Setting an amp on its side...

VR3
VR3 Posts: 28,932
edited July 2009 in Electronics
I am thinking real hard about setting my Odyssey Stratos amps on their side ---

Is there any negatives to this?

Thanks
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
Post edited by VR3 on
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2009
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »
    I am thinking real hard about setting my Odyssey Stratos amps on their side ---

    Is there any negatives to this?

    Thanks

    Nope, as long as there is proper airflow for cooling.

    You should be fine.

    Also, you got an email.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,932
    edited July 2009
    I am concerned about the power supplies... venting isnt an issue as mine has no venting - just heat sinks...

    I want to make sure the weight of the power supplies wont mess up the mounting bolt --

    Any ideas?

    Thanks
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2009
    I agree with appadv, I don't see any problems mounting the amp sideway as long as it can breed (excuse my French :o, ventilate, proper air flow... However, I wish we could breed amps like dogs, this hobby would be much cheaper ;))...right bluefox ;)).

    As far as your concern with the power supply, I don't see any issue. The power supply and the Xfo are the components that are the most secure in an amp. When I had my repair shop, all gears such as amp, receivers, VCRs, stereo etc... were all kept sideways for space saving and never had any issues with power supplies weight messing up any mounting bolts. If you are still worried about it, why not replacing the screws securing the power supply with stronger ones such as stainless steell?

    The only thing you might want to insure, since your amp is side ways, you might want to set all audio signals 90 degree out of phase ;):D

    Cheers!
    TK
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited July 2009
    TECHNOKID wrote: »
    I don't see any problems mounting the amp sideway as long as it can breed. /QUOTE]


    Yes. Sideways breeding does have it's benefits. :rolleyes:
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2009
    TECHNOKID wrote: »
    I agree with appadv, I don't see any problems mounting the amp sideway as long as it can breed (excuse my French :o, ventilate, proper air flow... However, I wish we could breed amps like dogs, this hobby would be much cheaper ;))...right bluefox ;)).

    As far as your concern with the power supply, I don't see any issue. The power supply and the Xfo are the components that are the most secure in an amp. When I had my repair shop, all gears such as amp, receivers, VCRs, stereo etc... were all kept sideways for space saving and never had any issues with power supplies weight messing up any mounting bolts. If you are still worried about it, why not replacing the screws securing the power supply with stronger ones such as stainless steell?

    The only thing you might want to insure, since your amp is side ways, you might want to set all audio signals 90 degree out of phase ;):D

    Cheers!
    TK

    +1

    Trey - you got another email.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
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    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,022
    edited July 2009
    We've been down this road before. Never put an amp on it's side as there's no way the down side will be able to dissipate heat properly.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

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  • BeRad
    BeRad Posts: 736
    edited July 2009
    I don't believe home amps are built the same heat-sink wise as car amps. I've always considered putting a home amp on it's side equivalent to putting a car amp upside down. You're just not supposed to do it as the boards and therefore, attached components, will stay hot. Think about it: heat rises.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2009
    F1nut wrote: »
    We've been down this road before. Never put an amp on it's side as there's no way the down side will be able to dissipate heat properly.

    There needs to be proper airflow for cooling. I've seen some amps stacked in Middle Atlantic rack units, then enclosed in a closet. Cooling fans were used to dissipate the heat.

    This was done by the local custom installers, they did this in their installs...
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
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    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2009
    Not recommended with hi bias Class AB and Class A designs where the heatsink is usually running rather hot even when placed normally.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,932
    edited July 2009
    My amps vent out the sides - not the top or bottom.

    My amp has no vent holes - just heat sinks...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited July 2009
    Have you asked Klaus?
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,932
    edited July 2009
    Pic of amp

    The whole side of the amp is a heat sink - the top/bottom are solid
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,932
    edited July 2009
    I have not --

    This is only a temp thing until I move out. I just wanted to unclutter my room for the time being and freeing up 19"+ of floor space is huge.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited July 2009
    To me it's just not worth it. You can rationalize it away and say nothing bad will happen. But, if something bad happens and you have to call Klaus up to fix the damn thing, you are going to want to kill yourself. I would just use the amp as it's intended to be used.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2009
    Do the heatsinks normally run hot?Those heatsinks look like they would have next to no air flow and would actually trap the heat if placed on it's side.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited July 2009
    If you lay it on it's side, all the electrons will sink to the bottom and you'll lose the opposite channel.





















    :p
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  • NotaSuv
    NotaSuv Posts: 3,869
    edited July 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    If you lay it on it's side, all the electrons will sink to the bottom and you'll lose the opposite channel.

    :p

    that will ony happen if you dont use the Acme electron attracting slab magnet on the top side

    back to topic..........I have been told more than once that an amp should not be set on its side.................
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  • CoolJazz
    CoolJazz Posts: 570
    edited July 2009
    TECHNOKID wrote: »
    The only thing you might want to insure, since your amp is side ways, you might want to set all audio signals 90 degree out of phase ;):D

    Cheers!
    TK

    Come on...everybody knows that all you have to do is rotate the speakers 90 degrees to avoid a 90 degree out of phase problem!!
    A so called science type proudly says... "I do realize that I would fool myself all the time, about listening conclusions and many other observations, if I did listen before buying. That’s why I don’t, I bought all of my current gear based on technical parameters alone, such as specs and measurements."

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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,022
    edited July 2009
    The whole side of the amp is a heat sink - the top/bottom are solid

    Even more of a reason to NOT place it on it's side.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,174
    edited July 2009
    Dude...if you need room that bad build some shelves!!!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2009
    If it does tend to run hot then the likely issue with placing it on it's side is that it may go into thermal protection.Most amp designers place thermal switches on the heat sinks that will activate when the heat sink temp equals the rating of the switch.Usually when the switch is activated(open contacts) the bias current or power supply is shut off until heat sink temp lowers enough for the switches contacts to reset.
    Testing
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  • BeRad
    BeRad Posts: 736
    edited July 2009
    Think about it this way: If you have heat sinks on the sides, that is where the heat is dissipated (up from the board and out the sides). Once you place the amp on it's side, the heat will want to travel up causing one channel (whatever is on the bottom) to cool down slightly less efficiently (because it is not meant to be in this position) and the heat it DOES dissipate will go straight up to the other channel (above). The top channel will be dissipating the same amount of heat as normal, but will be receiving extra heat from the bottom channel.

    Getting extra heat from the bottom is never a good thing. If it was you in charge, you'd blow!
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  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited July 2009
    F1nut wrote: »
    We've been down this road before. Never put an amp on it's side as there's no way the down side will be able to dissipate heat properly.

    Is the original post for real?

    Trey, you are a professional in this line of work - the amp is designed to lay horizontally. In other words, lay it flat, not perpendicular.
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,666
    edited July 2009
    Stack the amps. It will save more room.
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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