View Full Version : Leaving the amp on
Hi everyone
This morning i did an eary set up for a marquee wedding.
Now the problem that i had is, when i turned on the amplifier it tripped the power of, the power to the marquee and the garden lights.
I have had this twice before, both times it has been at venues that have one off those very sensitive fuse boxes, in fact i have one in my house and even when a light bulb goes it trips the fuse switch of that controlls the lights, the other power, plugs etc are not affected. They are just saftey devices,
i do have a extention lead that is surge protected, but it still does not help.
Now, i dont want to go back to the marquee when all the guests are there and turn on the amp and trip the power off again, so i have left the amp and the mixer turned on, allthough i have put the lid back onto the mixer so that no little fingers can fiddle about with it.
So my qustion is, can my leaving my amp turned on with no feed or sound going through it damage it?
DJWilson
11-09-2010, 02:01 PM
The amp still need's to be open for the fan's to venterlate the air through without running with no cool air.
Corabar Steve
11-09-2010, 02:08 PM
Make sure you have all the gains / volumes down when you turn your CD player / laptop / HD controller back on
Hi Nathan
Yep, i have left the covers of the amp so the fans can still work, it is only the mixer that i have put the lid back on, but that can't overheat.
DJWilson
11-09-2010, 02:22 PM
Hi Nathan
Yep, i have left the covers of the amp so the fans can still work, it is only the mixer that i have put the lid back on, but that can't overheat.
In that case the amp should be fine :)
Sapphire Disco
11-09-2010, 02:24 PM
I would think you would be better to leave your amp switched on with the volume on zero as long as no one can get near enough to tamper with it.
Booche
11-09-2010, 02:29 PM
Just hope no one turns the power off to the marquee as you will be back at stage one lol
Cheers Dave :)
DeckstarDeluxe
11-09-2010, 02:32 PM
Why cant you change the amp?
I would be very unhappy using an equipment that had an issue where it would trip the power.
Better for it to happen early doors than during the first dance or last half hour...
Why cant you change the amp?
I would be very unhappy using an equipment that had an issue where it would trip the power.
Better for it to happen early doors than during the first dance or last half hour...
It has never tripped the power during the evening, it has only happened when i am setting up and i turn on the amp and this has only happened twice before, as i said, the two venues that this happened at have one of the new fuse boxes and were aware of the problem The same type that i have at home, like i said, if a bulb goes or a fuse goes the individual switch tripps of, after the bulb or fuse is changed you just flick the said switch back to the on posistion.
The amp has been pat tested and is fine
sounds like your amp is doing the old classic of pulling a load of current when first turned on. This used to be very common, but most modern units have soft start circuits which prevent this problem.
A surge protection extension lead will make no difference, but it would be worth checking with the amp manufacturer if it should have a soft start circuit, as these can and do fail.
Type c or d circuit breakers are designed to handle a turn on surge from an inductive load such as a power amp, so will be fine. Type B trips, most commonly fitted to domestic supplies will have a tendency to trip though, as you have found.
Your amp will be quite happy idling without a signal however
sounds like your amp is doing the old classic of pulling a load of current when first turned on. This used to be very common, but most modern units have soft start circuits which prevent this problem.
A surge protection extension lead will make no difference, but it would be worth checking with the amp manufacturer if it should have a soft start circuit, as these can and do fail.
Type c or d circuit breakers are designed to handle a turn on surge from an inductive load such as a power amp, so will be fine. Type B trips, most commonly fitted to domestic supplies will have a tendency to trip though, as you have found.
Your amp will be quite happy idling without a signal however
Many thanks for the advice:)
DazzyD
11-09-2010, 05:49 PM
Hi everyone
This morning i did an eary set up for a marquee wedding.
Now the problem that i had is, when i turned on the amplifier it tripped the power of, the power to the marquee and the garden lights.
I have had this twice before, both times it has been at venues that have one off those very sensitive fuse boxes, in fact i have one in my house and even when a light bulb goes it trips the fuse switch of that controlls the lights, the other power, plugs etc are not affected. They are just saftey devices, I do have a extention lead that is surge protected, but it still does not help.
Now, i dont want to go back to the marquee when all the guests are there and turn on the amp and trip the power off again, so i have left the amp and the mixer turned on, allthough i have put the lid back onto the mixer so that no little fingers can fiddle about with it.
So my qustion is, can my leaving my amp turned on with no feed or sound going through it damage it?
Just safety devices that could save your life!
sounds like your amp is doing the old classic of pulling a load of current when first turned on. This used to be very common, but most modern units have soft start circuits which prevent this problem.
A surge protection extension lead will make no difference, but it would be worth checking with the amp manufacturer if it should have a soft start circuit, as these can and do fail.
Type c or d circuit breakers are designed to handle a turn on surge from an inductive load such as a power amp, so will be fine. Type B trips, most commonly fitted to domestic supplies will have a tendency to trip though, as you have found.
Your amp will be quite happy idling without a signal however
I agree that it doesn't seem to be soft-starting. Maybe time to think of a newer, safer amp?
Just safety devices that could save your life!
I agree that it doesn't seem to be soft-starting. Maybe time to think of a newer, safer amp?
So you dont think that a fuse box tripping of just because a light bulb goes is little bit to sensetive.
Larry B Entertainment
12-09-2010, 10:32 AM
So you dont think that a fuse box tripping of just because a light bulb goes is little bit to sensetive.
Im pleased my box tripped yesterday while I was shortening an extension lead in my house..............without remembering to switch off the socket first
My box will also trip if a light bulb goes out, its not that the box is too sensitive, it because it has picked up on the large surge that a light bulb blowing can create, its doing it job.
CRAZY K
12-09-2010, 12:03 PM
Hi everyone
This morning i did an eary set up for a marquee wedding.
Now the problem that i had is, when i turned on the amplifier it tripped the power of, the power to the marquee and the garden lights.
I have had this twice before, both times it has been at venues that have one off those very sensitive fuse boxes, in fact i have one in my house and even when a light bulb goes it trips the fuse switch of that controlls the lights, the other power, plugs etc are not affected. They are just saftey devices,
i do have a extention lead that is surge protected, but it still does not help.
Now, i dont want to go back to the marquee when all the guests are there and turn on the amp and trip the power off again, so i have left the amp and the mixer turned on, allthough i have put the lid back onto the mixer so that no little fingers can fiddle about with it.
So my qustion is, can my leaving my amp turned on with no feed or sound going through it damage it?
Should be ok--
Get another amp or the existing one fixed---by the way as far as I know the PAT certificate only relates to general safety including effective earthing---it has nothing to do with your problem and does not mean your amp is 100 per cent.
DazzyD
13-09-2010, 01:17 AM
So you dont think that a fuse box tripping of just because a light bulb goes is little bit to sensetive.
No I don't think it's a bit too sensitive. The fuse box doesn't know if the bulb has just "popped" or whether it's been broken and there are live connections showing (as happened in my dad's house). This scenario could lead to a fire. The fuse box has tripped because of a power surge due a problem with the circuit. As Larry said, it's doing it's job and ensuring your safety.
yourdj
13-09-2010, 05:51 AM
Get a digital amp if your having issues. Im selling one soon. a four channel one and its next to new in box. :)
sleah
13-09-2010, 10:23 AM
Why cant you change the amp?
I would be very unhappy using an equipment that had an issue where it would trip the power.
Better for it to happen early doors than during the first dance or last half hour...
Should be ok--
Get another amp or the existing one fixed---by the way as far as I know the PAT certificate only relates to general safety including effective earthing---it has nothing to do with your problem and does not mean your amp is 100 per cent.
There is probably nothing wrong with the amp. A 'proper' PAT may put your mind at rest. By a 'proper' PAT I mean one using equipment that checks insulation resistance as well as earth bonding etc..
But I bet it's fine!
In one of the venues that belong to the school I work for, I've had the same issue. It is an over sensitive trip.
They recently replaced them and I had the same problem again a couple of weeks back when the power went off for a Rugby Festival.
I don't know if it was the PA that tripped the trip because I wasn't there when they powered up, however we realised the same circuit had about 3 tea urns on it!!!
It was a simple case of the last device causing a surge which just caused the trip to pop, reseting it with everything turned on fixed it:D
It may be a similar situation in the marquee, if they have lights, heaters, a bar etc on the same supply, the surge from the amp was just enough to trip it, even though there was no fault and once running no danger of overload.
just one of those electrical quirks that gets you when you least expect it, and when it's most inconvenient:(
Squelch
13-09-2010, 06:12 PM
sounds like a bit of earth leakage going on!!
No I don't think it's a bit too sensitive. The fuse box doesn't know if the bulb has just "popped" or whether it's been broken and there are live connections showing (as happened in my dad's house). This scenario could lead to a fire. The fuse box has tripped because of a power surge due a problem with the circuit. As Larry said, it's doing it's job and ensuring your safety.
Fair enough.
sounds like a bit of earth leakage going on!!
No, not really. If it were an earth problem then the tripping issue would likely occur at any time, not when the unit is switched on for the first time.
The original post seemed to point to an MCB that was going, not an RCD, so that would also point at a turn on surge current issue.
It is also likely that the unit is perfectly safe. Whilst having the unit checked and pat tested is certainly prudent, it is unlikely to reveal any issues.
As for replacement units, well virtually all amps, digital or analogue, switch mode or linear will include soft start circuits now, so there is no need to restrict yourself to a digital amp for a replacement.
out of interest, what unit is it that is causing the issue?
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