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Boxes-R-Blue View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 December 2018
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Points: 147 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Boxes-R-Blue Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Surge Protection
    Posted: 12 December 2019 at 12:36am
As a seller YES, as a buyer NO!
Kinda Been there, Kinda done that, YOU COULDN'T handle my bar bill!
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Points: 3120 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote snowflake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 November 2019 at 6:51pm
is there any value to this sort of device?

http://www.m2electrical.co.uk/index.php/m2-type-2-surge-protection-device-40ka.html
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Originally posted by Danz9876 Danz9876 wrote:

Ok thanks, I suppose good quality generators would have built in surge protection? As far as I know, undersized generators can cause greater voltage levels, so having a sufficiently sized generator should prevent spikes that are dangerous for equipment.

I do use 16amp 4 pole extension leads with surge protection for most of my sound system, I suppose the main thing I'd want to protect from surges would be my most expensive/powerful amp/drivers an MC2 E90 powering 2 x Void Stasys X V2, powered from the 32 amp outlet on my distro, any suggestions for that? Incorporating a surge protector like one used to protect from lightning like you say might be a wise idea?

Sorry if I'm not making total sense here, but I've had friends claim all of their equipment has blown at a club with a dodgy supply, obviously it will have been working for a time, then suddenly everything is dead haha. That's what I'm trying to avoid here.

Thanks for the suggestion of using 1 or more UPS. That's a good option for DSP and limiter.
No, No, And no!

"surge protection" is not something a Genset will ever understand. 

When sensed load drop voltage a Genset pushes excitation to recover lost voltage.

Problems are :-

Crap gensets use 1.0 assumed PFC AVR sensing and any kinda off-phase (yep 6 pulse inversion swithmode PSUs like loadsa kit uses) can cause the AVR to sense the wrong load compensation data and ramp, ramp hard in cases, gear shagged.

3 phase sets with single phase AVR sensing, obvious party, but most 3 phase sets run this topology.

Completely clueless bell-ends attempting genset rigging, hear this, NO Genset can achieve viable regulation below 15% load, NO Genset likes a 5%>50% load snatch, so place a base load in to take the machine to 20% load, most 'sets worth a wank can do a 20>120% yank as they have "motor start" capacity, but just your amp is a load no set can deal with.

DO NOT order 125KVa sets for your crappy little PA rig, again, 15% load required, so just look at the clueless pricks at Notting Hill every year with Dual 100KVA machine running near to nothing getting a a thin, life less sound.

Power is something you can either do or you can't, look at that Clueless Prick James Eade (or whatever his name is) writing Jamie Oliver spec power recipes for gigs. 
Just don't, if you don't have a clue (good hint if you are asking advice on ARSEbook or another internet forum you don't have a clue) get in a skilled specialist, word like "Hi-ab", "AMF", "Load bank", "syncro" will get involved, you won't understand, but you don't need to, you have a man (or split-arse) that can.

I could say more, but hey, I could have said less!


 
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Points: 1082 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fatfreddiescat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 July 2019 at 7:56pm
Honestly as mentioned above, learn how to meter out the mains, touring grade kit is built to work reliably on the road without surge protectors etc, 30 years and not had a problem. I did tour a 300Kg transformer on one tour nick named the 'Pig' which was for adjusting for the varying mains voltages in rural Spain, other than that not had a problem in 30 years.
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Points: 3 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Danz9876 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 July 2019 at 6:26pm
Ok thanks, I suppose good quality generators would have built in surge protection? As far as I know, undersized generators can cause greater voltage levels, so having a sufficiently sized generator should prevent spikes that are dangerous for equipment.

I do use 16amp 4 pole extension leads with surge protection for most of my sound system, I suppose the main thing I'd want to protect from surges would be my most expensive/powerful amp/drivers an MC2 E90 powering 2 x Void Stasys X V2, powered from the 32 amp outlet on my distro, any suggestions for that? Incorporating a surge protector like one used to protect from lightning like you say might be a wise idea?

Sorry if I'm not making total sense here, but I've had friends claim all of their equipment has blown at a club with a dodgy supply, obviously it will have been working for a time, then suddenly everything is dead haha. That's what I'm trying to avoid here.

Thanks for the suggestion of using 1 or more UPS. That's a good option for DSP and limiter.
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Points: 2534 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Conanski Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 July 2019 at 10:10pm
What you need is a multimeter, use it to test the voltage at every new venue you go to or every time you have to use a genset before any of your gear is plugged in. If you don't see the numbers you want don't plug in it's as simple as that. 

There are "surge protectors" that can protect a whole system but you have to know that they are designed for lightning strike type of "surges" not a wobbly generator and they are 1 use only devices, if they trip they are now junk... throw it away and get another one.

Small signal digital electronics is best protected with a UPS and for that any standard computer type UPS of sufficient capacity will do a great job of over/under voltage protection.



Edited by Conanski - 10 July 2019 at 10:11pm
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Points: 3 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Danz9876 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 July 2019 at 7:39pm
Hey all, 

So I'm wondering what everyone uses to protect their systems against electrical supply faults? Whether using a generator or mains supply.

I'm currently using a single phase distro with 32amp inlet, 1 x 32amp out, and 3 x 16 amp out, is there anything I can use to protect against accidental voltage surges that might fry my equipment? Like a surge protector which could be wired into the inlet of the distro for example.

 The intended use is for small-medium sized clubs and small outside events/festivals, and I don't want to have to rely on others word that venue/generator supply will be safe, a bit more guarantee for my own equipment would be great. 

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!
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