current draw off a 13amp socket?

Not really a subject i know anything about hence the question. Last weekend it seemed that my amps where lighitng up the clip light on the amps at realatively low outputs from the mixer, about 70% of what they normally seem to do and well before the avc2 kicked in. I have heard this can happen if you are trying to draw too much current from a single power supply to power your amps. Im just wondering if we have now reached the max we can pull of normal plug in a pub or if something else was up with our rig.

We were running this off a single 13amp socket, is it too much and do i need to invest in some sort of distro as its always been fine in the past

first ep2500, both channels driven into 8r loads at full whack for bass
second ep2500, 1 channel driven into an 8r load at full whack for bass and 1 into 8r at about 10 o clock for the comp driver
Tapco J2500, both channels driven into 8r loads at full whack for mids
berry crossover (cx3400 i think, the 3way stereo/4way mono one)
avc2
berry eq (fbq something i think 2 channel 31 band eq)
a pair of 1210's
urei 1603 mixer
laptop running only audacity to record the set
Kam led swingfire light
space echo pedal
siren
delay

It was most notable whilst playing reggae with the bass lines causing the clip to occur although it did also happen during a jungle set which again is very bass heavy. Other types of music seemed ok and it didnt appear to make any audible difference to the music when it was going into clip. Also no audible or visual damage has occured to any of the drivers so im hoping we got through it ok.

thanks in advance guys

fat_brstd wrote: Not really a subject i know anything about hence the question. Last weekend it seemed that my amps where lighitng up the clip light on the amps at realatively low outputs from the mixer, about 70% of what they normally seem to do and well before the avc2 kicked in. I have heard this can happen if you are trying to draw too much current from a single power supply to power your amps. Im just wondering if we have now reached the max we can pull of normal plug in a pub or if something else was up with our rig. <snip> It was most notable whilst playing reggae with the bass lines causing the clip to occur <snip>

Maybe there was a lot more on the ring main you were connected to. As a ring main is supposed to be good for 32A, (not thru one socket though.. )




Edited by levyte357 - 15 April 2009 at 1:49am

Why not just add up all the watts for each unit???

If you go over 3000 watts then you will need more than one plug socket.

buy one of these, then report back...

Someone told me he could pull 30A from a plug if he replaced the fuse with a nail, not exactly safe tho, I wouldn't recommend it! 

The back of you're Amps etc should tell you how much current they draw, in amps, near to the mains input. eg 5 amps or 8 amps etc. This will tell you how much current draw the unit will take at constant full power. Try to use 2.5mm cable extensions no more than 6m long if possible. If you are in a venue where there are more sockets try to use the amps directly connected into the wall sockets and the other items through extensions. don't use long extension reels that are partially still wound as this will cause the cable to overheat and sometimes melt. The secret is to take the item to the power not the power to the item. Also be very aware of the correct size of fuse in the Plugs or the item. If they have 3 amp or 5 amp fuses never replace them with a higher value as the fuse in the plug is only the last resort protection for the circuit. If the Equipment is faulty and a fuse blows in the plug, it's usually becuase there has been a nasty short circuit or a sudden spike. Remember it's not the amount of voltage that neccessarily kills its the amount of current drawn at that instant. BE SAFE NOT DEAD.