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How important is power cable lenght ?

C

Catalin

Feb 5, 2006
503
70
Europe-Romania-Craiova
#1
Hello !

At my rehearsal room is a big distance between electrical outlet and the place we have the amps so we have to use an extension cord - 10 meters long. Is this too much? I mean can this may influence in any way the proper function of the amps?
I ask you that because a guy told me that a too long power cable my damage somehow the amps...
The thickness of the extension cord is 2x1.5mm
 
#2
Catalin said:
Hello !

At my rehearsal room is a big distance between electrical outlet and the place we have the amps so we have to use an extension cord - 10 meters long. Is this too much? I mean can this may influence in any way the proper function of the amps?
I ask you that because a guy told me that a too long power cable my damage somehow the amps...
The thickness of the extension cord is 2x1.5mm
Click to expand...
It depends on the amperage draw. Add the total draw of all the gear, make sure the cable is rated for at least that figure. Technically too small a cable can damage the amps, said damage being caused by the fire that can result from an overheated cable. :eek:
 
#6
I.5 mm squared at ten meters is ok for for a couple of guitar amps at 240 volts, a big bass rig and a pa and monitors needs at least another
2.5 mm squared cable. You said 2 X 1.5 where are you getting the earth? or is this a steel armored running underground and using the armor as earth.
I run my band room on 10mm X 10 mtr spur with a 6 mm ring main.
:ninja:
 
#10
I'm thinking of buying the land lot next to my power company and building a studio there. Every time I think about the many miles of power lines between my house and the power company, not to mention the hundreds of feet of wiring snaking through my walls, I get sick at the thought of how it's hindering my amp's performance. And I definitely notice the loss in tone.




;)

Seriously though, as Bill mentioned check the extension cable's rating. You also need to be careful when hooking up a head to a cab... use a speaker cable, not an instrument cable.
 
#11
Diogenes said:
Every time I think about the many miles of power lines between my house and the power company, not to mention the hundreds of feet of wiring snaking through my walls, I get sick at the thought of how it's hindering my amp's performance. And I definitely notice the loss in tone.
Click to expand...
But of course all you have to do to cure all the ills that befall your AC supply between where it starts and where it ends up is to use a $200 eight foot power cord between the wall outlet and your amp. :D

It will work even better if you replace that wall outlet with one of these:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
:eek:
Length only matters if you're using some crap cable.
Click to expand...
Any cables capability is affected by both gauge and length.
 
#13
Hi.

You should be fine with 1.5mm2 if only 10 meters long.

If I remember correctly, in EU:

0.75mm2 is for 6A operation (1440W)
1.5mm2 is for 10A operation (2400W)
2.5mm2 is for 16A operation (3840W)

If the extension cord is more than 10m long, I usually use 2.5mm2 (16A) ones. If longer than that I deduct 1-2A capacity for every 10 meters. If over 30 meters extension is required with any significant power requirements, I use 16A or 32A three phase.

Regards
Sam
 
#15
billfitzmaurice said:
Length only matters if you're using some crap cable.
Click to expand...
Any cable's capability is affected by both gauge and length.
Click to expand...

Absolutely! This is the simple, key element here and should not be ignored. The longer the cable, the larger (lower number) gauge conductor is needed or you'll start having voltage drop as current demand overcomes the conductor's capacity.


greenboy said:
I keep it real simple after seeing guys bring 100 foot-long 16-gauge AC extension cords to gigs expecting to hook a bunch of backline and PA stuff up using a power strip.
Click to expand...

And another amp or two goes up in smoke. :bawl:

greenboy said:
I always have a couple of 25-foot 12 gauges and an 80-foot 12 gauge in my gig stuff.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice, imo.
;)
 
#16
The thickness of the the cord doesn't really matter, it is the gauge of the cable and hence the size of the copper conductors inside that does. You can have a lot of insulation on a cable with high gauge wire inside. The gauge should be listed on the outside of the cable. Probably 14AWG or 12AWG. There is voltage drop over long distances. Like someone mentioned earlier. Just get yourself some good quality 12AWG extension cords and you should be fine.
 
#17
I used to practice in a warehouse next door to a bowling alley. We swore that when the bowling alley was closed for the night, the amps sounded better. Insane, maybe, but there was a difference.

Just figure out your specs and get a thicker cord if need be. I fried an extension cord when I was younger using a shop vac because the cord couldn't handle the draw and actually set on fire.
 
#18
greenboy said:
I keep it real simple after seeing guys bring 100 foot-long 16-gauge AC extension cords to gigs expecting to hook a bunch of backline and PA stuff up using a power strip. I always have a couple of 25-foot 12 gauges and an 80-foot 12 gauge in my gig stuff.
Click to expand...

The power cord feeding my bass amp is 50 foot long all on its own. I figure that would be long enough to find a GOOD POWER SOURCE.

It is also 6ga...

A MODERN BAND should have a power distribution system. This does not need to be complex.

You can build a power BOX with a rolling ATA type case that for the USA consists of: A 4 wire 6 ga cord of adequate length to get to a Venue's power supply.

That will give you 50 amps at 240-250 Volts and it should feed a standard house type circuit breaker panel with at least 8 - 20 amp breakers. Mount this panel inside the ATA box.

Come off the panel with 8 -12ga rubber three wire cords and mount metal quad boxes with a pair of duplex outlets in each box. Make sure the box is grounded along with the outlets.

Each box should go to a station in the band for each musician's power. When building the device make sure to spread the load evenly on each side of the 240 v line. Bass on one side, PA on the other. Or if the PA is 240V powered, bass on one side and the two guitars on the other phase.

Spread lighting around evenly.

If you are a huge band you may need to build a three phase system or 480V system... If you need this stuff YOU ARE MY FRIEND and don't even know it.

A good power system could be built for about $500 -1000 bucks or so. You could even include quality commercial surge suppression at the panels, GFI breakers, all the stuff to make it safe for all environments.

Maybe I should start making this stuff?

BOB
 
#19
HogieWan said:
Length only matters if you're using some crap cable.
Click to expand...

Not entirely true. Voltage drop is a very real issue in any length of cable. This is usually only an issue in very long runs, say 100' or better. The OP should have no issue though, with a length of 10 meters with a good 12ga cord. Voltage drop is usually more of an issue doing outdoor gigs where the power can be somtimes come from quite far away. Always a good idea to check the voltage at the stage with a meter.
 
#20
And here I was thinking my 10 gage cords were bad arse Bob.:D


Like others have said the longer the run the bigger the wire needs to be. Also I think someone said something about the insulation. The more insulation around each conductor the less resistance as well. A good power cord for my Musical needs always has good insulation as well as big conductors.
 

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