Sansamp bddi phantom power question.

Rathead123 · #1 12-31-2008, 03:56 PM

Been messing around with a Sansamp bddi box a little. Ive read the manuel and it states when running to a mixer, to use phantom power, engage the ground, moving the switch to the right.
But when using an amp, on any of the outputs, and mixer on the DI, move the switch to ground lift mode. That will disengage the phantom power. So as this stands, my question is, has anyone ran phantom power, switch engaged, while running a backline amp, and running to a mixer board?
I was gonna run my stage rig on the parallel output, and DI out to the board. If so phantom power may not be an option this way.
Ive searched, and found nothing on this. I can use the battery to power it, it aint no big deal. But it be nice to use power off the board if I could.

Rathead123 · #2 01-01-2009, 12:33 PM

Nobody plays live with one of these?

joelc1319 · #3 01-01-2009, 02:50 PM

Hi Rathead123; I've used my BDDI Programmable live plently of times (shouldn't be much different, the Programmable just has pushbuttons rather than switches). I usually can get phantom power even if the button is not engaged, which kind of confuses me. Indeed, I have ran it with the outputs all occupied, and still had phantom power. The ground lift should only be used when you have humming problems. Why not use the regular output to your backline amp? The parallel out, as I understand it, is just a clean output that doesn't include the sansamp tone, even if it's engaged. The BDDI Programmable does not have the parallel out, however, so I can't say for sure.

Also, do you have an older model with just one switch, or the newer model with all 3 switches?

TOOL460002 · #4 01-01-2009, 05:14 PM

well- dont have a programmable one- but i used to use only phantom power with the bddi. the switch has always been to the left. i dont use phantom power as i dont use a mixer anymore- but i never had any problems with phantom power- switch to the left (dont know if thats ground or not).

Rathead123 · #5 01-01-2009, 05:59 PM

Thanks guys, Ill use the parallel out to my stage rig. Seems that sansamp dont want you to use the switch to the right when using both stage rig and mixer.
Joelc1319, as far as switches, it has ground connect, line output and xlr output. With active on off footswitch.

Rathead123 · #6 01-01-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOL460002

well- dont have a programmable one- but i used to use only phantom power with the bddi. the switch has always been to the left. i dont use phantom power as i dont use a mixer anymore- but i never had any problems with phantom power- switch to the left (dont know if thats ground or not).

As far as phantom power, it aint no big deal, Ill use the battery power most likely. Didnt know if there were any horror stories of the switch being to the right and shorting phantom power to ground. Because with an amp you'll have a grounded plug.

niftydog · #7 01-04-2009, 04:54 PM

The ground lift switch should really only be used if you're experiencing ground loop hum and can't fix it by some other method.

It has nothing to do with shorting phantom to ground or anything like that - besides, a phantom supply should be well protected against such things or else your mixing desk wouldn't last two weeks!

musicman7722 · #8 01-06-2009, 07:59 PM

Phantom power is rocognized immediatly. Do a test next time. Leave the ground lift/phantom swith to the left and plug a 1/4 cable into the input. Click on the device and bingo it is hot even w/o a battery. Use the toggle switch for a ground lift. Eorks for me EVERY gig for many years.

Chris P.