Harm in using a power strip as an on/off switch?


Is there a problem with leaving my power amp turned on and using the power strip to which it is connected as the as the on/off switch? The difficulties I face in locating my components would be eased if I could place the power amp out of reach and use the power strip as the on/off switch.
doctorkelp

Showing 1 response by rockvirgo

Back in the seventies, alot of popular preamps came with switched and unswitched outlets. It was like having a built in power strip. You plugged your turntable and tape deck into the unswitched ones and your power amp and tuner into the switched ones. This worked fine with 60 and 75 watt per channel solid state gear.

If your power amp is a heavy one, say over 25 pounds, I'd be concerned about stressing the power strip switch by requiring it to switch on the power amp. My house lights dim for a split second whenever I switch on my power amp and it's plugged directly into the wall. So unless your strip is really heavy duty it may make a pretty nice arc (and the resulting pop Marakanetz mentions) just before you close the switch contacts. Over time this flash of lightning will impair and erode the switch contacts. In some applications, like home aircon compressors and automobiles, delicate switches connect more robust relays which have the mass to handle the repeated arcing.

For my money a power amp gets plenty of ventilation, is plugged directly into the wall and in my case (solid state) left on continuously.