Behringer A500

[mike c]

or for four A500's (and some lights) ... I did this: (I still have to turn it on manually, but at least it's just one button.)

ignore the short thingies plugged in, I made the "power strip" too close to each other to accomodate the giant (angled plugs) behringer power cables.

 

[TLS Guy]

or for four A500's (and some lights) ... I did this: (I still have to turn it on manually, but at least it's just one button.)

ignore the short thingies plugged in, I made the "power strip" too close to each other to accomodate the giant (angled plugs) behringer power cables.

That's 28 amps. How did you get all the circuits to it? I would have used three to keep everything underrated. That is 1.84 KW of audio power. Now I consider that a significant engineering problem. That is similar to my system that has 1.7 KW of audio power.

Now I put a panel in the equipment chase, and have two circuits devoted to the amp case. Now the front left and right speakers use total of six amps on one circuit, delivering a total of 880 watts. Now I had to change to a slow response breaker as a standard breaker kicked out about half the time on switch on. These amps are switched from a 24 volt relay. The two center channel amps switch from another relay, the two rears from another relay and the four center back amps from another. This is so amps can be switched in according to listening requirements.

The illuminated switches can be seen in the fourth unit from the top.

http://mdcarter.smugmug.com/gallery/2424008#127077469

Here are the relays and extractor fan control.

http://mdcarter.smugmug.com/gallery/2424008#127077808

Now I felt the heat required fan extraction. So a Fantec fan was installed remote from the location, that vents to the outside. I also put in significant air conditioning into the mechanical chase.

Now the extractor fan tube was an insulated tube, but my tin man did not put enough insulation on it. We did not get much snow until the end of the winter last year. This year we have had significant snows since the end of November this year. The extractor duct caused significant snow melt and an ice jam on the roof. We added insulation last month and my builder was in the roof again today adding extra insulation.

So I think the problems of engineering for this much power are substantial.

The other matter is that most outlet circuits in American homes are shared with lighting. I think people planning for the sort of powers we use will encounter significant problems more likely than not, if they don't carefully plan and take expert advice. This sort endeavor poses significant engineering problems on multiple fronts.

 

[mike c]

first off, we have 220v here. so the amperage on the A500 is lower (as per the behringer manual) and our 15A breakers have more on tap. it's never tripped yet with 4 A500's, three subwoofers two with 1000w and one with 1250w, projector, receiver powering two speakers

 

[treejohnny]

The house requirements are not a big deal for me i ran 220 to the garage and wired it up along with getting rid of the old wiring in the basement as well. I have a 280 gallon fish tank in my living room with special electrical needs as well that I ran. I am sure running another extra outlet on separate circuit will not be a problem. If I was to buy new 3 or 5 channel amp would it have the same electrical draw?

 

[TLS Guy]

first off, we have 220v here. so the amperage on the A500 is lower (as per the behringer manual) and our 15A breakers have more on tap. it's never tripped yet with 4 A500's, three subwoofers two with 1000w and one with 1250w, projector, receiver powering two speakers

So you set the power selector on A 500 to 220 volts right? That would halve the current and a 15 amp circuit at 220 would just be sufficient. No margin though. That would be equivalent to my two 110 volt 15 amp circuits.

What does the manual say the power consumption of the A 500 is by the way? My amps are class C current dumpers. The output dumpers are heavily biased towards class A. The spec is set by the small class A amp on the boards, so they are very linear, but I'm sure they have a higher current draw per watt audio output than the A 500 which I'm would guess is heavily biased to class B. But that is the price you have to pay for extreme linearity without excessive negative feedback.

 

[mike c]

nope, we really have 220v here ... so there's no switch on the A500.

 

[TLS Guy]

nope, we really have 220v here ... so there's no switch on the A500.

So you live in a part of the world where you have a standard house voltage of 220 volts and you A 500 came set for that voltage? If that is so, then your advice has no bearing for someone living in an area where the house outlet voltage is 110 volts and the A 500 is supplied for 110 volts working.

Were are you living where the house outlet voltage is 220?

 

[mike c]

Manila. actually, I got all this from someone in the US. so it IS applicable to 110v, you just use less amps on a single relay.

re: the power strip thingy, the power switch is rated for 3300w. the only other weak link is your breaker ... nothing to do with my suggestion.

quote from behringer a500 manual:

max power consumption: 3.6 A 230V / 6.5 A 120V

did you not read the behringer manual? how are you sure my advice has no bearing?

 

[TLS Guy]

Manila. actually, I got all this from someone in the US. so it IS applicable to 110v, you just use less amps on a single relay.

re: the power strip thingy, the power switch is rated for 3300w. the only other weak link is your breaker ... nothing to do with my suggestion.

quote from behringer a500 manual:



did you not read the behringer manual? how are you sure my advice has no bearing?

Yes I have read the Behringer manual a few weeks ago. I recalled that the there was no voltage switch on models for USA and Canada. They are set for 110. I thought you may have had a model from China, these are set at 220 volts. They do make a so called export model for certain markets, that has a voltage selector, but it is not supplied in the US.

Now if you are using four 110 volt models with a 220 circuit, it has to be a two phase circuit. You would have to run two A 500s between one phase and neutral and the other two between the other phase and neutral. I can tell you that would not be code in the US, and if you did it your home owners insurance would be null and void in the event of fire. I do not recommend any body do this in the US.

But any how I can see how you did it, thanks for the info.

It does confirm everything I had to say about using four of these in the US. This will take at least two 110 volt 15 amp circuits and that might not be enough to allow for turn on.

 

[mike c]

It does confirm everything I had to say about using four of these in the US. This will take at least two 110 volt 15 amp circuits and that might not be enough to allow for turn on.

OP already said running separate runs was no problem. and being in the fish hobby myself, I'm pretty sure he has some knowledge with running more circuits for craploads of lights, pumps and filters.

re: running 4 of these... I'll let Majorloser, who has 7 and JeffSG4mac who has 6 and an EP2500 comment re: 110v usage

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have changed my mind. I now say either turn the dang things on manually or get an amp that was made for this application.

 

[WmAx]

Circuit capacity is critical as TLS Guy has pointed out, but not likely for safety reasons in the capacity of audio amplification. The average total power consumption will be likely well under 200 watts at any given time for the amplifiers, even if using say 4 or 5 of the A500 amplifiers at the same time - with only dynamic peaks consuming large power levels for a short period. I have used a logging power meter between my audio equipment and circuit to monitor actual power use, and the power consumption is very low most of the time. The likely consequence of an under-rated circuit for these amplifiers is not being able to achieve the power level for which they are rated(making it rather pointless to use high power amps on a circuit without sufficient capacity). Also, as was mentioned, inrush current to the amplifiers can in some cases cause the breaker to trip off. The most power use would be noted if using high power amplifiers for the LFE for movie playback. In this case, further sustained, higher power use can easily result. The only point is that if you want to come close to the rated power specs of your amplifier(s), you need to use sufficient circuits.

-Chris

 

[mtrycrafts]

...I have used a logging power meter between my audio equipment and circuit to monitor actual power use, and the power consumption is very low most of the time. The likely consequence of an under-rated circuit for these amplifiers is not being able to achieve the power level for which they are rated(making it rather pointless to use high power amps on a circuit without sufficient capacity). Also, as was mentioned, inrush current to the amplifiers can in some cases cause the breaker to trip off. The most power use would be noted if using high power amplifiers for the LFE for movie playback. In this case, further sustained, higher power use can easily result. The only point is that if you want to come close to the rated power specs of your amplifier(s), you need to use sufficient circuits.

-Chris

Have you connected that meter in the powered sub circuit? If so, what kind of results?
Where does the caps in an amp come in if not to help in the spikes, then they recharge at other times?