LPA-1 causing room lights to dim

[thisonekidmongo]

I already posted this in the Emotiva forums, but I was hoping to get some additional feedback here. Recently, when I turn on my LPA-1 (I've had it less than a month), the room lights flicker and dim to about 80% brightness for about 15-30 seconds -- should I be concerned about this? I'm worried that once summer hits, the amp + the air conditioner will trip a circuit. I live in a studio apartment and plug the amp directly into the wall (as recommended by Emotiva), if that matters.

Some more info -- I thought only the lights nearest my home theater/computer setup dimmed when turning on the amp, but it appears now that lights on in any part of the apartment dim when the LPA is first turned on. It was suggested that I try to spread the electrical load around the apartment more (which isn't very feasible for me in the first place), but this fact seems to indicate that wouldn't really help.

I'm thinking of simply leaving the amp on all the time (would this add significant cost to my electric bill?), or calling the electric company to see if they can help, but I have a feeling their advice will amount to "don't use the amp." Any advice to offer? Thanks for any help.

 

[MDS]

If there are only 8 or 10 outlets in the apartment it is entirely possible that most (or even all) of them are on the same breaker and that would explain why any light dims when the amp is drawing a lot of current.

 

[yettitheman]

My lights dim slightly for a little bit while my P2201 turns on..
Continuous dimming means you are definitely drawing a load. Hopefully you aren't overloading any circuits.

15-30 seconds.... not abnormal I think for an amp that size.

You could see if an extra circuit could be added... and if you happen to have an electrician over to check out everything, see if there is aluminum stranded wire feeding the outlets behind the wall. If there is, replace it immediately. BIG fire hazard when drawing loads.

 

[rnatalli]

This is how you know you have a good amp

 

[thisonekidmongo]

I don't know how accomodating my landlord would be about adding an extra circuit...since the lights only dim when the amp first turns on, would simply leaving it on all the time (rather than using the 12v trigger) be an acceptable fix, or is that more addressing the symptoms, not the disease? I don't want to drive up my electric bill either, but factoring in work and sleep time, it'd really only be on seven hours a day tops. If nothing else, I'm moving in six months anyway, so I guess I can just deal until then.

 

[jcPanny]

Emotiva amp

Don't worry about the lights dimming for a few seconds. If you apt had better wiring or more breakers then it would not happen. It might be worthwhile to use an outlet tester on the AC outlets for the A/V gear to verify that they are wired and grounded properly.

 

[crashkelly]

This is how you know you have a good amp

Perfect my friend, perfect!!

nuff said
Michael

 

[majorloser]

This is how you know you have a good amp

And if the lights in the neighborhood dim...

You're my hero

 

[PENG]

This is how you know you have a good amp

Until you load the amp up, the initial surge should last for less than a second. No matter how good the amp is, it is not normal for it to draw high current for longer than a few cycles, and in North America the power frequency is 60 cycles per second. If the light dims for longer than that I would assume they are not of the incandescent type. It does take a longer time for the CFL to get to full output. If you in fact has the CFL, I suggest you replace one of them with a incandescent bulb and see if it could recover to full brighness quickly.

 

[trnqk7]

I notice that my setup dims the lights when I turn it on as well-but as PENG said, it shouldn't take 30 seconds for them to come back to full brightness. Mine is a very short disturbance, less than a second probably.

 

[chadnliz]

I am not saying you dont have a good amp but its silly to say that is a sign of a good amp, it would be better classified as a sign you have crap power and if your really waning ideal performance get a voltage stabilizer. If you have this happen when amp turns on surely it is going to happen at other times and all your gear could suffer.

 

[rnatalli]

I think some of you missed the joke.

Bottom line is, the LPA-1 is capable of drawing a lot of current from a circuit. It's not unusual to notice lights dim when an amp is drawing power especially considering how old some homes are. I have a brand-new home and the lights dim slightly when I turn on the vacuum. Now imagine an amp drawing power continuously.

 

[mtrycrafts]

This is how you know you have a good amp

Not necessarily.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I don't know how accomodating my landlord would be about adding an extra circuit....

Don't hold your breath in the meantime
You probably will not see it happen.
How old is the unit and how many breakers in for the apartment?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Now imagine an amp drawing power continuously.

I am trying but having a hard time since he is in an apartment and not in a testing facility

 

[AdrianMills]

I'm thinking of simply leaving the amp on all the time

Please don't do that. Just think of all the power stations that are needed worldwide just to satisfy the power draw from 100's of millions of people too lazy, indifferent or ignorant to turn off lights and equipment left on standby. Don't be a sheep (no offence Sheepstar dude )

, or calling the electric company to see if they can help, but I have a feeling their advice will amount to "don't use the amp." Any advice to offer? Thanks for any help.

As someone said already as it's a studio apartment you're probably on a single breaker or maybe two - one for the kitchen if you're lucky. Find out, and try to load balance across the breakers if you can.

If not, get another. If you can't, don't use your air conditioner.

 

[thisonekidmongo]

Sorry, I don't know much about electrical stuff -- the box on the wall has about eight circuit breakers, labeled "bathroom," "kitchen," "left wall near window," etc. I used to think these were all different circuits, but since the lights can dim anywhere in the apartment I guess that's not the case?

Also, last night when I got home, I noticed one of my lights dimming -- when my home theater rig wasn't even on. This is the first time that's ever happened, but it leads me to believe the building's wiring isn't very good (or simply that other people in the building have been using much more power lately). I think I'll look into seeing if my electric company can come take a look at it, much as I don't want to cause trouble for my landlord.

By the way, I'd say my building is fairly old -- unlike most of my friends' newer places, it's all historic hardwood, with high ceilings, giant window moldings and a fireplace. I'm sure that's not helping.

 

[crashkelly]

And if the lights in the neighborhood dim...

You're my hero

majorloser: You have now set the bar which I will do my best to aspire to

Cheers
Michael

 

[yettitheman]

Well.. you can just put a meter on the outlet.. measure it with the amp off, and then turn the amp on and see what the voltage drops to and for how long.

 

[ParkerAudio]

What about a power backup/load protection unit. Might give you a boost in power, and smooth out that transition, give you an extra boost.

http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Protection-Joules-Outlets-APWSC420/dp/B000E7UGRQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1210190420&sr=8-6


Anything like this that has backup power included with the load protection. Not 100% sure it would work, if I was you, I would buy, if not return.
The only other option I see is running an extension cord from a distant room, on a different circuit breaker, you aren't going to be able to do to much in an apartment.

Here is another link to APC which would give you more information
http://www.apc.com/products/category.cfm?id=12