Power Conditioners...

[The Late Great Libido]

Hi all,

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have a question about power conditioners. My band just added a synth / keys player. Greatness is happening but we have a power issue. When we're all playing and he hits certain notes the Christmas lights hanging on the ceiling of my basement actually dim for a moment. Major power drain!

So my first question is: would a power conditioner solve this problem? His synth is running through the PA system so if the PA and his synth were plugged in through a P.C. would this stop the power suck?

Second question: are the less expensive P.C.'s worth a crap? The prices seem to range from like $40 to $1,500. This makes me vary wary of buying one of the cheapies....

Thanks for any help!!!

[fmw]

Originally Posted by The Late Great Libido

So my first question is: would a power conditioner solve this problem?

No.

His synth is running through the PA system so if the PA and his synth were plugged in through a P.C. would this stop the power suck?

No.

Second question: are the less expensive P.C.'s worth a crap?

No. Neither are the more expensive ones.

[richiebee]

I've been extremely disappointed with what I guess you'd call mid-range power conditioners. They do nothing.

I'd be extremely surprised if the synth was the problem. More likely to be the amplifier which may draw more power in a certain frequency range (maybe?).

[The Late Great Libido]

Well, crap. Anybody know of anything that might help with this issue (aside from moving into a house built after 1950)?

[fmw]

You could have that circuit rewired for 20 amps.

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by The Late Great Libido

When we're all playing and he hits certain notes the Christmas lights hanging on the ceiling of my basement actually dim for a moment. Major power drain!

Which notes???

That's really remarkable to think it is only some notes that do it. Electrically it makes no sense. (Take it from Electriclight )

Remember that Christmas tree lights are often in series and one bulb makes the whole light go off? I wouldn't be surprised if a certain frequency was vibrating a bulb in the string just so.

Are any of the other lights (table lamp, ceiling lamp) in the room affected? If not, I wouldn't worry about it.