Detachable power cords... Why?

[2.6kHz]

I'm thinking of just throwing a cat5 connector in the back and using a cat 5 cable with a 110 plug at the other end. I mean, if it can work for lighting with four 150 watt bulbs, why not an amp.

PoE (power over ethernet) can actually supply a good amount of power just not at very high voltage. Noisy as all hell though.

 

[Robroy]

PoE (power over ethernet) can actually supply a good amount of power just not at very high voltage. Noisy as all hell though.

I actually started a thread here (rather infamous, actually) about my guitar player, who is an electrician, powering our light bar (four 150 watt bulbs) with cat five wiring. He loves being able to unplug everything. I just make sure it's unplugged from the wall before I go near it.

 

[2.6kHz]

Good idea. Wear rubber soles. Some lineman gloves may not be a bad idea, LOL.

 

[Robroy]

Good idea. Wear rubber soles. Some lineman gloves may not be a bad idea, LOL.

I found out in the thread that technically the wire will handle it, but the problem is in the robustness of the connectors and wire, as well as the simple fact that they were not designed for that kind of use.

 

[aborgman]

Just be sure those thrift store deals aren't made with 18 awg wire---- it will work, but not well--- current limited, voltage drop once you ask the amp to really do it's stuff. Less of an issue with outboard gear--- eq's, reverbs, etc.

Not even a real issue with most amps.

UL rating on 18ga wire (2 current carrying conductors) is 10 amps up to 50 feet in length, and 7 amps over 50 feet. Until you get up around ~1000W you aren't going to be hitting those numbers.

 

[Honch]

Why did bass amp manufacturers start using detachable cords? The one upside I can see is its easy to get a replacement one and install it yourself. Other than that, it's too easy to forget them if taken off of the amp.

But come on! Do you really have to think twice about that? All manufacturers makes their amps in China, FOR ALL OTHER REGIONS THAT HAVE ANOTHER OUTLET AND CONTACTS THAN IN [insert any country here] . If they stuck it in there, they would have to make each one of them for each country and thus, have costed more. Much more. And I do remember my wires just as I don't forget the bass guitar lead. Why didn't they build bass guitars with their cables built in then? Same reasoning?

With detachable cords. YOU can decide which length you'll use. And what color. And if it gets broke, or lost, buy a new one. Just as easy as that. You can even choose everything from sturdy audiophile ones, angled or straight ones, or cheap ones. AND ON TOP OF THIS, if your band is going to tour abroad in a different outlet country you can swap cables easily, without having to resort to any adapter of some sorts.

What I do wish they would build into all amps, is a LOCKING JACK just like there is on XLR cables or Neutrik contacts for ordinary teleplugs, that lock the most important cable into its socket firmly. If you tilt your combo backwards, it wont drop out. But this may be a safety regulation, that you should be able to rip the cable from holding the cable only if any emergency arises, and to avoid having to dive behind the amp to reach whatever wall outlet it is plugged into. Or a power strip with many in it, which you can't tell in a split second.

I definitely prefer detachable cords. If they're stuck in there it's too much hassle dragging the amp around, because then it's not stackable at all inside any van. There's always a "lump" sticking out. If you always forget cables at any gig, well, you forget the other cables too, to your instrument. Footswitches, pedals, whatever. It's not for you then, this business.

 

[Slevage]

Not really. Ultimately it is just changing the plug. Anyone not happy to do it themselves could always have it done by a 'competent electrician'. I would say it is much less of a hack job than cutting a hole in the chassis and messing with the internal wiring... .

In the industry---- it's a hack job.

A competent electrician would put the splice in an approved junction box per NEC.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

 

[Honch]

Now Short-Scale.

Have you weighted all advantages listed by now, and cost-cuts in manufacturing your amp, to the sole and only disadvantage that you mentioned?
Which weighs more?

Make a short list, with a check list on, both "in and out". Tick them off, as you load unload them. But chances are that you'll forget that post it sticker and pen too.

 

[Fat Steve]

Not even a real issue with most amps.

UL rating on 18ga wire (2 current carrying conductors) is 10 amps up to 50 feet in length, and 7 amps over 50 feet. Until you get up around ~1000W you aren't going to be hitting those numbers.

So much this!

 

[agedhorse]

Cat 5 wiring is not rated for 120 volts (both voltage breakdown and mechanical protection), and the connectors are not rated nor are they polarized to protect against 2 sources being connected together in addition to having inadequate voltage breakdown and strain relief.

Basically, it's just unsafe.

Power can be transported via cat5 but at a maximum of 48v, with a 48 volt inverter used at the receive end to recreate 120 or 230v ac. This way, the transport remains in the class 2 catagory.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

If you are a manufacturer, the detachable cord would be easier to deal with instead of a unit with a cord dangling all over the place that has to be wrapped up and dealt with. This way, the unit can travel through the assembly stations cleanly, sans-cord, and get dropped right into the shipping box. The cord you get probably gets placed in the box last, by the folks who place in the manuals, etc.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Detachable Power Cords (But Were Afraid to Ask).

Check out all the different plugs used around the world: Invalid Link Removed

 

[Jeff Scott]

......in the industry its called a hack job

You talkin' about my bass playing, again?

 

[Slevage]

PoE (power over ethernet) can actually supply a good amount of power just not at very high voltage. Noisy as all hell though.

"good amount" of power = how many watts?

 

[2.6kHz]

Over a 100 meter span it's roughly 30 watts. That is with cat5 which is 24awg, so you will lose about 4.5W of energy to heat over that span. The wire is rated to 50V.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I always have a couple spare instrument cables, mic cables, mic clips, etc., so why not detachable IEC power cables, too? They're only a few bucks each anyway.

 

[ggunn]

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Ah, yes, the message of Jurassic Park.

 

[SteveCS]

In the industry---- it's a hack job.

A competent electrician would put the splice in an approved junction box per NEC.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

So if I change the plug on a power lead I need to put it in an approved junction box?
There is no splice.
With all due respect, it's a plug change.

 

[phangtonpower]

So everyone saying that you can use your amp in different countries, wouldn't the voltage have issues with powering your amp? I live in Japan and would love to bring my head hear from the states. I always thought that since the Voltage hear is different, there would be issues with powering it.

I remember buying a tube headphone amp from the states and they recommended to buy the power supply here since the voltage is different. I know that it is different than the detachable chord, but since the power supply is built into the amp, I thought you wouldn't been able to change it as easily and would not be worth it.

States I believe is 120v, Japan is 100v, and Europe is 220v?

 

[FretNoMore]

So everyone saying that you can use your amp in different countries, wouldn't the voltage have issues with powering your amp? I live in Japan and would love to bring my head hear from the states. I always thought that since the Voltage hear is different, there would be issues with powering it.

I remember buying a tube headphone amp from the states and they recommended to buy the power supply here since the voltage is different. I know that it is different than the detachable chord, but since the power supply is built into the amp, I thought you wouldn't been able to change it as easily and would not be worth it.

States I believe is 120v, Japan is 100v, and Europe is 220v?

It depends on your amp ... newer amps may have a power supply you can set for different voltages, or one that adjusts automatically.