Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => Legacy Kit Products => Paramount => Topic started by: 8452 on November 18, 2010, 04:50:27 PM
-
How many watts do the Paramount and Seduction draw? I seem to remember reading somewhere that that each Paramount draws 50 watts, but not sure about this. I am thinking of buying a power conditioner and want to make sure that it would be able to handle my equipment. Thanks.
-
I don't know any values, but from what I've heard, the easiest way to estimate is to add up the amperage ratings of the fuses on the equipment you'll be using. Then Google for a current-wattage calculator and add a little bit more to be on the safe side.
-
When in doubt, I generally add up the value of the fuses in the gear I want to run, and take that times the operating Voltage. Hopefully, that way I error slightly on the high side, since presumably the fuses don't ever operate at full rating!
-
The fuses are sized for the inrush current at startup. (Usually a fast-blow fuse needs a higher current rating for this reason. But fast-blow fuses are much less expensive and more readily available!)
Power conditioners are usually rated for steady-state draw, which is much smaller than the initial current surge. Here are some wattage (actually volt-amp, but who's counting?) estimates for Bottlehead products:
SEX 70
Seduction 13
Foreplay III 42
Paramour II 47 (each amp)
Paramount 85 (each amp)
I haven't worked out the Stereomour, but it ought to be about 100 (twice the Paramour II). I'd advise a 50% or greater margin for added reliability, so 150 250-300 volt-amps for a Seduction plus Paramount should be adequate.
-
To be clear, then, the Paramount is 85 V-A for the pair of amps?
-
Oh ... sorry, my mistake, That's per amp, so 170 for two amps, plus the Seduction. I'll edit my post!
-
Poster Paully has a PS Audio P500. It puts out about 400VA or watts. His pair of Paramounts, FP III, Eros and TT draws Edit:
274(I found my other post) 185-187 Watts, read on the front of the P500.
-
Of course, now I'm naturally curious how my rule of thumb for estimating the power consumption has worked out. By any chance, would each Paramount have a one amp fuse, with the Seduction having a 1/2 amp fuse?
-
I should have checked first. I have corrected the above post because I quoted way too much power.
I found my other post:
http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,973.0.html
That was posted right after visiting him a few months back.
-
This far down on the current scale there are inexpensive fuses at big round numbers and expensive fuses that are very exact. A 1/4A, 1/2A 3/4A and 1A are the inexpensive options. If you want a 0.4A fuse it will cost you dearly.
Then there is the problem in tubed equipment of inrush. The power supply draws several times normal when it is drained and first turned on. The fuses Doc buys have to carry the amp through this inrush. If there is a fault (short) on the other side of the transformer even a fuse 10 times larger than "idling" current will blow.
Of course, now I'm naturally curious how my rule of thumb for estimating the power consumption has worked out. By any chance, would each Paramount have a one amp fuse, with the Seduction having a 1/2 amp fuse?