Vic,
I believe the firmware already does this, even going back to the 86. In
the newer amps, the log is probably there: (1) to assist in troubleshooting
and repairs; and (2) to provide Alpha the evidence needed in such situations
to avert a warranty repair at their expense where perhaps abuse seems to be
repetetive. In other words, the technology is there, but to protect against
repairs at their expense, it becomes a viable warranty defense. I also
suspect that they would only invoke it in cases where it appears the log
shows multiple overdive hits over long periods of time, and not an
unintentional occurance.
The SPE 1K solid-state amp uses a fast feed-forward protection system and
the amp also records many types of faults to a log file for similar
purposes.
Paul, W9AC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vic K2VCO" <k2vco.vic@gmail.com>
To: "Amps reflector" <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2012 12:36 PM
Subject: [Amps] Overdrive protection
> Alpha's email newsletter talks about damage to amplifiers as a result of
> overdrive -- the
> example is given of amplifiers designed to produce 1500w output with 40w
> drive being
> driven with 150w. They say that there is a log maintained by the firmware
> which records
> overdrive incidents and that they won't repair damage caused by this kind
> of abuse under
> warranty.
>
> I am sympathetic to their attitude and don't approve of the philosophy
> that all knobs
> should always be set to 11. But sometimes it's unintentional.
>
> My question -- and maybe there's an Alpha employee on the list who wants
> to answer -- is
> "isn't it possible to make an overdrive protection circuit that will cause
> the amplifier
> to fault fast enough to protect the tubes and components?"
>
> --
> Vic, K2VCO
> Fresno CA
> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
>
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
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