Possible Electrical Problems?

LongHairFreak · #1 03-17-2011, 05:48 PM

Hey TB

My appologies if this is not the proper place to ask. I'm having electrical work done in my home tomorrow, so obviously this is a good opportunity to fix potential problems...if they exist.

Though I don't run all this at the same time, my rig consists of a 170 watt tube amp, a 1500 watt ss power amp, plus a handful of other tube pedals/preamps/EQs/etc. This, along with a 500 watt stereo, a medium sized freezer. a large dehumidifier and a multitude of lights (not used by me), are all on a single circuit within a 15 amp household.

Should I be concerned by possible power fluctuations caused by the freezer and dehumidifier kicking on? It's my understanding that large condensers can cause fluctuations that are potentially harmful to my electronics.

The only issue I've had in the past (that I know of for certain), is when I owned a GK 1001RB. Whenever I turned the amp on, I could hear the wires within the walls jump. I'm guessing this was caused by the GK needing a 20 amp circuit and I no longer have that amp anyway, but still I wonder if my current toys (not to mention my home) are safe.

Thanks for any input.

JumboJack · #2 03-17-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongHairFreak

Hey TB

My appologies if this is not the proper place to ask. I'm having electrical work done in my home tomorrow, so obviously this is a good opportunity to fix potential problems...if they exist.

Though I don't run all this at the same time, my rig consists of a 170 watt tube amp, a 1500 watt ss power amp, plus a handful of other tube pedals/preamps/EQs/etc. This, along with a 500 watt stereo, a medium sized freezer. a large dehumidifier and a multitude of lights (not used by me), are all on a single circuit within a 15 amp household.

Should I be concerned by possible power fluctuations caused by the freezer and dehumidifier kicking on? It's my understanding that large condensers can cause fluctuations that are potentially harmful to my electronics.

The only issue I've had in the past (that I know of for certain), is when I owned a GK 1001RB. Whenever I turned the amp on, I could hear the wires within the walls jump. I'm guessing this was caused by the GK needing a 20 amp circuit and I no longer have that amp anyway, but still I wonder if my current toys (not to mention my home) are safe.

Thanks for any input.

With everything you listed pulling their max current it will/should trip the breaker.That would happen before your gear could potentially be damaged.

IMO even without your gear there is too much stuff for a 15 amp circuit.

PhiDeck · #3 03-17-2011, 06:21 PM

Not sure what you mean by "15 amp household". Most modern houses in the US have 150 or 200 Amp master breakers. Older houses may have 100 Amp main breakers, or significantly less, depending on their age.

Regardless of the above, if all the loads you listed are on a single 115V branch circuit with a 15 Amp breaker, that's too much. If your breaker panel has unused positions, divide those loads among two or more branch circuits. Keeping the freezer and the dehumidifier off the audio branch will help suppress transient audio pops.

LongHairFreak · #4 03-17-2011, 08:01 PM

Obviously I didn't state things properly. Sorry about that.

To clarify further (hopefully), I have a 100 amp service with mostly 15 amp breakers. Stove, dryer, etc have higher ratings, but the items mentioned in my first post (bass rig, freezer and dehumidifier) are all on a single 15 amp breaker.

So, it's mostly agreed that I should separate my rig and the other appliances eh?

iamlowsound · #5 03-17-2011, 08:05 PM

The freezer should be on its own breaker.

lowsound

LongHairFreak · #6 03-17-2011, 08:25 PM

The freezer should be on its own breaker.

OK. My rig on one breaker, the freezer on another and the rest of the room on yet another. Man! I might need to sell some gear just to pay the electrician!

Thanks guys.

PhiDeck · #7 03-18-2011, 12:23 AM

A two-way split may suffice. Depends on the loads. Check the input ratings of the appliances and electronics. I use a KILL A WATT P4400 to measure actual current draw of plug-in items.

LongHairFreak · #8 03-18-2011, 11:56 PM

In case you're all curious of the resolution, the powers that be, declared...
Now that I have a 20 amp breaker just for my rig alone, I am to leave the rest be.

Though not absolute and ideal, it is a considerable improvement. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #9 03-19-2011, 08:16 PM

It's not going to hurt your electronics.

LongHairFreak · #10 03-19-2011, 09:16 PM

Hey Bob Lee-- Your statement is a bit vague to me, so I'm not sure which you mean.
1. It won't hurt my electronics to have a separate 20 amp breaker?
or
2. It won't hurt my electronics to be on the same breaker as all the other household items mentioned?

Bob Lee (QSC) · #11 03-21-2011, 03:46 PM

Yes, both, though I had #2 in mind when I wrote the post.