I have no idea what the heck is going on !!!
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Posted on Mar 09, 2007 05:10 pm
sampson_mike
Member Since: Feb 27, 2007
OK, this may be a question for an electrician...I have an Acer Laptop, an M-Audio Mobile Pre and M-Audio Monitors....my problem is when the lights are off in my room and the say Im recording or simply listening to a CD the audio is fine. as well when the lights are on. HOWEVER, when I turn the on with audio already running....it spikes and stops the audio forcing me to unplug my Mobile Pre and plug it back in....restart media player/sonar....etc. Its anoying as hell....
Any thoughts ?
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Mar 09, 2007 05:27 pm got a meter?
plug the two leads into your outlet. set the meter to 200vac, and watch to see what happens when you turn on the lights.
It may not be spike, it's probably brown, meaning the voltage drops to 90v or something. the voltage inside the device probably has less tolerance, because most innards are running at 5v. So 120 down to 90 is 25% drop.
Drop 25% from 5v and you get a device not running.
This may be an issue with the wiring in the house, or maybe you're on a trunk that's old, and not as beefy.
Try pluging into a different outlet, see if that helps. You could also use a battery backup device. Sounds like it's not a bad idea anyway, if you've got flaky power.
of course, this is only my non-professional opinions, don't take them for gospel.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Mar 09, 2007 06:12 pm Yes, this sounds like wiring in the house. Mine is similar but not as bad.
I run a small UPS device which makes everything nice n stable.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Mar 09, 2007 07:21 pm Good idea Cap'n... what VA do you recomend for something like that ?
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Mar 09, 2007 08:16 pm geesh, i said it too =/
anyhoo, i used a apc750 for my tube amp and other plug-in stuff. Those just lit up the first light of 5, so i'd say it was pretty overkill.
I'd think one of the little 350 jobs would be dandy.
www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=21
It's also gonna give you very smooth power, no spikes, no browns, and give you a few minutes to shut down clean, if necessary.
Actually, I'd advise one to anyone playing with a tube amp, especially out gigging. Bars are notorious for not having clean power, and sometimes wired very wrongly, to the point of hurting a tube amp.
I gotta get me one again . . .
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Mar 09, 2007 09:22 pm Sorry Pat... missed that . Thanks ! : )
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Mar 10, 2007 02:59 pm Hehe, yup, I was just riding pjk's coat tails on that one. I also use an APC model. They can be a lil spendy but in my/your case it was a worthy purchase.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Mar 10, 2007 10:38 pm I got to thinking, I had my apc750 in the basement, doing it's duty keeping my recording rig smooth when the house burned. So it got buried under 4 feet of water, then frozen.
I haven't powered it up, but I still have it in the garage.
I think it may be time to see if that thing can live through a fire (or at least a soaking) =).
One thing I liked about the higher ones, they had computer control, so you could see what the incoming voltage, outgoing voltage, history of browns, etc. Maybe not critical for music use, but great for tracking your house / office juice.
I've solved a few computer / server problems by looking in the UPS logs. Large neon lights take a lot of juice, specially when they blink on, then off, then on, then off. You can see it in the logs =).
Mar 11, 2007 09:48 pm Thanks guys, Im on it.
Cheers
Mike
