3 replies to this topic

[T Harrison]

In the past few months we have experienced a couple of odd occurrances of losing control of an 8810C (V3.00). The unit is left permanently on, to ensure the scheduler can recall presets at times when the main sound system is not on.

In the two instances, which occured approx 2 months apart, the system appeared to work normally, but when using IQwic with it (the PC running IQwic is not running permanently), the metering and mute status of some inputs and outputs was incorrect. In our case, Main output B and some of the aux outputs was wrong.

We went through the system, component by component, thinking it must be elsewhere in the system. We finally concluded it was the 8810C, so I power-cycled it, and all was well again.

Our only theory at present, is that it may be suffering from any mains voltage irregularities (under/over-voltages, brownouts etc). We are therefore looking at installing a line conditioner or UPS to see if that prevents this re-occurring.

Curiously, we had a client at work who had an IQ-USM 810 "lose" its three presets. The client was convinced that it was power related, as they have very high voltages (up to 260V) present in that part of Scotland (measured UK voltage is 240V in most places, not 230V as most non-UK residents often think. Not truly unified with Europe yet, I'm afraid   ).

Working for a distributor, I see many products with switch mode power supplies suffer problems of various types. This is not necessarily a criticism of them, rather an observation, that perhaps more research needs to go into their specification, and tests on long-term real world performance. I think manufacturer's reputations can often suffer as a result of buying in an OEM module.

[Bradford Benn]

Based on the symptoms you are providing, it seems like the troublesome PS8810C is more likely to have a SHARC chip that has failed. There are four SHARC chips in each unit, the first one handles inputs 1 through 4, the second one inputs 5 through 8, the third one Output A/Main 1 and Aux 1 through 4, and the fourth one is Output B/Main 2 and Aux 5 through 8. Perhaps there was a surge that caused it to go flakey until it was rebooted.

The power supply is a regulated power supply taken from the computer industry so it should be buffering the components from the variances in voltages. Officially the range is 70VAC to 280VAC so it appears as if that may not be the issue.

Hopefully that helps with some of the questions.

[T Harrison]

We have since had more instances of it mis-behaving. We have discounted a single SHARC chip, as it has happened on multiple inputs and outputs across different chips.

We have checked with the local electricity company who have admitted to problems. They have since fixed many local faults, yet we have still had it mis-behaving since. The electricity company is putting a fault logger on our incoming power supply soon, so we'll see if that shows any more power related issues. Once the incoming power is shown to be fault-free, we'll be able to isolate whether its the unit or the supply. Watch this space...

Tim Harrison

[DGlass]

Tim,

The PS-8810 is rated for operating voltages of 100 to 240 VAC and its range has been tested from 50 to 264 VAC. We do extensive testing of OEM products before we use them in one of ours. OEM power supplies are used in computers and for areas that have excessive line voltages you would use an AC line voltage conditioner/regulator for them. Why would you not use one on a digital audio device with 4 DSP processors that is the heart of the audio system (be it ours or someone else?s) under the same conditions?

No manufactures can meet every variable for everybody on everything for their products but are required to meet the regions standards. The EC requires certain standards if manufactures wish to sell products in Europe and we meet the EC requirements. We cannot be held responsible for the Power Service company specifications on the line voltages and tolerances they are delivering if they do not meet the current standards.
If you know of an area that has excessive line voltages and peaks than it would be a good idea to protect the customers equipment with a line voltage conditioner/regulator.

Concerning the loss of presets, if a customer lost his presets than something other than line voltages caused it. I am not saying they didn't loose their presets but if the line voltage was high enough to cause memory to completely erase than other devices would have been severely damaged and the units protection systems would have burned out including the power supply.