That little A/C receptacle tester....

[Old Garage-Bander]

I hear stories about a guy that converted all his PA speakers cables to U ground (nema 5-15) enabling him to handily use a common AC extension cord when he needed to extend his speaker line runs...
Maybe this is one of those urban legends, but I'm sure someone has tried it.

Well that's a disaster waiting to happen.
I would not doubt someone doing it though.
Sounds like a subject for the Redneck Calendar.

 

[agedhorse]

Yeah, using any NEMA connector for a speaker connector is an accident waiting to happen. And those accidents do in fact happen, I had a customer years ago that lost a couple of cabinets that way and it was due to exactly this. Of course he wired it so he could use quad boxes and breakouts to his speakers!!!

 

[Drgonzonm]

Yeah, using any NEMA connector for a speaker connector is an accident waiting to happen. And those accidents do in fact happen, I had a customer years ago that lost a couple of cabinets that way and it was due to exactly this. Of course he wired it so he could use quad boxes and breakouts to his speakers!!!

I can see using speakon type connectors, but locking plugs got to be better than 1/4 plugs.

 

[agedhorse]

Trading one crappy solution for another doesn't make ANY sense to me at all.

 

[basscapes]

Those little AC testers have saved my bacon (and my gear) MANY time over my playing career!

I NEVER plug in gear without testing the receptacles first- ESPECIALLY if it will have ANY sort of electrical connection with other gear (and then, if possible, I will test THOSE outlets as well!).

Safety first, even at the gig!

 

[Drgonzonm]

Trading one crappy solution for another doesn't make ANY sense to me at all.

given a choice, it's speakon, just like tubes over ss,
Last time I went to buy stage speaker cables, the speakon were 1/2 the price of the 1/4. Unfortunately, the equipment was not compatible.
When it comes to dealing with accountants, crappy sometime rules.

 

[agedhorse]

Fortunately, I don't have to make decisions based on what accountants think. I make the best choices I can for the product and the player, not the accountants.

 

[Testing123]

Fortunately, I don't have to make decisions based on what accountants think. I make the best choices I can for the product and the player, not the accountants.

This is refreshing to hear!

 

[BurningSkies]

Can we all be clear and stop talking about using 'speakons' for power connections? There's a specific yet similar Neutrik connector called a POWERCON that does the same thing, but doesn't work interchangeably with Speakons.

Invalid Link Removed

Also, I recently spent 10 bucks on a little digital LCD voltage meter. I'll carry it to shows too, and I'll be interested to see if it confirms the places that I believe to have low voltage. I also, as stated before have an outlet tester that is plugged into my powerstrip.

 

[beans-on-toast]

This one is simple to use: https://www.amazon.com/Yeeco-Voltmeter-Measuring-Monitoring-Measurement/dp/B00PBW5A4I

Who wouldn’t want one of these: Invalid Link Removed.

A bit expensive though: https://www.amazon.com/Extech-CT70-Circuit-Load-Tester/dp/B0058ELNFY

 

[BurningSkies]

This one is simple to use: https://www.amazon.com/Yeeco-Voltmeter-Measuring-Monitoring-Measurement/dp/B00PBW5A4I

Who wouldn’t want one of these: Invalid Link Removed.

A bit expensive though: https://www.amazon.com/Extech-CT70-Circuit-Load-Tester/dp/B0058ELNFY

Yep. That little one from Amazon. I figured it would be fun to see what is really happening. The wall voltage in my home is 115 with occasional dips down a volt or two.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Yep. That little one from Amazon. I figured it would be fun to see what is really happening. The wall voltage in my home is 115 with occasional dips down a volt or two.

Your line voltage at home is perfect for vintage amps that typically specify 115-117V, unlike many areas that are getting up to 125 V. Mine is 117VAC.

 

[BurningSkies]

Your line voltage at home is perfect for vintage amps that typically specify 115-117V, unlike many areas that are getting up to 125 V. Mine is 117VAC.

Alas, I play very little at home amplified, although I do have my little 65 Vibrochamp ready should I need to do some guitar. Seems like 115 is pretty standard around here for residential.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Alas, I play very little at home amplified, although I do have my little 65 Vibrochamp ready should I need to do some guitar. Seems like 115 is pretty standard around here for residential.

You never know what you are going to get at a venue. Although if it looks like a dive, you can usually count on the line power doing the same.

 

[BurningSkies]

You never know what you are going to get at a venue. Although if it looks like a dive, you can usually count on the line power doing the same.

Yeah, I noticed it with my 400+, which didn't love divergent voltage, and I also notice it with class D, as they show reduced headroom and clipping with low voltage. Unfortunately it's not as easy as just plugging it in and checking. You really need to see it in 'set time' conditions. Lighting, multiple amps on the circuit...and the fryers in the kitchen when they're churning out 11pm wings.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Yeah, I noticed it with my 400+, which didn't love divergent voltage, and I also notice it with class D, as they show reduced headroom and clipping with low voltage. Unfortunately it's not as easy as just plugging it in and checking. You really need to see it in 'set time' conditions. Lighting, multiple amps on the circuit...and the fryers in the kitchen when they're churning out 11pm wings.

If the line voltage is off, it can also affect the power amp stage bias on some amps. Some bands, with deep pockets, carry this 4000vA unit:

Invalid Link Removed.

The line voltage and frequency remains constant anywhere in the world.

 

[BurningSkies]

If the line voltage is off, it can also affect the power amp stage bias on some amps. Some bands, with deep pockets, carry this 4000vA unit:

Invalid Link Removed.

The line voltage and frequency remains constant anywhere in the world.

That's nice...and my pockets are nowhere near that deep. $4k for a used/reconditioned unit. How's a guy supposed to buy nice basses with those kind of prices.

Also, I'm currently walking into clubs and dropping our IEM box and running ALL the lines to the splits and the snake to FOH, so spending extra time in club setting & pay to do this seems counterproductive. Generally when I've hit low voltage I've had a work around on stage that's been functional although it's never ideal.

 

[GreyBeard]

Boy that really sucks. I guess we can be thankful that it was your amp that got fried and not YOU!

Years ago I was playing in a pickup country band at a local Moose club. None of the wiring was grounded and we had to use ground lift adapters on everything. The guitar player stepped up to check his mic when I saw a 2 inch spark jump from his nose to or from the mic. He screamed "This f-ing place" mic was on. I can't remember ever laughing that much.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Getting zapped by a mic was common in the 50’s. Look what it did to Elvis!

 

[agedhorse]

Some class D amps contain low line regulation, so the output does not fall with line voltage drop. The Subway is one of them.