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pat testing smps amplifiers |
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jackSpug 
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Joined: 31 January 2009 Location: mid wales Status: Offline Points: 221 |
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 Topic: pat testing smps amplifiersPosted: 29 October 2014 at 11:41pm |
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Got a lad to pat test ours and a friends amp racks. All the heavy weights passed but 2 brand new inukes and a matrix xt4004 failed. Was just wondering if there supposed to be tested a different way or something?
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two people use this account
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csg
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Joined: 17 September 2007 Location: bedford Status: Offline Points: 6086 |
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Posted: 29 October 2014 at 11:43pm |
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earth leakage?
If so, allowances have to be made for the leakage inherent in the SMPS.
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“The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better”
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MattStolton
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Joined: 04 September 2010 Location: Walthamstow Status: Offline Points: 4234 |
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Posted: 30 October 2014 at 8:28am |
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IIRC 3.5mA is the threshold for earth leakage. I can check 4th edition later. Besides, no longer covered by IET CoP, now comess under HAE CoP.....or their sister company EHA.
AFAIK, 3.5mA is limit of bs1363 plug (3 pin 13A UK plug) for continuous leakage. BS4343 (CEE forms) should be used for higher leakage. Something to do with having two screws on earth cable to earth pin. |
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Matt Stolton - Technical Director (!!!) - Wilding Sound Ltd
"Sparkius metiretur vestra" - "Meter Your Mains" |
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audiomik
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Joined: 06 April 2010 Location: Bath, UK Status: Offline Points: 2962 |
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Posted: 30 October 2014 at 8:57am |
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I hope that the person testing your SMPS Amplifiers didn't use a standard Voltage insulation PAT test on these!
There are some specific instructions regarding testing SMPS powered kit generally, have seen a number of posts on various forums about this, but definitely check the various good on-line resources on PAT testing methods and what actual tests to use. I also seem to think that on the most up to date testing kit there is an 'option selection' for SMPS equipment? (can someone else confirm this?) Mik Edited by audiomik - 30 October 2014 at 9:00am |
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Warning! May contain Nuts
plus springs, washers, screws, etc, etc. |
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odc04r
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Joined: 12 July 2006 Location: Sarfampton Status: Offline Points: 5482 |
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Posted: 30 October 2014 at 10:58am |
What he said. My old amps also had a higher leakage current to earth than the rest of my kit but well within the limits. |
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MattStolton
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Posted: 30 October 2014 at 11:00am |
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OK, IET 4th Edition Nov 2012 - Section 15.11 High Protective Conductor Currents:
Equipment with a protective conductor current designed to exceed 3.5mA but not exceeding 10mA should:
Earth Connection essential before connecting the supply" So, if your appliance measures more than 3.5mA earth leakage, it must use a cee form lead set, use at least 1mm2 flex, and have a label attached. Alternatively, it should be hard wired (switched fuse spur). And a label. So any amplifier, using a 0.75mm2 cable with a BS1363 13A plug to IEC, with more than 3.5mA earth leakage, is a fail. Cee form and greater than 1mm2, but no sticker, is a fail. Where the BS is, if you "hire", then the IET CoP doesn't apply: Section 16.3 Hired Equipment: Although equipment owned or controlled by a company, for hire purposes, is not within the scope of this Code Of Practice, any equipment hired by an individual or company in many cases becomes the responsibility of that individual or company hiring it, and so is within the scope of this Code of Practice. What this means is, as a hire operator, the IET CoP does not apply to you, your customer needs to add the hire stock to their inventory, and they PAT as required! This is where the HAE (Hire Association Europe - think plant hire) and EHA (Entertainment Hire Association - a wholly owned subsidiary of HAE), comes into play. They issue a CoP for PAT - "HAEEST 2012 Code OF Practice" - which has the glaring omission of not even mentioning earth leakage testing!! However, much as "PAT" is not law (See the Difference between a Code of Practice/CoP and an Accepted Code Of Practice/ACoP), PUWER regs means you have to demonstrate "maintenance" of electrical appliances and installations. For Appliances, PAT is a convenient way of demonstrating you have maintained electrical appliances, which may mean the difference between a huge fine/jail, or just getting a small fine, and maybe even a way to get off scott free if your barrister is good enough, and demonstrates how your hirer must have modified your recently tested appliance to enact Darwinism.
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Matt Stolton - Technical Director (!!!) - Wilding Sound Ltd
"Sparkius metiretur vestra" - "Meter Your Mains" |
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kedwardsleisure
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Joined: 20 January 2009 Location: Staffordshire Status: Offline Points: 4947 |
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Posted: 30 October 2014 at 7:07pm |
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what was the reason the amps failed?
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Kevin
North Staffordshire |
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Parkend10
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Posted: 26 November 2014 at 2:40am |
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Encountered a live situation recently where a talent was getting shocks from his guitar. Mains distribution was all good, valve amp was new and tested ok. Effects pedals running off a small smps, BIN-GO!
An isolating transformer would have prevented this.
Edited by Parkend10 - 26 November 2014 at 2:47am |
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odc04r
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Posted: 26 November 2014 at 9:50am |
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Or batteries, even better for FX pedals imo.
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kedwardsleisure
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Posted: 26 November 2014 at 10:42pm |
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treat him to a PSU with a proper transformer, CPC have a reasonable range.
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Kevin
North Staffordshire |
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MattStolton wrote: