Does the Ampeg PF500 have a sensor for quality of AC voltage?

[DanDBassist]

I remember it not turning on at a venue (dive bar) but has worked fine everywhere else. The AC outlets seemed ok with other equipment. I am in the United States and the voltage selector was on 110V. It is an older version amp.

 

[agedhorse]

The amp is set up for nominal 115/230 volt operation (100V at the low end). If the line voltage is very low (less than say 90V, it may not turn on but that’s the least of your worries.

 

[DanDBassist]

Thanks agedhorse.

The amp is set up for nominal 115/230 volt operation (100V at the low end). If the line voltage is very low (less than say 90V, it may not turn on but that’s the least of your worries.

Are there things that I should be worried about?

 

[rstephens]

Yeah, the beer there is probably warm too.

 

[paskisti]

Yeah, the beer there is probably warm too.

Only in dive bars, or everywhere? Does voltage selector affect to beer temperature?

 

[DanDBassist]

I used this amp for many years and after this happened I bought a Bugera BV10001M Veyron for a backup. Have used the Bugera for the last 3 years and was happy with it until just recently when I used the PF500 at rehearsal and heard the difference. WOW!

I am going to get a voltage checker of some sort, start using the Ampeg, and keep the Bugera for backup now that I know it is dependable.

 

[agedhorse]

If the voltage falls into the low 100's, that's an indication that there's significant electrical issues with the source.

 

[DanDBassist]

If the voltage falls into the low 100's, that's an indication that there's significant electrical issues with the source.

That's good to know, thank you.

 

[Mastermold]

If the voltage falls into the low 100's, that's an indication that there's significant electrical issues with the source.

Last year I was playing an SVT rig at a dive bar on an outdoor patio stage, and they were using gas powered generators for the stage. Every time I tried to power on the amp it would shut off. After a few tries the sound guy came up with a solution -- he unplugged the ice machine and ran an extension cord out to my amp! It worked, and thankfully nothing was damaged in the process.

 

[newfuture]

Yeah, low voltage can do weird things to how equipment behaves. Had an old Yamaha fx500 multi fx half-rack unit that would go dark and fill the screen with Japanese characters whilst passing no audio at around 90 volts. Some of the other digital gear in the rack just didn't boot. (Low generator power on that one).

Voltage meter and ground checker are handy to have in a gig bag.

 

[Jefenator]

Remind me not to get one of those things for home practice.

 

[azureblue]

Last year I was playing an SVT rig at a dive bar on an outdoor patio stage, and they were using gas powered generators for the stage. Every time I tried to power on the amp it would shut off. After a few tries the sound guy came up with a solution -- he unplugged the ice machine and ran an extension cord out to my amp! It worked, and thankfully nothing was damaged in the process.

A band I was in learned the hard way to not play off of un protected generators - we lost 2 amps and a keyboard. And the event refused to pay for the repairs / replacement. We got a power conditioner battery back up alarm system, and plugged everything into that. Lesson learned.

 

[Bighands Bill]

I keep a plug-in outlet tester and a hot stick (non contact voltage and ground tester) in my gig bag. Know I should bring a VOM also, but things happen when you'r packin'