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  • Thread starter Thread starter Fordman65
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That's a lot of coin. Are you saying (or maybe the industry experts are saying) that a 15-amp Furman regulator/conditioner like AR-1215 are garbage? Or is it the cheaper ones like the common Furman Rack Rider (which does not regulate) that is garbage?

And also, what about a plain ole Variac? They regulate voltage (but are not conditioners) and can deliver a lot of current (I have a 10-amp and a 20-amp).
 
Many of us already have a variac so if you buy a good conditioner with LED voltage display that seems like a decent option. But I speak as Madison Square Basement player. For live I'd go with something more simple.

EDIT: FWIW, I recently bought an AR-1215 (15A@120vac) for $150 used, they come fairly cheap from time to time. They also have an AR-117 which is 15A@117vac if you want slightly lower voltage. Furman has updated those units and the new versions are like $600-$700 IIRC.
 
I misquoted the current on my big one, it is this one. Notice the fuse is 20A. That one is heavy as hell and overkill. Apparently it is made by a company called "Made in China". :lol: :LOL: My other much smaller one is an old Staco I inherited from a lab I used to work for (I forgot I had it when I ordered big red).
 
I use a Furman P1800-AR. At some of the older bars and outdoor shows we've seen voltages as low as 110-112v. There one bar in town that's consistently at 125v. I'm sure that affects any gear that doesn't regulate it's own power, but I couldn't guess as whether it affects the tone or health of the device. Tube amps running at a voltage that's significantly different than what it was biased at might not sound the same. I just dial everything in on the Furman at home, and then it's what I plug into everywhere, so I'm always getting the same voltage, at least within a few volts.

I don't know if it's overkill or not, but I don't have to worry about the affects of varying voltages, and I feel like my gear's reasonably well protected from power irregularities, plus decent line noise filtration.
 
Fordman65":bkhwk5is said:
I think it was Friedman that said to watch out when running over 120v. My wall power sits about 122-123 pretty consistently. Would like to drop that down to 117-119.
Click to expand...
Mine is 125vac. When I recently built my Superbass, plate voltage was like 470-475vdc when plugging straight into wall but with the AR-1215 (which my meter measures at 119.2vac) it is 455-460vdc. Depending on bias. Neither is a problem by itself but just illustrates the diff. If I bias my amp using 119vac power and then plug into 125vac power it runs too hot. You never know what kind of power you'll get at clubs/venues.

Having one those cheapo receptacle checkers on-hand for gigs is a good idea too imo. Many times a club will have done some shade-tree electrical work and some (or even all) receptacles are fubar.
 
I use a Brown Box. Voltage in my house is 125+. I bring it down to around 114 for new amps and below 110 for vintage amps.
 
I plan on getting a brown box when I redo my music room. My house is almost a 120 years old so clean power is not a thing.
 
Been playing since 76 plugging into the wall has always worked for me.
 
panhead":1fiprwq1 said:
Been playing since 76 plugging into the wall has always worked for me.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that... but I use amps that were made to run on 110 volts. My house puts out 126 volts at times. I don’t like to put the added stress on the components, so I chose a Brown Box to bring the voltage down to 108. Also, one of the biggest benefits is that I never have an amp sound killer one day and flat another... which is usually due to voltage fluctuations affecting the amps bias.
 
psychodave":1irz00dt said:
panhead":1irz00dt said:
Been playing since 76 plugging into the wall has always worked for me.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that... but I use amps that were made to run on 110 volts. My house puts out 126 volts at times. I don’t like to put the added stress on the components, so I chose a Brown Box to bring the voltage down to 108. Also, one of the biggest benefits is that I never have an amp sound killer one day and flat another... which is usually due to voltage fluctuations affecting the amps bias.
Click to expand...
I always wondered wtf was going on, one day an amp sounds incredible, better than I'd ever heard it then the next it was good but but not as good as the previous day. Then I measured the wall voltage and 2 of my outlets have a fluctuation in them of around 7 volts. The other 2 in the room are much more consistent. I need to get one of these variacs to find that 'sweet spot' voltage.
 
I had a tech recommend a unit from a computer store years ago. I use an APC unit that was under $50 at the time. You can still get them around that price. It's been a great unit and it's in my drummer's basement right now. I run my Verellen Skyhammer and my pedalboard on that rather than use his power. He runs a dehumidifier down there constantly that will fuck with the power, and that unit has been flawless.
 
Racerxrated":2cuhnsew said:
psychodave":2cuhnsew said:
panhead":2cuhnsew said:
Been playing since 76 plugging into the wall has always worked for me.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that... but I use amps that were made to run on 110 volts. My house puts out 126 volts at times. I don’t like to put the added stress on the components, so I chose a Brown Box to bring the voltage down to 108. Also, one of the biggest benefits is that I never have an amp sound killer one day and flat another... which is usually due to voltage fluctuations affecting the amps bias.
Click to expand...
I always wondered wtf was going on, one day an amp sounds incredible, better than I'd ever heard it then the next it was good but but not as good as the previous day. Then I measured the wall voltage and 2 of my outlets have a fluctuation in them of around 7 volts. The other 2 in the room are much more consistent. I need to get one of these variacs to find that 'sweet spot' voltage.
Click to expand...
Sometimes it sounds awesome right before it blows :rock:
 
panhead":1madwzst said:
RedPlated":1madwzst said:
I just ordered the variac in the link below. I was told by a very well-known amp builder to get this one. $56. It's on back-order but they claim it ships fairly soon.

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/variac-variable-ac-ps05kva_with_digital_display.html
Click to expand...
Awesome I have used variacs before on non masters. Just ordered this myself awesome price. Paid and then it said back ordered :doh:
Click to expand...

Ha...well I did put in my post that they are back ordered. But I think they said it would ship Sept 1st which is only a few days. Hopefully they ship soon.
 
I have a Tripp Lite Isobar something or other. My wall voltage runs 123v. A few times when playing my 1959 at full tilt for a while, the Isobar's green light turns to yellow. The owner's manual says that means there's a voltage drop. I guess it's not real steady in my house. But I'm sure my trannies can handle it.
 
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