power conditioners

tomsteel · Post by **tomsteel** » 25 Mar 2001 5:13 pm

Hey guys.Does anyone use a power conditioner with your amp?Not just a surge protector,but one that keeps the output voltage to your amp at a consistant level.What does anyone use?I know there are lots of them out there.Mostly for computers and stuff.It has to be better for your amps,,,to get good clean voltage,,,to get a good tone,,or does it make a differance?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 Mar 2001 7:07 pm

I'm going out on a limb here (I know someone's bound to disagree

), but I don't think you'll see any appreciable difference if you don't use one. What do you expect to gain? A reasonably good one would cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars, and would probably only be desirable if you're into building a really serious recording studio (where you might have 50-100 grand in equipment, and need total regulation and reliability).

For home use, and for gigging, you'd probably just be wasting your money. But, it is your money!

Curt Olsen · Post by **Curt Olsen** » 25 Mar 2001 7:30 pm

I tried using a Sola line regulator (1000va) years ago, and really didn't hear any improvement.I use Peaveys and really think they and most amps are designed to work a very wide voltage range.There are also several reasons why a well designed amp should not have any problem with a low input voltage.

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Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 26 Mar 2001 3:28 am

As Donny mentioned, one that would handle the higher amperage of an amplifier would not be cheap. A good quality surge protector power strip (not the $19.95 variety) would work just as well in this application. I use one on my rack unit but it has a processor unit which is probably more susecptable to AC powerline surges than an amp.

Curt Olsen · Post by **Curt Olsen** » 26 Mar 2001 4:23 am

Your right, the processor has more problems than the amp.But, not on surges it's the brown out condition, where the line dips for a few cycles.I have seen my processor actually do a master clear or reset when this happens.

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Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 26 Mar 2001 6:54 am

I agree with Donny and Jack. An adequate power conditioner would be too big, heavy and expensive.
However, there are two inexpensive items you can add to your Pak-a-Seat if you don't already have them which will give you some peace of mind about the power.

1. An AC ground tester. This is the little yellow plug with the lights that you can get at any Home Improvement store for under $10.
It will tell you if the power outlet is correctly wired and the ground is safe before you plug in the amp.

2. An inexpensive digital volt-ohm meter.
Radio Shack has a number of these for under $30...sometimes under $20 with which you can measure the AC Line Voltage at the amp socket.
I've owned several different models of these and when checked against my expensive Fluke meters were all within .1 volt.

In working at many different hotels, stadiums, theaters, and other locations over the years, having these little testers enabled me to solve power problems which otherwise would have shut us down.
Blake

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 26 Mar 2001 8:52 am

Good information, Blake. I was going to add something similar here, but you beat me to it!

Now that we have some good input on the subject, maybe someone like Mike Brown could jump in here and tell us if Peavey could include these items (ground-fault detector and digital voltage readout) economically in an upcoming amplifier! With the proliferation of inexpensive digital devices, these would seem nice little "additions" to a future amp design.

billy tam R.I.P. · Post by **billy tam R.I.P.** » 26 Mar 2001 3:41 pm

Hello guys, A couple of years ago I bought and put in my rack a Furman power conditioner after seeing one in Norm Hamlets rig. This unit retails for about $600. It has a voltage led indicator and I have seen it register anywhere form a low voltage of 105 to a high of 130. Percentage wise this is fairly high. I notice much more consistency of sound with this unit. I use a solid state power amp and have been told that they are more sensitive to power fluxuations. Just my opinion
thanks
billy tam

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 26 Mar 2001 11:40 pm

Normally I take my Evans FET 500 amp and on a number of occasions, either when we've been outside with a generator, or in a club when the entire band and pa are plugged into the same circuit, if it doesn't get enough power, it goes catatonic and the speaker does a slow-motion in and out.
(I know just enough about electronics to be dangerous) so I bought a Furman power conditioner to remedy this. I had a gig way out in the desert and the back-up tube amp got stolen in transit. The same problem happened and the Furman didn't do what it was supposed to do, fortunately there was another circuit available and everything worked ok.

When I told the story to the Furman rep at the NAMM show, He told me I should have bought the $1100 box instead of the $600 one.