Heat on IT8000 Amps

C

Chris Delcambre

Freshman
Mar 11, 2013
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Hi,

I recently purchased 2 IT8000 amps used. They get really hot to the touch. I was wondering if this was normal or if something might be wrong with them. They seem to work perfectly after using them for one show several hours however I am afraid of putting them all in my rack on top of each other. I only have a 12 space rack and need 5 amps, processor and furman in it.

Thanks,
Chris Delcambre
 
Re: Heat on IT8000 Amps

Have you blown out all the dust from the heat sinks and determined there are no shorts in the speaker path?

What was the ambient temperature, were they in sunlight?

What is the DC resistance of the speaker load?
 
Re: Heat on IT8000 Amps

Hi Chris-

Original I-Techs seem to put out a fair bit of heat when idle, but I don't recall the top or bottom of the case seeming unusually hot. The exhaust... that's another story. At idle they seem to kick out a lot heat compared to A/B or H class amps.

I monitor the temperature status of our I-Techs via System Architect and it's rare that any unit exceeds 60% of its thermal capacity for very long but we don't do EDM or other genres that include constant-level signals. YMMV and all that...

When we adopted I-Techs for our VerTec rigs we took a cue from Schubert Systems and racked only 4 amps in a 16 space rack - total of 4 spaces for AC, i/o and data connections, and blank spaces between amps. The racks have back doors with 4 exhaust fans and a controller. Dirk Schubert was adamant about cooling - we've never had a heat problem with this configuration. With the custom doors, fans, controller and labor we're paying about $350 per rack for cooling.

As a stage hand I've set up rigs with 6 or 8 I-Techs in a rack. More, bigger fans. You can dry your mukluks... lots of heat there and the cost of removing it isn't cool. I'd expect the fans, panels, controller, mounting hardware and fabrication/assembly costs to come in around $500 - $900 per rack. And now we're back into the realm of heavy racks and high-current AC distribution... Dual L21-30 inlets or 50 amp 240v inlet...

What's your application, and what have you considered for cooling and electrical service?
 
Re: Heat on IT8000 Amps

Hi Guys,

Im in Texas and it was at night. So the ambient temp was around 80-85.

I have not checked the heat sinks however I have cleaned the filters.

Resistance of speakers were 4ohms all channels.

Unfortunatly for the moment I am using a DSP with the ITs because I have Crests powering other parts of the system. As I can afford it I will get them all switched out and try to get away from my external processor.

As far as power, I was planning on putting a 50A 240v rack pak from Ampshop in each rack. Here is what I have in each rack now and where I am looking to go.

System is:
10 Peavey Versarray 112 a side over 4-6 JBL SRX728 a side

Currently I have 2 identical racks. Power and I/O is on the back. I currently have no AC in them at all.

Furman
Proc
Crest 5200 Both CH on Ribbons
Crest 9200 Both CH on Lows
Crest 9200 CH1 on Ribbons, CH2 on Lows
ITECH 8000 Both CH on Subs (4 ohms per ch)
ITECH 8000 Both CH on Subs (4 ohms per ch)

I am open to suggestions for rack configurations. Eventually I will have 3 IT6000 and 2 IT8000 in each rack once I switch out the Crests. I need to have the ability to break the rig in half and have 2 systems which is part of the reason the racks are setup the way they are.

Thanks for any advice you have,
Chris Delcambre
 
Re: Heat on IT8000 Amps

Chris Delcambre said:
Hi Guys,

Im in Texas and it was at night. So the ambient temp was around 80-85.

I have not checked the heat sinks however I have cleaned the filters.

Resistance of speakers were 4ohms all channels.

Unfortunatly for the moment I am using a DSP with the ITs because I have Crests powering other parts of the system. As I can afford it I will get them all switched out and try to get away from my external processor.

As far as power, I was planning on putting a 50A 240v rack pak from Ampshop in each rack. Here is what I have in each rack now and where I am looking to go.

System is:
10 Peavey Versarray 112 a side over 4-6 JBL SRX728 a side

Currently I have 2 identical racks. Power and I/O is on the back. I currently have no AC in them at all.

Furman
Proc
Crest 5200 Both CH on Ribbons
Crest 9200 Both CH on Lows
Crest 9200 CH1 on Ribbons, CH2 on Lows
ITECH 8000 Both CH on Subs (4 ohms per ch)
ITECH 8000 Both CH on Subs (4 ohms per ch)

I am open to suggestions for rack configurations. Eventually I will have 3 IT6000 and 2 IT8000 in each rack once I switch out the Crests. I need to have the ability to break the rig in half and have 2 systems which is part of the reason the racks are setup the way they are.

Thanks for any advice you have,
Chris Delcambre
Click to expand...

I hope you considered the latency of the Itechs in your external DSP configuration, then.
 
Re: Heat on IT8000 Amps

Silas Pradetto said:
I hope you considered the latency of the Itechs in your external DSP configuration, then.
Click to expand...
Assuming a 100 Hz crossover, the wavelength at crossover is 11.3 feet, it takes 9.944 ms for sound to travel that distance.

When using the analog inputs, I-Tech latency is 1.13ms.
Although one could argue that anything "off" is incorrect, the 1.13ms latency is still well within 1/4 wavelength at 100 Hz, and even closer if the crossover Chris uses is lower.

Considering Chris is using the I-Tech for subs, the latency is "close enough for rock and roll", if used for mids or highs with other analog amps there would be an issue.

From what you and Tim say, seems the relevant issue is I-Techs may need external fans just to stay within the "comfortably hot" temperate zone.
 
Re: Heat on IT8000 Amps

Art Welter said:
From what you and Tim say, seems the relevant issue is I-Techs may need external fans just to stay within the "comfortably hot" temperate zone.
Click to expand...

Hi Art-

The amps blow out hot air just fine all on their own. Putting a bunch of them in a rack without exhaust CFM equaling or exceeding the amp fan output is bad practice, although it may work.
 
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