2. amps-preamps
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Paranoid on Tube Amp Install

Can speakers cause a tube amp to catch fire? The last tube amp in my system 3 years ago caught fire (just 2 minutes after installing). I always assumed the amp was damaged in shipping. I just ordered another tube amp and I'm both excited and nervous about installing. The speakers are Acoustat 3300 electrostatics and I've been using ss amps since without issue. I really don't want to sit in my chair again, frozen in shock, as I watch a blue flame.

Thanks for any feedback,

Glenn
simmonsg
4est
507 posts
 
Rhljazz,
There are very few tube amps that cannot be on w/o a load and no signal. Maybe I am weird, but I have always turned on my tubes amps unconnected initially to check bias.

In either event, the speakers weren't the problem, and tube amps don't generally start on fire. Here's hoping you have a better experience with tubes. I rather like them...
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Simmonsg- I would check w the amp's maker before I turned it on w/o a load if it were MY amp. Many (can't say most, cause I don't remember, but it was more than just a few) of the tube amp manuals I have read say never to power on w/o a load.
rleff
1,065 posts
 
I agree with Swampwalker I was always under the impression to never power on a tube amp without a load;anyone know for sure or are there ones in which you can run unloaded?
semi
649 posts
 
Agree with Swampwalker, you most likely will need a load before powering up your tube amp.

You can buy a high power resistor to be used as a dummy load if you don't want to connect your speakers to the amp during biasing.
apachef1
164 posts
 
You can power a tube amp without a load but once you send a signal from the preamp to the unloaded tube amp say bye bye to the amplifiers power transformers. As everyone has stated dont power up a tube amplifier without load as a rule
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