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HELP!! I think my amp (WT 800) is blowing up?!!!

DieselKTM

DieselKTM

Apr 22, 2011
47
14
Hollywood Florida
#1
SOS folks.... I use a WT 800 and have been gigging regularly with it for several years.

Its had its quirks but lately I have been experiencing the entire PA... Shutting down Losing power and moments later powering back up. At first I thought is was the venue's power circuit, Then it happened at another. Then another.... with this one being the House PA (Same power circuit as my amp.) That told me its not PA related. It seems to occur happens when I push my amp. ( Pedal, boost during hard rocking runs). I'm running the amp bridged into a 4ohm 410 XST.

Everything on that circuit shuts down.... Lights, PA, Monitors, like the circuit breaker tripped and then it comes back on after a few seconds.

My gut is telling me my amp is pulling the circuit down. Ive been playing these very same venues for years, Same gear, no change.

Have any of you experienced this. Is my amp about to grenade? :nailbiting:

no burning smell or anything.
 
#5
Some of the late model WT800s do bridge into 4 ohms but Marshall has gone back to recommending only bridging into 8 ohm loads.

OP, it does sound like power draw is exceeding the circuit's capacity. You can borrow or buy watt meters that tell you how much current a device is drawing (I borrowed one from our town's power company to test an old fridge). You may have to find different circuits for some of the gear.
 
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#6
coreyfyfe said:
Per Invalid Link Removed:

Bridged Mono Out- Use this jack only for Mono bridging. Do not use any other output in conjunction with this. Note (The Minimum load in Bridged Mono is 8 Ohms). Use caution this is a high voltage and high power connection point.
Click to expand...
It depends. The early models would bridge only into an 8-ohm load, but the B and C models will bridge into 4 ohms for 1,100 watts.
 
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#7
Thanks Guys....

As it turns out I'm supposedly OK with 4ohms bridged. Further thought revealed that a new 6 way power strip is the culprit. Started using it a sort time ago. It was in the main power string to both my rig and the PA. My trusty Eden appears to be fine.

"Step 1. Ensure that your amplifier is switched off, preferably at the electrical outlet. Step 2. Ensure that Bi-Amp mode is switched off (switch in the IN position) never turn the Bi-Amp mode on during Bridge Mono Operation as it will overload the amplifier. Step 3. Ensure that Bridge Mono mode is switched on (switch in the OUT position). Step 4. Ensure that your amplifier is connected to cabinet with the correct load and power handling (880W at 8Ω and 1100W at 4 Ω) using the Bridge Mono output socket on the rear of the unit."

Lesson Learned;

Beware of cheap power strip surge protectors!
 
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#8
DieselKTM said:
Thanks Guys....

As it turns out I'm supposedly OK with 4ohms bridged. Further thought revealed that a new 6 way power strip is the culprit. Started using it a sort time ago. It was in the main power string to both my rig and the PA. My trusty Eden appears to be fine.

"Step 1. Ensure that your amplifier is switched off, preferably at the electrical outlet. Step 2. Ensure that Bi-Amp mode is switched off (switch in the IN position) never turn the Bi-Amp mode on during Bridge Mono Operation as it will overload the amplifier. Step 3. Ensure that Bridge Mono mode is switched on (switch in the OUT position). Step 4. Ensure that your amplifier is connected to cabinet with the correct load and power handling (880W at 8Ω and 1100W at 4 Ω) using the Bridge Mono output socket on the rear of the unit."

Lesson Learned;

Beware of cheap power strip surge protectors!
Click to expand...
How did you determine it was the power strip--replaced it and the problem went away? Does it have a brand name that you can post here as a warning? Bob
 
#9
bobcruz said:
How did you determine it was the power strip--replaced it and the problem went away? Does it have a brand name that you can post here as a warning? Bob
Click to expand...
Home Depot Cheapo. Gigged the last two nights... without a hitch. So... I have a power conditioner mounted in my rig rack. I most often plug the PA mixer into my rack conditioner... so having that cheapo surge protector in the front of the chain was not really needed anyway. My advise is beware of generic "surge protection" devices on dynamic loads like live sound systems. I'm going to make my own power "strip". Should have done that a long time ago.

Cheers!
 

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