DJGold

jbrown157 · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 9:55 am Post subject: speaker fuse problem.

While doing a Relay for Life event over the weekend, I lost a driver in one of my Madison mains (This has been an ongoing problem). On further inspection however, I found that one of the crossover fuses actually broke (either due to handling or from vibration - the speaker sat on top of a sub all weekend). To complicate things, I cannot find a replacement fuse. The fuse I need is this one:

http://www.shredmuzic.com/product_p/803-032.htm

It's about 1 1/2" long and is half again as thick as a normal fuse.

The supplier (who also happens to be the speaker manufacturer) is out of stock and I cannot find them anywhere else. They must be an odd fuse.

I have another relay next weekend and need to do something quickly. I am thinking about getting an inline fuse holder and simply use a 12V 2A automotive fuse. I'll just solder it in and I'm hoping that this should offer the same protection and performance as the OEM fuse. I don't want to leave it unprotected. Can anyone tell me if there is a problem with my plan?

I also ended up with a dead amplifier this weekend. It was a tough weekend for equipment!

Thanks

dokai · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: speaker fuse problem.

As long as the values are the same, your plan should work. In fact, replacing the proprietary fuse with something a little more readily available is probably a good idea.

jbrown157 · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: speaker fuse problem.

Problem solved (I think). I was told by a tech support guy that I could use an automotive dome light lamp as a replacement. I bought a couple of them and they fit and look EXACTLY the same as the "bulb-fuse" that is sold for this purpose. I am thinking that these things are really one and the same.

Hopefully this will help somebody else down the line. :D

TheBartman47 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

Actually, that IS a light, and not a fuse. They are designed to divert excessive power to the light and "burn it off" as light and heat. Your speakers must be equipped with a polyswitch protection circuit that automatically diverts a portion of the power away from the horn and through the light bulb to protect long-term overpowering (does not protect against short spikes).

Now, what this means if you are blowing these, is you are overpowering your speakers. If you are routinley blowing drivers, then you need bigger speakers for what you're trying to do, or simply live with what you got and turn it down. There is no other solution. If the RFL events are the only time you blow drivers, then you should rent bigger speakers (and bigger amps) just for this event. But if you do more than one per year or occasionally need bigger speakers for other events too, then consider making an investment into something designed for larger crowds.

dokai · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: speaker fuse problem.

Ditto what Bartman said. I've been looking at the new "small line arrays" that have recently been developed for just that reason.

Keep in mind that what's probably causing you to overdrive your speakers is the low freq requirements of playing outdoors where you have no room gain. Adding/renting subs would probably fix the problem.

jbrown157 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject: Re: speaker fuse problem.

Logan and Phil, thanks once again for sharing your expertise I really appreciate it.

I have rented a larger amp for this weekend (EV P2000) so I am hopeful that this will help - at least I'll have some headroom. I normally have to "turn it up 'till it clips - then back off 'till it doesn't" I know - not a good way to do it. I should have more speaker (I am running two subs and 4 mains), but I have always felt that the amp was the weak link. Now we'll see!

As far as the bulb-fuse / fuse-bulb goes, I didn't "blow it", it simply broke either from handling the speaker and transport, or from vibration - it sat on top of the sub for 24+ straight hours last weekend.

So, here we go again to Relay #2. I think I'm ready. No rain in the forecast :D Wish me luck!