Behringer A500

[treejohnny]

Has anyone ever modded an A500 to power up with 12v trigger ??
These amps get alot of praise and they are cheap, would be awesome if you didnt have to get turn them on manually.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Just use a IR power strip.

 

[mike c]

Has anyone ever modded an A500 to power up with 12v trigger ??
These amps get alot of praise and they are cheap, would be awesome if you didnt have to get turn them on manually.

I didn't mod the A500, but I did build a 12v trigger with a 12v DC relay

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=251065&postcount=2

just be careful with matching the ampere on the relay and the actual power consumption. (I usually use max wattage to be on the safe side)

 

[treejohnny]

Ok.... to slower people like me, I would put relay (20A) inline with the power cord of the power strip and connect a wire from my A/V receiver to the relay ? Or is there a link to one I can buy ? I didnt have any luck with first search.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You can just buy an IR powerstrip.

Mike's way maybe cooler but I dont try stuff like that.

 

[pmac]

Just use a IR power strip.

Ok, for us noobs. Please point us to what that is. A link would be nice.

Thanks.

 

[treejohnny]

Please send me link for IR power stip....I think my search engine is plotting against me finding one ?

 

[orAgon]

Try this.

Please send me link for IR power stip....I think my search engine is plotting against me finding one ?

http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/Bits-Ltd./Item/LCG5/

It's not IR but it might just do what you want. They have a '30 day, risk-free, unconditional money back guarantee' if it doesn't work for you.

 

[bandphan]

http://nilesaudio.com/product_selection.php?catcdID=10

like these

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I know I have found the IR surge protection before but cant seem to find one now.

You could use something like this:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=248-763&CFID=12162535&CFTOKEN=25956433

 

[TLS Guy]

Has anyone ever modded an A500 to power up with 12v trigger ??
These amps get alot of praise and they are cheap, would be awesome if you didnt have to get turn them on manually.

You could try and use 12 volt relays, however I think the power draw is too great for 12 volt. I have a very large current draw from my amps, and I used a 24 volt relay system and it works perfectly. How many would you want to power up? I had to use two circuits for my amp case. The 24 volt relay system has been perfect. Also if you switch amps on and off with standard switches there is progressive burn out of the switches, because of the high inductance of the load presented by power transformers. Industrial relays used for switching heavy loads are ideal.

It is too bad 12 volt triggers became standard. A 24 volt trigger system would have been much better.

Your other option would be to use a 12 volt relay to trigger one or two 24 volt relays, but that makes it get a little more complex but it would still be quite easy to do if you want to use the 12 volt trigger.

 

[treejohnny]

I should have said that I was looking for cheap way to turn on the amp. At this point I am looking to drive 2 or 3 channels being the mains for sure and maybe the center. My current speakers are 8ohms (phase tech teatro7.5's) 150Watt rated, and my A/V receiver(yamaha 2600) puts out 130WattsThe way I see it my options are:

Adcom 555 from ebay 2@200Watts for around $300-400
Behringer A500 online 1@500Watts for around $200 a channel
Get new 5 channel amp with remote on for $1000++++

I intend on getting new speakers(mains) that can handle 170-240Watts @8ohms and i would hate to spend money twice to do what i can see happening soon. I was thinking that for $400(A500's) I would know if my A/V is holding my speakers back.

 

[TLS Guy]

I should have said that I was looking for cheap way to turn on the amp. At this point I am looking to drive 2 or 3 channels being the mains for sure and maybe the center. My current speakers are 8ohms (phase tech teatro7.5's) 150Watt rated, and my A/V receiver(yamaha 2600) puts out 130WattsThe way I see it my options are:

Adcom 555 from ebay 2@200Watts for around $300-400
Behringer A500 online 1@500Watts for around $200 a channel
Get new 5 channel amp with remote on for $1000++++

I intend on getting new speakers(mains) that can handle 170-240Watts @8ohms and i would hate to spend money twice to do what i can see happening soon. I was thinking that for $400(A500's) I would know if my A/V is holding my speakers back.

A 24 volt 10 amp relay can be had for around $12. If you know what you are doing, using relays is a cheap elegant and safe solution to you problem. It is the professional way to do it.

 

[TLS Guy]

I have been thinking about your question. The answer is to use a Schmitt trigger switched by your pre amp or receiver trigger, that would control either a 12 or 24 volt relay depending on power requirements. You would need to make a 12 or 24 volt power supply, as well as the Schmitt trigger circuit. May be there is a unit out there that does this, but I can't find one. So at this time it would be a DIY project, and a good one at that.

This question you posed has made me think. Now that high powered amps like the Behringer are available at lower price points. Someone could conceivably have four of these amps, plus a plasma display, powered sub and peripherals. That is going to go over the top of most home's standard house wiring. I have visions of a lot of dangerous hook ups here. I think if this is going to be the trend, then we need to work out elegant safe solutions.

My system was part of a major renovation of our lake home. I worked very closely with the electrical inspector to keep things safe. Fortunately he was very knowledgeable and helpful. We put in a separate sub panel for the system only.

I think people get stars in their eyes when they look at products like the Behringer 500, and don't stop to plan the whole situation through and count the cost.

I see some horror stories on the horizon over this. Thanks for you question it got me thinking.

 

[bandphan]

http://nilesaudio.com/product_selection.php?catcdID=10

like these

again their units are high current

 

[TLS Guy]

again their units are high current

I looked at those units before, but none are quite right for what he had in mind.

This is closest.

http://nilesaudio.com/product.php?prodID=AC-3&recordID=120Volt AC Power Switching Systems&categoryID=Automated Switching Systems&catcdID=10&prdcdID=FG00242

However he would have to lug in a 12 volt power supply to a switched outlet on the receiver or preamp. and plug that into the unit.

He wanted to switch from his trigger output. That is a momentary 12 volt signal at switch on or switch off. To do what he wants he would need a device built round a Schmitt trigger IC. I don't see one, but may be another member knows of one. That would be the elegant solution, i bet if there is not one now there will be. There certainly needs to be.

 

[treejohnny]

The niles unit is that it will only switch two outlets at $125, which would work well with my mains powered by the A500 or two adcom 555's. I do like the idea of having 500 watts per channel for future upgrades. If I am set on the A500 would need three and the niles unit would cost me $250 + the cost of 3 A500's for total of $850 and a mess of cords. I think for that price i would be better off getting new 3 or 5 channel with trigger on?

I have been watching the thread in deals on the newpoint power conditioner. I havent been able to find out how many amps it supports as the behringer is pulling like 7amps each. I think, if there is room in the unit i could put 12/24 volt relay inside of it and accomplish two things at once. The newpoint 12 outlet is available for about $70 to my door.

TLS guy... Do you have any idea how big a relay(if one exists) would be to switch 20amps off of 12 24 volts ?

 

[mike c]

Ok.... to slower people like me, I would put relay (20A) inline with the power cord of the power strip and connect a wire from my A/V receiver to the relay ? Or is there a link to one I can buy ? I didnt have any luck with first search.

first of all, that relay is only 10A. so I would only recommend ONE A500 PER relay.

there are 4 tapping points on the relay, two of them for the 12v DC from the adapter. two of them are for the AC current from the wall, but they're wired this way: ------TP TP------- (TP is tapping point) when the relay detects a 12v current, the two TP points will connect inside so the AC will pass through.

I WOULD HOWEVER RECOMMEND YOU NOT TO DO THIS YOURSELF. I consulted an electrical engineer for mine. we have 220v here and have nowhere near the safety requirements there. this IS a FIRE and ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD.

 

[TLS Guy]

The niles unit is that it will only switch two outlets at $125, which would work well with my mains powered by the A500 or two adcom 555's. I do like the idea of having 500 watts per channel for future upgrades. If I am set on the A500 would need three and the niles unit would cost me $250 + the cost of 3 A500's for total of $850 and a mess of cords. I think for that price i would be better off getting new 3 or 5 channel with trigger on?

I have been watching the thread in deals on the newpoint power conditioner. I havent been able to find out how many amps it supports as the behringer is pulling like 7amps each. I think, if there is room in the unit i could put 12/24 volt relay inside of it and accomplish two things at once. The newpoint 12 outlet is available for about $70 to my door.

TLS guy... Do you have any idea how big a relay(if one exists) would be to switch 20amps off of 12 24 volts ?

I doubt you would have 20 amp 110 volt circuit in your house, and 15 amp is typical. However I would not recommend drawing more than 10 amps from a circuit used for video. I think you are going to need at least two circuits. Relays are available in huge industrial sizes. The transfer switch on my generator is a 200 amp relay. Finding a relay will not be a problem, your house wiring likely will be.

 

[TLS Guy]

I doubt you would have 20 amp 110 volt circuit in your house, and 15 amp is typical. However I would not recommend drawing more than 10 amps from a circuit used for video. I think you are going to need at least two circuits. Relays are available in huge industrial sizes. The transfer switch on my generator is a 200 amp relay. Finding a relay will not be a problem, your house wiring likely will be.

I really reinforce that advice. You really need to know what you are doing and have some experience in these matters or get professional help.

By the way the reason I recommended keeping the power below the circuit limit for power amps, is because of the huge turn on currents involved charging up the power supply caps.

If people are serious about using multiple amps like the Behringer in the home, they have a lot of home work to do, and the cost of the amps is unlikely to be half the cost. There are dangerous problems here as we a starting to talk industrial and professional loads if you are contemplating using multiples of these units.

Remember these units are aimed at the pro band crowd. Stages have a huge numbers of circuits available.