the infamous power conditioner unit. choking the amplifier question

[Mr. BassmanPT]

first of all, i am aware that many members here don't even like to read the word power and conditioner in the same sentence but i would like for someone to help me with some doubts i have.

now, the subject that made me write here.. sorry if my reasoning is wrong, that is why i am posting, for you to help me!

i have a titan V12 on its way for me. this amp can output 1200W at 4 ohm. therefore, i will use this amplifier with a 1200 4 ohm cabinet. having that said, the intensity is equal to the square root of the power divinding by the resistance.

I = SQRT(P/R)
I = SQRT(1200/4) = 17.3A

This means if I want to have that 1200W of RMS power, i will have to feed 17.3A of current. is this correct?

I am thinking of protecting my stuff with a rack power conditioner, the FURMAN PL-PRO DMC E

http://www.furmansound.com/product.p...&id=PL-PRODMCE

this Furman product can only output 16A of current. will this choke the amplifier if i want to run it at full power? is this how these conditioners work?

I do not intend to push the amplifier that hard, i do not have need for that at all but i am VERY curious to know the answer.

lets assume that I use the amplifier at 700W RMS. the current i need to feed is 13.2A (using the same reasoning). if so, is it OK to use that power conditioner with that amplifier as long as i do not push it harder than 16A? this equals to 1024W by the way...way more than i will ever need but still want to know the answer.

hope to have this cleared out. regards to all

[bassybill]

You're barking up the wrong tree.

It's the current drawn from the AC supply that you need to look at, rather than the current flowing from the power amp output as signal. The manual for the Titan says it draws up to eighteen amps of AC power, so you need to use a power supply capable of providing that with some in reserve if you don't want the power switching out when running the amp hard.

Having said that, I assume the 18A draw stated is with a US 110/120V supply. If you're using the amp in the EU with a 230V supply, than I'd expect the current draw to be considerably less. You need to contact Mesa and ask them about using the amp with a 230V supply and then choose a power conditioner accordingly, if you really want one.

[Mr. BassmanPT]

thanks, just sent an email to mesa!

regards

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by cmaranhao

I am thinking of protecting my stuff with a rack power conditioner, the FURMAN PL-PRO DMC E

There's no reason to assume that your Mesa needs 'protection'. You should receive confirmation from Mesa before spending money on something that may serve no purpose.

[newbold]

If you really want to get into power conditioning, get one for your home - a master power conditioner. Those things are actually close to being worth the money.

All you really need is a surge protector for your rig.

[GregDunn]

I can think of instances playing out live where a power conditioner might be worth having. I remember setting up in a venue where the PA, board, and many other systems were all plugged into a drugstore-brand power strip. We were getting low-voltage issues for a bit before the strip popped its breaker. Luckily none of our equipment was damaged, but a good conditioner with a monitor might have warned us of the problem sooner.

[Eric Moesle]

And also keep in mind that the power amp won't necessarily cause you to draw a huge load from the wall unless you have everything cranked to the max along with a proper input level.

Example: I gig through a QSC PLX3002 and run it through a Furman conditioner (I know, don't say it) that has both a voltage meter and an amperage meter on it. Preamp, pedalboard, tuner, and the power amp all go through the Furman. When running pretty loud onstage, it only shows a 4 amp draw on the circuit, and that's EVERYTHING in the bass rig plugged through it.

4 amps for EVERYTHING in the bass rig, including the PLX3002, running at loud volume.

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by Eric Moesle

And also keep in mind that the power amp won't necessarily cause you to draw a huge load from the wall unless you have everything cranked to the max along with a proper input level.

Example: I gig through a QSC PLX3002 and run it through a Furman conditioner (I know, don't say it) that has both a voltage meter and an amperage meter on it. Preamp, pedalboard, tuner, and the power amp all go through the Furman. When running pretty loud onstage, it only shows a 4 amp draw on the circuit, and that's EVERYTHING in the bass rig plugged through it.

4 amps for EVERYTHING in the bass rig, including the PLX3002, running at loud volume.

+1.

I used to have a power conditioner that showed current, and so I decided to see how much power my (1000W Berg IP310) rig was drawing. With everything plugged in and playing ridiculously loud, I could only get it to draw 2-3 amps maximum. And that was louder than I'd ever play.

You don't need the power conditioner.

If you want surge suppression and somewhere neat to plug in all your gear, Furman makes a nice cheap (around 30 bucks) 6-oultet power block with surge suppression and a heavy duty 15 ft. cable. It even has a metal housing so it's rugged. I bought a couple for our band a few years back and we've plugged everything into them since. Sometimes I plug the entire PA into the same block as my bass -- no issues.