Short voltage...

[PropellerHeadCase]

Anyone hereabouts know with absolute certainty the effect of short voltage on equipment?

I was at a venue yesterday afternoon and when I plugged in my power conditioner it was registering around 180V, not the 220-230V that one would expect. This led to half an hour of running around trying to find a powerpoint on a fuse that was up to snuff. Finally found one. Had to run 30metres of cable to get to it, but I used that rather than taking the risk.

(My lights wouldn't run piggy-backed off the 180V load, either, though that might've been the lead being dodgy, as they did run off a standard two-plug splitter.)

I advised the venue of the short voltage and made it clear that I wouldn't be plugging in my CD-player, mixer, and lap-top into such seriously compromised power. It wasn't until I said that, either there was something draining serious power on that circuit or there was a wiring fault, that the manageress (and recently new owner, of about 6 months) said that it was a wiring fault.

And you were gonna let me plug my gear in? Thanks!

So, yeah, what are the pretty-much-guaranteed effects on amps and micro-electronics? Anyone?

[Dillmiester]

From what i remember in my distant past electrical engineering training, its the amps you need to worry about as most 240v equipment actually uses alot less. Most kit normally has the ability to run on less for use in different countries like 110v and is sometimes printed as such.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Yeah, not sure what the ampage was at.

[Tony Scott]

Under voltage is not really a problem as far as damaging kit. It will however adversly affect performance of PC's, processors, eq's, mixers etc.

Amplifiers are pretty robust and can run quite happy on 110v but with seriously compromised output.

High drain light fixtures also suffer, Discharge lamp fixtures won't even fire.

Over Voltage, absolute killer!!! :eek: But you knew that, you wouldn't be using a conditioner if not. :)

[PropellerHeadCase]

Tony, my kit includes a micro-processor based signal processor. My DBX unit is my X-over, EQ, Compressor, Feedback-zapper, etc. Given that it is the first unit in my amp stack, and the first unit after my CD-player and mixer in the audio-chain adversely effected performance means no performance, potentially.

Beyond that I suspect that having my system running at low voltage will make it less able to cope with the fact that the power to the venue in question seemed to be quite unstable (the lights in the room where I was playing flickered several times before I started up).

[Tony Scott]

Tony, my kit includes a micro-processor based signal processor. My DBX unit is my X-over, EQ, Compressor, Feedback-zapper, etc. Given that it is the first unit in my amp stack, and the first unit after my CD-player and mixer in the audio-chain adversely effected performance means no performance, potentially.

Beyond that I suspect that having my system running at low voltage will make it less able to cope with the fact that the power to the venue in question seemed to be quite unstable (the lights in the room where I was playing flickered several times before I started up).

DBX unit bit like the Omni-drive then, used to have one of those. You wouldn't want to chance it would you?

Flickering lights, oh dear, you only need a serious spike without a conditioner and that DBX will turn into a mini smoke machine!! :eek: :eek:

[PropellerHeadCase]

you only need a serious spike without a conditioner and that DBX will turn into a mini smoke machine!! :eek: :eek:

My thoughts precisely! :o