Carvin BX500 Problems-Power Conditioner Required? - Page 2

NYCbassist · #21 01-12-2013, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

The amps that did not work at your drummer's, did you bring them home and try them again to see if they worked at your house?
The reason I ask is I had a couple SMPS w/class D PA amps that would not respond when plugged into the same circuit branch. They would work fine on their own but as soon as you powered both on the same circuit,,,fail. Doesthe PA at your drummer's have lightweight PA amps?

Yes Sir, I thoroughly checked them at home and installed a Known Good Board in each to rule out Connections, Pre-amp etc... Definitely fried something on the Main PC boards.

5port · #22 01-12-2013, 05:00 PM

This happened to at least one other BX500 owner. He eventually found out the power strip he was using had the ground connection open.

B-string · #23 01-12-2013, 05:07 PM

That would indicate very poor SMPS design.

::::BASSIST:::: · #24 01-12-2013, 05:09 PM

FWIW, when I was researching power amps, I was seriously interested in a Carvin class D. However, I read on the carvin forum (I think) that Carvin's method of utilizing class d would cause their power amps to have issues if the building's "wiring" was old or questionable. A couple of guys gave examples where the Carvin class Ds had problems but regular lead sled power amps in the same buildings worked without issue.

NYCbassist · #25 01-12-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5port

This happened to at least one other BX500 owner. He eventually found out the power strip he was using had the ground connection open.

That sounds like a good possibility. I'll check his power strip at next Jam.

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

That would indicate very poor SMPS design.

I agree. I'll check the Power Strip in question and post results. It's a great Amp otherwise and maybe it was just a coincidence. But... twice in a row with 2 different BX500's(One Known good and the other brand new). I'm sure some clubs/Bars I'll end up at will have bad grounds so I'll not be able to use it.

Red Planet · #26 01-12-2013, 05:55 PM

I would never ever play at a venue anywhere that had no grounding. That being said you can usually find another outlet that is OK. I cannot recall ever playing at a place that had issues with every circuit. Playing without a ground is dangerous and can be deadly. Forget about the amp you will need a new bass player if you have no ground and need it. I played at a small club a few years agog and one of the outlets we were using had no ground which was causing me to get the piss knocked out of me every time I touched my mic. I quickly located the issue, found another circuit to hook to, and went on about setting up.

Troph · #27 01-12-2013, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

FWIW, when I was researching power amps, I was seriously interested in a Carvin class D. However, I read on the carvin forum (I think) that Carvin's method of utilizing class d would cause their power amps to have issues if the building's "wiring" was old or questionable. A couple of guys gave examples where the Carvin class Ds had problems but regular lead sled power amps in the same buildings worked without issue.

I coudldn't find anything about this subject on the Carvin BBS forums. If you have a link, it would be an interesting read.

::::BASSIST:::: · #28 01-12-2013, 06:09 PM

Hmmm.... yeah, not sure exactly. I thought it was the Carvin forum, in the sound reinforcement section (or whatever they call it) but I could be wrong about that.

gearhead1972 · #29 01-12-2013, 06:32 PM

i doubt it is a voltage issue, probably crossed wiring or open ground. The Carvin class D amps auto adjust from 90 to 250 volts. Did you check the fuse?

NYCbassist · #30 01-12-2013, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearhead1972

i doubt it is a voltage issue, probably crossed wiring or open ground. The Carvin class D amps auto adjust from 90 to 250 volts. Did you check the fuse?

Yes Fuse was good on Both Amps. Both Amps went back to Carvin for replacements. I am on the 3rd one and just don't want this one to ever fry. I like it way too much even though it's just a Backup for My Hartke LH1000 at this point.

Troph · #31 01-12-2013, 07:10 PM

I bought a Carvin BX500 as a backup maybe 8 months ago, when Carvin was selling new ones on eBay for like $60 less than the website, but they came without a tube. I threw a $12 JJ 12AX7 in there and it's been great ever since. Amazing deal for the money.

I had it plugged into a circuit which also carried an old laser printer which would trip the UPS on my computer (due to the brief undervolt) whenever the fuser warmed up. But even while playing I never noticed a problem on the BX500.

I have had horrible experiences with floating grounds in the past. I was shocked badly in an old apartment in graduate school by a ground loop created by the floating ground (neutral) in the apartment and the shielding on the RG6 cable from the cable box at the street corner. It happened when I *unplugged* the cable, which means the equipment had been operating this way the whole time. Holding the cable in one hand and resting my other hand on the equipment chassis, I became the new ground path for the apartment neutral, and was jolted hard enough to cause my muscles to contract before I managed to let go.

Man, did I yell at the maintenance guy after that.

B-string · #32 01-12-2013, 07:17 PM

Has Carvin offered any insight to what failed on the two you sent back? They may be able to offer some basic checks and you may help them improve the product in the process.

NYCbassist · #33 01-12-2013, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Has Carvin offered any insight to what failed on the two you sent back? They may be able to offer some basic checks and you may help them improve the product in the process.

They did not. However they were extremely courteous and helpful with the Returns/exchanges.

B-string · #34 01-12-2013, 07:58 PM

Myself I would contact them with the concern and work through the concern with their help. Might help not only you but current/future owners

NYCbassist · #35 01-12-2013, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Myself I would contact them with the concern and work through the concern with their help. Might help not only you but current/future owners

Great Idea to double check with them. I will first test the power strip. If i come up with a bad ground or anything else, then I can take it from there.

B-string · #36 01-12-2013, 08:21 PM

I worked with Peavey on my odd early IPR issues and even received a little swag for my efforts

gearhead1972 · #37 01-12-2013, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCbassist

Yes Fuse was good on Both Amps. Both Amps went back to Carvin for replacements. I am on the 3rd one and just don't want this one to ever fry. I like it way too much even though it's just a Backup for My Hartke LH1000 at this point.

This Furman unit would be one of the only affordable units that does close to what you want. Clicky
Or this Tripp Lite Clicky2

NYCbassist · #38 01-12-2013, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearhead1972

This Furman unit would be one of the only affordable units that does close to what you want. Clicky
Or this Tripp Lite Clicky2

Thanks, The Tripp Lite seems pretty sweet.

bongomania · #39 01-13-2013, 12:35 AM

Tripp Lite is a very good, reliable brand. Again though, you probably only need a voltage regulator if your multimeter shows high or low voltage levels from that outlet.

Here is an example of a transformer isolator: http://www.tripplite.com/en/products...txtModelID=226
(on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...TCX8D3XET63PPP )

Here is the type of model I usually use, where its outlets are isolated by filters, not by "true" transformer isolation, but IME the filters work very well at blocking interference:
http://www.tripplite.com/en/products...&txtModelID=99
(on Parts-exp: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=125-140 )

Red Planet · #40 01-14-2013, 05:50 PM

Isolation, regulation, current limiting, current production, noise filtering, and spike protection are all very different in relation to each other. You will not find a unit that does all these in one unit very well unless you are planning to spend major money even if the company claims to provide this it's more than likely snake oil. Spike protection with simple MOV's and simple noise filtering are had easy. No free lunches here.

BTW any AC device will function without a ground. A missing ground should not ever cause any damage to any device. The ground is for safety for me and you. However trying to run any type of AC device with a hot and a ground without a neutral will fry anything. This is most likely the most common issue to be found with outlets and the most likely way to get damage.

The best solution is checking an outlet for correct wiring with the 3 dollar device.

You want some protection against spikes? This is protection 32,000 joules protection prior to sacrifice, no circuit interruption.