In addition to the basic rights I would like to mention in detail what suppliers should also tell us about their products. When pressed with further detail, I believe they should also be in a position to tell the ff:
1. Supplier should indicate when we can expect product to fail. Within 5 years?
2. Supplier should indicate what are protections placed in their product (fuse, overcurrent, overvoltage etc)
3. Supplier should indicate min and max input line voltage
4. For amplifiers, supplier should indicate if the % regulation on the rail to rail voltage. For tube amps as an example, if bulk voltage is specified at 400V rail to rail (or +/- 200V) what is the max voltage and min voltage at worst case line/load, thermal condition. Does min voltage reach +150V? Does max voltage reach +250V?
5. What are the design margins used? If product exceeds specified conditions, can we reasonably expect the product to survive (provided that the event did not last very long)?
Worst case conditions
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input line voltage: min and max voltage
load condition: max current it can deliver to the load (eg speakers)
thermal: max ambient temp product can withstand (eg 35degC)
Protection
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Overvoltage: when bulk voltage reaches specified max bulk voltage
Overcurrent: excessive current being required by load (eg should be limited by 120% of max current)
What do you guys think?
