Setting PX so that QSC Speakers don't get blown

eighty8

I just started renting speakers for local gigs in the area. Many times I setup at these gigs and then have to leave to setup lighting equipment for another venue. My goal is to create a system that there is no way my speakers can be blown. I am not concerned about the audio quality. Most of these events are electronic music consisting of fast bass (genres of Dubstep, Happy Hard.core, drum and bass, and house music).

My Setup:
2 QSC KW153's for mains
2 QSC 1801 Subs
2 Mackie SRM450 V1's (Monitors, sometimes added as mains)
2 Mackie Thumps (Monitors)
and of course the DBX PX

What I have been doing, which is probably completly wrong, is setting the compression and limiter to ON and choosing OverEasy: 3. I set the Threshold to -20dB.
Any suggestions or alternatives? Like I said, I do not care about the sound quality, I just want to protect my equipment. I always tell the DJs that if they start redlining, the music is going to sound horrible. Do I need to buy the DR260 or is this still achievable with the PX? I am also currently reading the "Start Here".

Thanks!
-eighty8

Gadget

The PX and it's "peak plus" limiters will NOT provide the protection you want. The 260 and it's brick wall limiters will come close.. but if your idiot DJ's insist on redlining (mashing the gain controls and sending everything into the red) you system not much is totally idiot proof...There are (VERY expensive) processors that will provide absolute protection, but the cost is VERY HIGH...

Dra

To add...
You need RMS protection a lot more than peak protection, though you need both. You could (and I repeat, could) get the RMS ratings of the components in the speakers, and add slow blow fuses at or just below those settings. There is a formula for figuring that.
Sqr root of ((P)ower/(R)esistence).
Horn:
Speaker RMS = 64w
Speaker = 16 ohms
64/16 = 4
sqr root of 4 = 2
Use a 2 amp slow blow fuse.
Positive amp lead ++++++[ fuse ]+++++ positive speaker terminal

Woofer:
Speaker RMS = 400w
Speaker ohms = 8
400/8 = 50
Sqr root of 50 = 7.07
Use a 7 amp slow blow fuse.
Positive amp lead ++++++[ fuse ]+++++ positive speaker terminal

It is not real convenient to replace the fuses (you could add panel fuses), but is more convenient than recones.
You can do the same for peak wattage. Just use fast blow.
Breakers are also an option instead of slow blows. Yorkville used them for over a decade.

DRA

eighty8

Thank You DRA and Gadget, this helps a ton and will probably save me money in the long run. I'm gonna try the breaker idea. DIY project here I come
-eighty8