[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Looks pretty epic, and could be helpful in some situations. Anybody thought about using one?
Looks pretty epic, and could be helpful in some situations. Anybody thought about using one?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Has anyone thought about using a power-backup surge protector?
- Thread starter Flatty Banks
- Start date
Amps, particularly bass amps... and especially TUBE bass amps, draw MONDO current...
The UPS on that officemax link would keep a decent sized rig running for... I'm thinking about 5 to 10 minutes at most.
REAL UPS units are *big*. And heavy. And Expensive. This is for someone using a laptop or small computer, which doesn't draw nearly the current that a bass head will.
The UPS on that officemax link would keep a decent sized rig running for... I'm thinking about 5 to 10 minutes at most.
REAL UPS units are *big*. And heavy. And Expensive. This is for someone using a laptop or small computer, which doesn't draw nearly the current that a bass head will.
I use a 1500VA UPS for a home cinema projector, but really only to protect the bulb if there is a power cut. All my other home cinema equipment, which includes an Arcam 7-channel (250wpc) power amp and 2 M&K MX-350 subwoofers (400w each) are run off Isotek mains condioners.
Running amps off UPS units isn't really a good idea, mainly because they can demand high transient power and the UPS units struggle to supply it. This is most likely to damage your equipment as well as having a big effect on sound quality. There are UPS units available for amplification, but at quite a price.
Running amps off UPS units isn't really a good idea, mainly because they can demand high transient power and the UPS units struggle to supply it. This is most likely to damage your equipment as well as having a big effect on sound quality. There are UPS units available for amplification, but at quite a price.
- Dec 18, 2000
- 13,201
- 340
- Disclosures
- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
That's 1300VA, but it's pricier. But then again, it has an LCD.
That's 1300VA, but it's pricier. But then again, it has an LCD.
- Dec 18, 2000
- 13,201
- 340
- Disclosures
- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
As far as gigs are concerned, even if you have a decent UPS and whose battery hasn't died, who wants to hear a very short set of bass and drums versions of the band's songs after the rest of the gear is out of commission ; }
- Dec 18, 2000
- 13,201
- 340
- Disclosures
- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
For the guys that suffer 1.25 cf enclosures with nothing going on below 125 Hz I'm sure that has been offset ; }
Not a good idea since the voltage coming from a UPS when running in battery mode is a square wave.
A UPS is meant to gracefully shut down a computer in the event of a power outages.
Chances are any one of those UPS boxes would immediately shut down if it kicked to battery. As a quick example, you can have 3 servers each with 800 watt power supplies last for 10 minutes on a $1500 UPS. And those draw constant power, not the variable draw that comes from power amps.
I'd say ditch the UPS and get a decent line conditioner/surge suppressor.
Chances are any one of those UPS boxes would immediately shut down if it kicked to battery. As a quick example, you can have 3 servers each with 800 watt power supplies last for 10 minutes on a $1500 UPS. And those draw constant power, not the variable draw that comes from power amps.
I'd say ditch the UPS and get a decent line conditioner/surge suppressor.
So what do you want to accomplish? That 120 volt UPS in battery backup mode may output two 200 volt square waves with a spike of up to 270 volts between those square waves. Why is that OK? Because protection already inside electronics is so robust as to make that 'dirty' UPS power irrelevant. What are you trying to accomplish? Did you know all appliances already have significant protection?
The UPS provides temporary power so that data can be saved. Do you need data protection? If not, then what are you trying to solve?
Any decent amp has a well built power supply. After all, an amplifier by definition is simply a modulated power supply for a loudspeaker! And a well built power supply is protected from surges, transient events, etc. As already pointed out, it's kind of redundant to install a UPS for an audio device.
All things being equal, at most gigs the most important thing to keep running during a power outage would be the cash register. 
The idea that a UPS would allow full power to the amp so that you could then shut down without a brown out is sound; assuming that all power went off and not just the stage power, it would be obvious that this moment has occrued in that you'd be standing in the dark.
As per my thoughts in the other thread, the issue remains is how quickly would it react, and, the unit listed supports 4 1/2 Amps at 120 VAC which is probably not enough for most amps when being pushed.
As per my thoughts in the other thread, the issue remains is how quickly would it react, and, the unit listed supports 4 1/2 Amps at 120 VAC which is probably not enough for most amps when being pushed.
If you missed the line in the specs, the full load runtime is 3.2 minutes on the OPs linked UPS. That won't even get your guitar player decently started on "Free Bird"....................
A reasonable system would need several golf-cart type batteries, and a chunky inverter. My solar power system out in the shed will run my air compressor, but I have several HP of inverter, and a bunch of 220 ampere hour traction batteries, each one of which is twice as big as that whole UPS.
Even that would probably only get you through about a 30 minute set if everyone were hooked to it..
A reasonable system would need several golf-cart type batteries, and a chunky inverter. My solar power system out in the shed will run my air compressor, but I have several HP of inverter, and a bunch of 220 ampere hour traction batteries, each one of which is twice as big as that whole UPS.
Even that would probably only get you through about a 30 minute set if everyone were hooked to it..
- Dec 18, 2000
- 13,201
- 340
- Disclosures
- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
UPS for live sound?
No way. Let the sucker bounce on a short bump. The sort of UPS that's actually going to be able to get it done for a bass rig is too heavy to cart about.
I'm clearly in the camp of no power conditioners. Unless you're willing to pop for a SOLA transformer. At the risk of being harsh, most of this stuff is pure snake oil. Real power protection is difficult and expensive.
Most products I've dug into have power supplies that are well enough designed. Putting more junk in front of them is a useless expense.
I'd suggest folks just racked a cold standby head. Things do fail. Power isn't the only variable.
No way. Let the sucker bounce on a short bump. The sort of UPS that's actually going to be able to get it done for a bass rig is too heavy to cart about.
I'm clearly in the camp of no power conditioners. Unless you're willing to pop for a SOLA transformer. At the risk of being harsh, most of this stuff is pure snake oil. Real power protection is difficult and expensive.
Most products I've dug into have power supplies that are well enough designed. Putting more junk in front of them is a useless expense.
I'd suggest folks just racked a cold standby head. Things do fail. Power isn't the only variable.
That's just a power capability....... the key is for how long you can get that...... And "how long" is answered by checking the battery capacity.
Most UPS' have a 7 ampere-hour battery, 12V. A few have two.
In a perfect world, one such battery could supply the listed power for 9 minutes. In the real world, more like 3 or 4 minutes. The unit shown quotes 3.2 minutes...... i.e. 192 seconds of power.
