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Power conditioner for amps

I recently picked up an Adcom ACE-515 (power conditioner with timed switching for pre/source and amp products) from a fellow Audiogon member, and while it seems to work fine, I have noticed that it tends to get quite hot and will trip the circuit breaker if I run my system fairly loud for any period of time (which I do like to do on occasion). For the record, the amps that I am running through this are two GFA-555II's (bridged mono) and a GFA-2535 (which is really two GFA-535's in one chassis).

My concern is that I am running too many amps through the ACE-515. So, I called my dealer about possibly upgrading to a larger unit. But his advice was that I should be running my amps straight out of the wall outlet, and not through any type of conditioner. He said that the ACE-515 was great to use on source and preamp gear, but that it would limit the current getting to my amps and that they would sound better with nothing between them and the wall outlet. I asked him what about spikes, surges, etc. His reply was that amps are not as susceptible to damage from such things, and that I shouldn't worry about it.

What are y'alls thoughts on this topic? Should I just plug my amps straight into the outlet, or should I get a larger power conditioner? I do like the staggered power on, power off that the ACE-515 provides.

Tom.
tombowlus
slipknot1
1,423 posts
 
Tom,
If you have dedicateds run, try to have as many installed as you think you might need down the road. It's cheaper by a long shot to have them all done at once, rather than have the electrician come back because you need 1 or 2 more. If you have the whole-house surge done at the same time, it will only add about 200.00 to the bill. It's money well spent IMHO. I actually use both my previous suggestions to you. I have a high current UO for my mono amps on a dedicated line, and another standard UO for my source components on a line, and the surge issues being dealt with at the service panel.
gmood1
1,251 posts
 
Tom I use a Monster Power HTS 2600.It has the staggered switching like the one your using.I would like to get the AVS 2000,which keeps the currrent steady at 120 volts.I've heard these do wonders for systems.Since nothing is starved of power the equipment can draw what it needs .
brianlvi3's avatar
brianlvi3
6 posts
 
My advise is to use the power conditioner. I have never heard of it starving power to the amps. I use the same adcom in one of my set ups with 4 amps coming out of it. I used a cheaper surge protecter and plugged it into one of the adcoms outlets and then the 4 amps into the surge protector, never runs hot at all. I suspect you might have a problem with the conditoner.

Brian
tombowlus OP
416 posts
 
Brian:

That would have been my thought. Tell me, does your ACE-515 get hot? Mine really does, and it gets hotter than my amps do. I am trying to contact Adcom, but they don't seem to answer their e-mails.

Tom.
mattybumpkin
590 posts
 
I think your dealer's point is that he feels conditioners limit the power to the amp. Many can (depends). Do you notice any difference, that is what is important. If so, I think you may want to look at something with a parallel line conditioner, where they don't limit the power. You may want to check the Vans Evers line out, I think they utilize a parallel conditioner but also have surge protection, etc.

Regards,
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