Hey Guys (and gals :D )
The user guide for my 250 power amp says to plug the power cord into my 3800 pre-amp. My question is, Since the power amp has a draw of 500 watts (I am assuming at rated output) and the switched "convienience outlets (4 total) on the pre-amp are only rated at 300 watts max total how is this gonna work?? TIA

I would never ever plug a power amp into the convenience outlets in a preamp.

Hello,

if the 250 amp has a turn on delay relay, like the 510M Marantz amp has, there is only a small load on the 3800 switch in the moment you switch on the 3800. This setup as in the user manual will work some years. The 3800 switch even has an extra contact pair for the switched convenience outlets. But one day the switch will wear out, spare parts are hard to get - like that dual voltage regulator in the 3800 - I think its the best to use an external power strip with a switch and leve the power switches in your components in 'on' postion

Helmut

Hello,

if the 250 amp has a turn on delay relay, like the 510M Marantz amp has, there is only a small load on the 3800 switch in the moment you switch on the 3800. This setup as in the user manual will work some years. The 3800 switch even has an extra contact pair for the switched convenience outlets. But one day the switch will wear out, spare parts are hard to get - like that dual voltage regulator in the 3800 - I think its the best to use an external power strip with a switch and leve the power switches in your components in 'on' postion

Helmut

Yes, good advice for the reasons given. The power switch you save may be your own :thmbsp:

Lefty

Thanks , That is what i thought i would have to do. Just wanted some more input....did i say input?...Oh no i need another tape deck..where's my checkbook??? :D

You can plug the 250 into the switched outlets of the 3800 providing that the 3800 has the proper rating on it's power switch. Lets say that the 250 has a 5 amp draw. The power switch on the 3800 should have a rating of greater or equal to 5 amp.
I ran my 300DC into my 3650 pre amps switched outlet. The switch would burn out after a few years. The switch was rated at 5A while the 300 DC is rated at 8A. That was the original Marantz switch!
As a result, I replaced the switch with a 7A DPDT as well as 2 relays. One after the power supply and another is now used for the switched outlet. In this way, the relay for the switched outlet is only seeing 120 VAC at the coil while the 10A rated contacts are seeing a max of 8A from the amp. This solved the problem.


Ron