Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!rayssd!rayssdb!rxb
From: rxb@rayssdb.RAY.COM (Richard A. Brooks)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Power Supplies in Amigas
Summary: Leave Your Computer ON!!!
Message-ID: <1828@rayssdb.RAY.COM>
Date: 16 Jan 88 19:27:49 GMT
References: <2299@crash.cts.com> <2055@gryphon.CTS.COM>
Sender: rxb@rayssdb.RAY.COM (Richard A. Brooks @ Raytheon Company, Portsmouth RI)
Organization: Raytheon Company, Portsmouth RI
Lines: 47

> In article <2299@crash.cts.com> haitex@pnet01.cts.com (Wade Bickel) writes:
> >
> >        I have a VERY OLD A1000, and I have left it on for as much as
> >three days at a time, and often leave it on for 24 hour stretches.  I've
> >had no problems.  Can't say about the A500/2000.
> 

  I don't have an Amiga so I can't speek of the quality of the power
 supply, But I have been building and running computers for more years 
 than I care to admit.

  My advice is DON'T TURN IT OFF!!!  At all, ever, never, leave it running
 24 hours a day seven days a week. 

  The theory is simple, provided the machine is properly designed (ie
 adequate airflow to prevent overheating) the power supply will supply
 a steady constant voltage. No current spikes, no overvoltage, no under-
 voltage!  Ha! Just like a lightbulb, don't cycle power and it will last
 forever (in the computer industry, forever is defined as 2 to 5 years)!!

  This works quite well, I just turned off (and retired) my S100 after 
 12 years of loyal service!!!!!  The machine was without power 5 times
 in 12 years!! (once to install a UPS and 4 times during moves)
 
  There are cautions..

	1. Ensure that the MONITOR can be turned off separatly. You
	   don't want to burn a hole through the CRT.

	2. Ensure that the Disk Drive motors turn off after a period 
	   of time (motors WILL overheat). Most Floppy drives will do
	   this but you may have to write a routine to stop the Hard
	   Disk drive motor after several minutes of inactivity.

	3. Ensure that you have adequate power conditioning equipment,
	   a surge supressor is mandatory, a conditioner to maintain 
	   frequency is reccommended if your Electric Company is like
	   our's. Also an Uninterruptable Power Supply is nice. It not
	   only maintains power during blackouts , but will ensure that
	   an unexpected drop in line voltage dosen't kill your machine.

  In short DON'T PULL THE PLUG !! Your'e doing more damage than good.
 
-- 
Richard Brooks      {allegra, gatech, ihnp4, linus, raybed2}!rayssd!rayssdb!rxb
Raytheon Service Company              // When everyone is out to get you  //
Portsmouth, Rhode Island 	     // Paranoia is just good thinking ! //