Stand-by power consumption of sunfire amp

olilugo

Hi all,
As you all know I purchased a sunfre TGA-5200. I currently don't have a receiver that has a 12v trigger I can use to power this amp on anf off.

The amp has a switch on the back that let me auto sense the audio signal.
The specs for this amp is:
Power Consumption
45W At idle
200W Typical (1/8th power)
1800W Absolute Max (Fuse Limit)

My question is have you been able to determine what the power consumption would be while on stand-by?
I been truning the amp off while not in use but the is a thump everytime I do that, and the sunfire manual says to just keep it in stan-by.
However if the power consumption is 45w because it is "idle" then
45W*24hours = 1KW per day so in a month I would be using 30KW which seams really excesive.

Sorry I don't have a kill-a-watt gizmo and if I had one I can not use it because the outlet I am using is in a very cramp area which only fits a plug that is sideways like the monster power strip.

Thanks in advance for any help.

disneyjoe7

When you say standby you mean off, but plugged in right? Not on no music playing which is idle.


Not having that amp, but I say standby about a 1w or less.

zingo

I would think the 45w idle is when the amp is on, but not currently being used like Joe was staying. For example if you were listening to music, then hit stop so you could refresh your drink or something. The amp is on, but is not currently reproducing something, which obviously is different than standby mode.

F1nut

200W Typical (1/8th power)

Just imagine how much power you're using when you're listening.

olilugo

sorry for the confusion:
to me: (I guess this is what I am trying to figure out ... if I am correct...)
Off is the same as no light on amplifier, equivalent of unluged. - power button off
stand-by - red light on, no sound signal
idle - blue light on it could be green light, nothing playing but there was signal in the last few minutes.
Typical - this is the average consumption I should expect from the amplifier when in use as I crank the volume I spect the watts to go up...
max, means the amp fuse just blew up as well as my bank account since I have to pay for the electricity I just use...

disneyjoe7

olilugo wrote: »

sorry for the confusion:
to me: (I guess this is what I am trying to figure out ... if I am correct...)

Off is the same as no light on amplifier, equivalent of unluged. - power button off

0 watts nothing at all.

stand-by - red light on, no sound signal

1 watt or less then a night light.

idle - blue light on it could be green light, nothing playing but there was signal in the last few minutes.

25w to 60w depending on amp / channels / maker / design. Yours quoted 45w I would think anywhere between 35w to 42w.

Typical - this is the average consumption I should expect from the amplifier when in use as I crank the volume I spect the watts to go up...

Hard to say could be just over idle current, to maxed out.


Clear as mud huh?

olilugo

Thanks Steve, you observations seams very reasonable to me...

But since I wanted to make sure, so I decided to call Sunfire tech support. I was told on stand-by the amp consumes between 20-30w, then again I felt he gave me the impression that he came up with that number out of the air, after asking me what the manual said about idle consumption.

I was hoping anyone that has the TGA-5200 and a kill-a-watt, can verify the actual consumption it would be great. Until then I am shutting down my amp if not in use.

disneyjoe7

The standby idle current is a matter of amp design and how heavy an amp is biased to an A mode. Yes even an A / AB / B amp.

BTW just to say my A23 Halo / Parasound draws 45w idle. I own a kill a watt meter.

heiney9

Look at your electric bill and see what the charge is per kWh and then calculate. I'd bet about $1.25-$1.50 a month to idle 24/7

disneyjoe7

Ok I took 40w standby 24 hour / 365 days / divide by 12 equals 29.2kw. Rounded the 29.2 kw a month to 29 multiplied by $.125 (my average with tax) grand total $3.63 a month.

olilugo

Yeah, Its funny how sometimes I get all worked up about something, and then some one just brings such a simple addition to the equation and then leaves me thinking what was they big deal I was sweating about.
I was very concern about power consumption because 14kW just seam excessive just the number alone makes me scratch my head and say wow that a lot of electricity in one month. But then Heiney just points out something so simple as here is what 1KW of electricity costs and now I am thinking what was I so concern about?... Thanks Heiney.

In all fairness looking back what seam out of place for me is that my receiver only consumes 0.5w while on standby. Which seam very reasonably.
0.5w *24h*30days = 360W per month

heiney9

olilugo wrote: »

Yeah, Its funny how sometimes I get all worked up about something, and then some one just brings such a simple addition to the equation and then leaves me thinking what was they big deal I was sweating about.
I was very concern about power consumption because 14kW just seam excessive just the number alone makes me scratch my head and say wow that a lot of electricity in one month. But then Heiney just points out something so simple as here is what 1KW of electricity costs and now I am thinking what was I so concern about?... Thanks Heiney.

In all fairness looking back what seam out of place for me is that my receiver only consumes 0.5w while on standby. Which seam very reasonably.
0.5w *24h*30days = 360W per month

Believe me I've done the math as electricity prices have gone up. Turning off one or two items isn't going to make much of a difference in your bill but if you start using energy efficient bulbs, turning lights off when not in use, turning down the water heater (if electric). Turning off the computer (if you can), unplugging battery chargers not in use, etc. You can realize about an $8-10 reduction per month. I know I did. It's common sense stuff and I'm not ridiculous about it.

I wouldn't sweat having gear on all the time unless you use a powerful Class A amp that draws most all it's current while idling, then you might save some dough over a 30 day period.

FWIW, my kWh cost is much lower than Disney Joe's, hence my estimate on the low side.

H9

disneyjoe7

And when I can pull 2600kw in the month of May, I start adding everything up.


BTW this makes me think... If a power company is to build a nuke power plant and power would be cheaper I think. Given the fact they could charge a little more then they should for the next 30 years after it's on line, how can they increase a power bill during the build process?

Like if my bill is $.125 after tax now how can they charge me then $.130 during build, if after its built they charge me $.100 not $.07 as they need to recoup they investment?

Just something I seen in the local news last night, not even sure where it stands now. Some quote would cost customers $7 to $10 per 1000kw per month.

zingo

I think nuke would be a lot better answer to power than most options being presented, and I would gladly pay a little more on my bill to make that happen. As much as I hate them raising my taxes, if it's for a long term energy solution like nuclear power, I'm in.

reeltrouble1

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

I own a kill a watt meter.

Besides the **** thing, here-in lies the answer as to why you had to go into the Witness Protection Program.............careful now, remember about that big drink of water I promised you.

RT1--watts up

disneyjoe7

Ted, I enjoyed the pool nice perfect temp But the pool water tasted like crap, and I couldn't drink it all not even close.


Steve

disneyjoe7

zingo wrote: »

I think nuke would be a lot better answer to power than most options being presented, and I would gladly pay a little more on my bill to make that happen. As much as I hate them raising my taxes, if it's for a long term energy solution like nuclear power, I'm in.

I agree about a nuclear power being the best answer to power America, I wish to see a lot more being planed. But feel with the future cheapness of generating power could offset the investment cost, without an increase today.

polktiger

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

I agree about a nuclear power being the best answer to power America, I wish to see a lot more being planed. But feel with the future cheapness of generating power could offset the investment cost, without an increase today.

You are approaching this logically - that is your problem. Once you understand fully that most politicians (who have to sign off on the rate increases) are either idiots or controlled by idiots, and the power company actually wastes more money in their budget than you want to know, then you will understand why a rate increase is needed to supply less costly power.

polktiger

olilugo wrote: »

Thanks Steve, you observations seams very reasonable to me...

But since I wanted to make sure, so I decided to call Sunfire tech support. I was told on stand-by the amp consumes between 20-30w, then again I felt he gave me the impression that he came up with that number out of the air, after asking me what the manual said about idle consumption.

I was hoping anyone that has the TGA-5200 and a kill-a-watt, can verify the actual consumption it would be great. Until then I am shutting down my amp if not in use.

I recently got this same amp, I don't have a kill-a-watt meter, but I have been curious about some of this stuff. Problem with electronics - I think many of them need some power or they forget all their time consuming calibration and programming.

TNRabbit

There's nothing to calibrate on that amp; it's the processor that's a bugger when all your presets get reset....

polktiger

TNRabbit wrote: »

There's nothing to calibrate on that amp; it's the processor that's a bugger when all your presets get reset....

The processor is what I meant, I think the TV even loses some of its programming of it is completely without power for a while. Then other stuff in general like people suggest unplugging coffee pots, microwaves, etc but they all have clocks and timers that have to be reset.