Very hot days lately.
Room temperature was rising for the last week (the system doesn’t help).
I’m guessing room temp might be arround 28-30°C.
P15 usually runs at 40-42°C most of the year, on high 30s in winter (powerplay measurements).
Always warm to the touch.
Now, it’s near burning hot on the heat sinks. I can leave my hand there, but the first reaction is to take it off.
On the powerplay, P15 has been arround 50-52°C.
It’s the most hot piece of gear these days (followed by power amp and two LPS).
As you guess, I leave all my gear always on.
Are these acceptable temps?
Should I turn off my system for a couple of days to cool things down?
(No AC unfortunately).
Thanks.
The PS Audio specs say operating temp for P15 up to 40 degrees C (likely the same for all their equipment). So no, 50+ C is not safe. I would turn it off until a cooling scheme is developed.
Is your gear in open air or is the air movement constrained by a cabinet or racking?
My doubt is that those 40°C max operating temp, across PS Audio gear, is ambient temp or gear internal.
I’m guessing is ambient temp, since in winter, the P15 never drops 38°C (internally).
That was my understanding also, meaning I’m good.
Although, to the touch, P15, power amp, and both LPS are very hot.
Hence, my concern on long term operation under these conditions.
Although not a P15 or P20 my Pass Labs amps run right at 52C in a 25C room FYI. You should be fine. 50C is very hot to the touch but not to the components.
Yeah, your experience isn’t anything too profound. As long as you can still touch the heatsink without burning yourself, everything inside will be fine. If you’re getting a little nervous during these hot days, a fan blowing on it can help significantly. The unit itself has protection circuitry that will turn itself off if it gets too hot so you’ll know if you really need to be concerned.
The only equipment (audio or IT) that has ever failed on me has been running very hot.
I now keep fans on anything that runs more than slightly warm to the touch, have done for years, and (touch nonsensical wood) have not had a failure since (not even hard disks).
5 inch PC fans, rated at 12 volt but run on 5V (from USB chargers) are usually silent but move enough air to make a difference.
Of course big amps and e.g. power plants probably could do with something a little beefier blowing at them.
(My quad amps run cool to the touch without them, though this may mean I’m not turning them up loud enough )
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