Can I put a (class D) amp on its side?

[thanossapiens]

It's a hypex ncore and I want to put it on the side of my desk. Since the ventilation on the top and the bottom of the case I'm not worried about that I just dont know if its just not good for other reasons, maybe the components like capacitors etc need to be upright?

 

[PHD]

Yes. Caps, nor any other components wouldn't complain... My two Hypex NC400 are on their side behind my Denon AVR

 

[Sokel]

I would place a device the way it was tested about it's performance and more importantly it's thermals,specially an amp.
Anything else is a shot in the dark.

 

[kyuu]

Thermals would be the only possible concern. Electronic components don't give much of a hoot about which why they're hanging. Assuming adequate airflow around the case, I doubt that a class D amp would have thermal issues from being on its side.

 

[thanossapiens]

Thermals would be the only possible concern. Electronic components don't give much of a hoot about which why they're hanging. Assuming adequate airflow around the case, I doubt that a class D amp would have thermal issues from being on its side.

I plan to make 2 "feet" for it so it wont be touching the ground, so the airflow would be better than the normal position (in which the bottom has barely any clearance and can actually get a bit hot). Although it still gets way less hot than any non class D amp I have anyways.

 

[AdamG]

Won’t the “Magic” spill out? No really.

Placing the amp on its side might “slightly” reduce/affect the basic thermal cooling system that functions from hot air escaping from the top vented and thus pulling in cooler air from the bottom. Check that the case is not getting overly hot. I would ask the manufacturer to recommend how you arrange this amp for any possible heat transfer interference that might result. Probably fine but can’t hurt to ask anyway.

 

[Zek]

I'm afraid that the electrons in the device could jump up and down instead of floating in a horizontal plane...

 

[Frank2]

Won’t the “Magic” spill out? No really.

Placing the amp on its side might “slightly” reduce/affect the basic thermal cooling system that functions from hot air escaping from the top vented and thus pulling in cooler air from the bottom. Check that the case is not getting overly hot. I would ask the manufacturer to recommend how you arrange this amp for any possible heat transfer interference that might result. Probably fine but can’t hurt to ask anyway.

Yes, this might be a problem. You can also place the amp upright on its front. Then you maintain a natural airflow from bottom/front to top/back.

 

[kemmler3D]

I have a couple NCore NC500 monoblocks and they get pretty hot, even just idle, without airflow.

So I would keep an eye on the temperatures for sure, but as long as the space is not constricted and heat won't build up, I think it should be OK.

 

[DWPress]

Hypex amps have the heatsink integrated into the amp module and many system builders with these modules merely screw them into the case without standoffs for dissipation. If it's a NC252MP or 502MP it's probably going to be just fine in the Ghent case. The data sheet for my 252MP states operating temp between 25-70 degrees Celsius and heat sink temp of 95C max so if you're really concerned maybe check case temps.

 

[thanossapiens]

Alright, thanks for your help guys