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DR 260 rebooting?

jhaguejhague Posts: 7
edited May 2008 in dbx Archive General Discussion
I bought a new 260 about 2 months ago and so far have only used it twice. I had no problem the 1st night but had an issue yesterday where I think the DR may have rebooted. The first time was during system setup - the sound just stopped for about 30 seconds. I didnt hear any kind of \"pop\" and I know my console didnt lose power but I didnt look at the DR. The sound just came back all by itself. I thought at first that it may have been the amps going thermal but then realized that all 5 wouldnt so it at exactly the same time and they wouldnt all come back at the same time. I got through the 1st act with no problem and then about 20 minutes into the 2nd act, it happened again - the FOH sound just stopped (I could hear the monitors though) with no \"pop\" or anything and then just came back after about 20 or 30 seconds. This time I did notice that the DR GUI on my laptop reported that it had lost comm with the unit. The DR itself looked fine. I suspected the GUI so I unplugged it from the laptop and it didnt happen the rest of the gig.
The only difference between the 2 gigs was that I was using an older laptop with XP on the 1st gig and a new laptop with Vista yesterday. The only thing I could get from the laptops event logs is that it reported a \"power event\" twice at times that could coincide with my issues although I cant be sure. Also, I know the console didnt lose power during either \"outage\" and everything at FOH was plugged in to the same source (along with the high amp for the PA.
Has anyone experienced anything like this? Im just trying to figure out what may have happened before contacting tech support.
Thanks!

Comments

  • GadgetGadget Posts: 4,915
    I'd look at the power supply to the Driverack... I think anything below about 100 volts will reset the unit. It sounds to me like the power fell below the ability of the unit to maintain.. NOTE the DR needs a GOOD supply. ANY interruption will cause the problem you mentioned. All the other EQU could well keep working but the Dr will shut down if the voltage goes below a certain point...If you have a UPS try that first and see what happens.I have a voltage monitor on the amp rack AND FOH just for that reason...

    Gadget
  • jhaguejhague Posts: 7
    I hadnt thought about that (the DR having an issue with low power while everything else stayed up) but it certainly makes sense. I have thought about a UPS for FOH since I went \"digital\" but I havent done it yet. Whether thats the problem or not, its not a bad idea anyway.
    Thanks!
  • GadgetGadget Posts: 4,915
    This isn't something I've seen a lot of, but I have been around long enough to remember some talk of it over the years. The 260 is fully protected for shutdown thump or turn on transients so you wouldn't hear anything... you might see the LCD flicker or maybe just reset, but it's the booting that takes the few seconds of silence...The power has been an issue in the past but it seems to have leveled off. I think the problem venues have had the issues resolved by now for the most part perhaps. That doesn't mean there isn't power sag...Check the numbers and don't be surprised to see that your potential power draw far exceeds the wire gage you are using, or the Edison supply. Long runs of 12AWG to the outlet, and most outlets rated at 15 amps, and then the supply runs to the amp rack and suffers further loss. I run a dual 50 amp 230v to the amp rack and break it out from there. I run about 12000 watts FOH and another 7500 on stage and I have no issues any more. The 260 resides in the rack above the amps. I used quality 20 amp outlets, and good grounding including an MOV on the amp lugs.

    Even if thats not the whole problem it sure makes a big difference in sound quality. Plus it is awesome when it's absolutely silent standing right in front of the stacks then the music starts and RIPS YOU HEAD OFF...
    Gadget
  • Fanman20Fanman20 Posts: 223
    hi g
    What is a MOV?
    and good grounding including an MOV on the amp lugs.

    Mark
  • GadgetGadget Posts: 4,915
    Well Hi there...
    Kinda quiet here for a change...I am encouraged by the numbers racking up on the FAQ's... Over 1600 on the start here and almost 100 on your suggested \"Powered speaker\" setup post which was just loaded last week!

    To answer your question an MOV is a 'metal oxide varistor' designed to shunt over voltages to ground. Now granted that they are a \"sacrificial anode\" type solution in many cases, (meaning the sacrifice themselves the first time they are called upon and need to be replaced) but WAAAYYY less expensive than replacing the whole rack full of amps and processors! This over voltage could be a lightening strike, or huge surge after a power outage (like someone striking a power pole with a vehicle and knocking it into another, or after a storm when EVERY STINKING thing that is in every house and business across the grid is turned on \"because it doesn't seem to work\" so lets see if ANYTHING works...So the turn on spike can SAG the voltage badly, and then as the supply tries to rebound it SURGES and so on... If most people would turn the majority of their electric items OFF and used say a single centrally located light to alert them when the power comes back then turns things back on after a few minutes, the surge wouldn't be so pronounced... but alas....

    Here is an example:
    http://www.littelfuse.com/data/en/Data_ ... _BA_BB.pdf

    Note that you can select a \"nominal\"voltage, a \"clamp\" voltage and a \"capacitance\" to suit the application...
    http://www.littelfuse.com/searchresults ... gory%3a184

    Ok, so there you have it.
    Be well.

    Gadget
  • Fanman20Fanman20 Posts: 223
    Hi G
    Thanks for your info
    I have not seen this type of protection on any sound system that I have used
    Is this common practice in the US of A ???

    We live and work on a mountain made of Iron stone which attracts lots of lighting strikes.

    The lighting strikes take out our computer routers and switches quite regularly. We now have put in surge protectors (haven't had a lighting strike since) They must work :lol::lol:
    As of today we have lost no PA gear, in which we have lots.
    However we do blow outside lights

    Thanks
    Your info is \"food for thought\"
    Mark
    I am encouraged by the numbers racking up on the FAQ's... Over 1600 on the start here and almost 100 on your suggested \"Powered speaker\" setup post which was just loaded last week!

    Very incouraging to see :D:D

    PS
    Like the new posts in FAQ, especially the Downloadable test CD
  • GadgetGadget Posts: 4,915
    Nope, not common at all...It's just something my son installed...He's a brainy little S^#* who went through the Navy's nuclear electronics program. He works on electric motor drives, the big industrial type's when he isn't doing national acts @ Trocadero's club in Minneapolis. Ya put em in the distro to protect the whole system...

    Some of that stuff I had at the other (old) Driverack forum. I have been transferring it over since the other site wasn't very reliable.

    G
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