, I have found that a PA system draws almost as much idling as it does during a performance. I suggest that if you need to conserve battery power, after sound check that the amps be shut down. Sound crew hates this, they want to have the system blasting to prevent anyone from enjoying a decent conversation, but it is one way to prevent a shut down during the encore. William Miller At 10:05 PM 4/27/2011, R Ray Walters wrote: Dan; Your system sounds great. I'd love to hear it sometime. Just one question: how come no tube amps? You're going to have some guitar players screaming; most of the best guitar amps are all tube these days. I know they waste a lot of power, but they're usually small compared to the PA system. I've measured a few with a no load draw in the 20 to 40 watt range, maybe peaking at 100 watts. (Marshall 100w head) I would think the Exeltech would make it sound better than they've ever heard. Have you had problems? R. Walters [email protected] Solar Engineer -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
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