Do amps draw power shut off?

[rockon1]

Or are they designed to interupt the power before the power tranny? I know it sounds like a stupid question and I would imagine so but just asking to be sure. thanks Bob

[VaughnC]

Typically, an amps on/off switch interrupts the wall outlet voltage applied to the power transformer primary winding...so, with no voltage applied to the power transformer, the amp has no voltage applied to its circuits. However, CAUTION...an amps power supply filter caps can store voltage for quite some time even though the amp is unplugged from the wall outlet.

[rockon1]

Thats what I figured,thanks. So many modern devices it seems arent designed that way for other reasons I guess. Bob

[kizzt]

My Minimat, like other Matamp amplifiers has a pilot light that glows even when its turned off. Not like a fully powered up amp, but just a tiny little glimmer. It goes away when you fully unplug the power cable, so one must only assume it draws some kind of current and not simply storing charge in the caps, otherwise the light wouldn't go out when the plug was pulled.

[rockon1]

Thanks guys.im trying to reduce my power comsumption but its a hassle! Unplugging all the wall warts around the house is a drag. (cell phones,guitar equipment etc) I think a lot of the newer electronics is always drawing a bit of power. Bob

[donnyjaguar]

Hi Rockon, I'm guessing you're solar powered where you're at. Good on you! You can get a feel for what your wallwarts are drawing by feeling how warm they get when plugged in. If they are a newer switching type of buck convertor they will probably feel cool to the touch. Hence, they are drawing next to nothing when off. Some of the older wallwarts use a crude form of zener regulation and draw as much current when not used as when they are. :( There are lots of ways to reduce current consumption and fluorescent lights are probably the best way to start. One thing people don't realize is how much heat incandescent bulbs give off, hence their furnace will run more in the winter. No free lunch it would appear! :( Clothes dryers and ovens are the biggest culprits when it comes to chewing up energy. This is more of an issue if you live in a warm place or its the summer. The solutions here are a clothesline and BBQ to keep that heat outside. Colour me frugal, but you can free up a lot of cash by being conservative with energy use. You can also fit a bigger fan motor to your furnace for more efficient heat transfer and turn down the 'stat in your water heater. One of my friends is big on solar energy and I think he's averaging about 20$ a month on electricity. Nice! Unfortunately, tube amplifiers are one of my vices and I can't go without those. :)

[rockon1]

Not solar just trying do my part by reducing my carbon footprint.They say every little bit helps. Im using fluorescent bulbs mostly in the house and shutting lights off when I leave a room. Yeah its not much but its a start. I heard about wall warts using power when they are plugged in.Thanks for the tip on checking them for warmth-I hadnt thought of that. Ive got a bunch in my "music " room,heck all over the hose. Bob