Is plugging a head into a power conditioner bad?

[mr_goodbomb]

My friend's dad actually told me this story recently.

He said he has had a power condition in his rack forever and every so often will see it go into "regulation," basically moderating how much power goes to the amp when there's a jump in power. However, recently, they played at some bar and as soon as he plugged the rack in, the condition went into emergency shutoff. Someone who did the power for the bar hooked that specific wall socket up to the wall sockets used for dishwashers and fabric washers. It saved his rig.

 

[JimmyM]

My friend's dad actually told me this story recently.

He said he has had a power condition in his rack forever and every so often will see it go into "regulation," basically moderating how much power goes to the amp when there's a jump in power. However, recently, they played at some bar and as soon as he plugged the rack in, the condition went into emergency shutoff. Someone who did the power for the bar hooked that specific wall socket up to the wall sockets used for dishwashers and fabric washers. It saved his rig.

so will a $5 outlet tester.

 

[silky smoove]

It saved his rig.

No it didn't. A simple MOV isn't going to do much. Turning on a dishwasher that's plugged into the same circuit won't fry an amp. Worst case scenario it would blow a fuse in the amp, which would cost about $5 to fix.

 

[mr_goodbomb]

so will a $5 outlet tester.

Who tests every outlet before they use it? If I went into the same bar to play, I'd assume the same outlets were used by a few dozen other bands that year, and didn't have an issue. I wouldn't think, "hmm, maybe some drooling horsehumper wired a standard outlet to 3x as much power as it should have, I should test it first."

No it didn't. A simple MOV isn't going to do much. Turning on a dishwasher that's plugged into the same circuit won't fry an amp. Worst case scenario it would blow a fuse in the amp, which would cost about $5 to fix.

Maybe you didn't understand what I said. Someone wired the kind of power that powers washer and dryers, certain electric stoves, etc (if I could only remember the name right now) to a standard household outlet. I feel that would fry your amp, or at least some of your lesser protected gear.

 

[JimmyM]

yes, 220 or 240v will blow your gear designed to run on 120v. and point taken about not expecting it and testing every circuit you plug into with an outlet tester. i know i certainly don't test them all. but after this story i'm going to dig out my outlet tester and start doing it again.

 

[silky smoove]

Maybe you didn't understand what I said. Someone wired the kind of power that powers washer and dryers, certain electric stoves, etc (if I could only remember the name right now) to a standard household outlet. I feel that would fry your amp, or at least some of your lesser protected gear.

Even if this were the case, and for the record it sounds suspect at best, a simple MOV won't do anything beyond what the amp would do for itself.

 

[mr_goodbomb]

Even if this were the case, and for the record it sounds suspect at best, a simple MOV won't do anything beyond what the amp would do for itself.

Not all amps have fuses.

 

[JimmyM]

Not all amps have fuses.

yes they do. well, the good ones do. the crappy ones don't, i guess, but honestly, i can't think of a single amp these days that isn't fused. however, quite often, the damage is already done by the time the fuse blows. my band's guitarist had a $400 bill when the power drop he was given was wired into 220 by mistake and blew his marshall amp...which is fused.

 

[uglyrumor]

naturally the 78 travels faster so it has to be better, right?

But 33 1/3 is bigger, and bigger is better, right?

 

[georgestrings]

My friend's dad actually told me this story recently.

This is about the only thing correct in this post - the rest is pretty doubtful, IMO...

I did find some of it to be a bit amusing, though - it happens frequently when people that know nothing about electricity *try* to advise others on the subject...



- georgestrings

 

[agedhorse]

Not all amps have fuses.

Yes, they have either a fuse or circuit breaker for protection against fire and excessive current damage... unless it's unfit for sale. It's pretty much the global standard.

 

[mr_goodbomb]

yes they do. well, the good ones do. the crappy ones don't, i guess, but honestly, i can't think of a single amp these days that isn't fused. however, quite often, the damage is already done by the time the fuse blows. my band's guitarist had a $400 bill when the power drop he was given was wired into 220 by mistake and blew his marshall amp...which is fused.

So, what you're saying is, even with a fuse, it could take damage, negating the debate about whether a fuse is going to protect the amp as much as a conditioner would?

 

[JimmyM]

So, what you're saying is, even with a fuse, it could take damage, negating the debate about whether a fuse is going to protect the amp as much as a conditioner would?

i'm not qualified to say that, quite honestly. all i know is what i saw.

 

[mr_goodbomb]

This is about the only thing correct in this post - the rest is pretty doubtful, IMO...

I did find some of it to be a bit amusing, though - it happens frequently when people that know nothing about electricity *try* to advise others on the subject...



- georgestrings

No need for insults, buddy. I'm just repeating a story I was told recently that pertained to this exact topic.

 

[Bluesbob]

"Casually" throwing the audiophile line out there is a pretty clear case of trolling, since you can only have expected that it would elicit a hot reaction. That's the definition of trolling BTW.

Hey bong, thanks for the definition. That would qualify the post below (#4) as the first "troll" post in this thread. By definition, no less!

Covered in Lie #8.
http://www.theaudiocritic.com/downloads/article_1.pdf

And you're wrong about the audiophile thing, too. Enjoying listening to music doesn't disqualify one from having a valid opinion.

 

[Bluesbob]

yes, 220 or 240v will blow your gear designed to run on 120v. and point taken about not expecting it and testing every circuit you plug into with an outlet tester. i know i certainly don't test them all. but after this story i'm going to dig out my outlet tester and start doing it again.

Ever since I got an outlet tester I always test the circuits we'll be using. It's such cheap insurance.
My SVT II had an internal fuse (since moved to the sheet metal of the case). If it blew it meant taking the amp out of the case, removing the top, replacing the fuse, screwing the top back on, putting it back in the case and plugging it in again. Using a tester is so much easier!

 

[silky smoove]

So, what you're saying is, even with a fuse, it could take damage, negating the debate about whether a fuse is going to protect the amp as much as a conditioner would?

Regardless of the fuse issue, listen to the story you're telling and realize where the logic falls short.

A device that requires 220 to run properly gets plugged into a 110 circuit. Do you think that somehow, magically, the 110 circuit is now putting out 220, which then ran down to the amp in question and would have ruined it if it weren't for a simple MOV?

Putting a 220 device on a 110 circuit won't increase the output of the circuit. At most you'd just trip the breaker for that circuit and you wouldn't get any power.

 

[JimmyM]

silky, i thought he was saying the opposite...a 110 device plugged into 220.

 

[silky smoove]

silky, i thought he was saying the opposite...a 110 device plugged into 220.

Just re-read it and neither of us had it right:

Someone who did the power for the bar hooked that specific wall socket up to the wall sockets used for dishwashers and fabric washers. It saved his rig.

Frankly that makes the story more suspect to me.

 

[DrSmaggs]

Here is why I love my rack power strip.

Step one : Roll the rack and cabinet onto the stage

Step two : Plug in the power and hook up the speaker cable

Step three : Flip on the power strip and play!

That, and it really couldn't hurt to have some form of protection on your rig in a strange spot. I've heard of these things taking the blow for precious gear, so I'm for 'em!