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Sujet: Generator for small sound system

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Hello all,

I will be providing sound for a small outdoor event...just a wireless mic for announcements by the organization and some background music. Nothing too taxing as I will only be using 2 or 3 powered speakers (RCF 525A 750 Watt).

There is no AC source at the site.

Of those of you who have generator experience, what do you recommend? I can rent a suitable generator for 100-150, though might be worth purchasing.

Thanks
 
Posté Tue 11 Sep 12 @ 8:12 am
Just be aware that small cheap generators tend to have a "dirty" AC output, and not a smooth sine wave, so can cause issues with PA equipment - even damage it.
 
Ah good to know. Thanks
 
Ran a haunted hayride with many sound systems and 25 generators. Fog machines and incandecent lighting are what you really have to worry about. Sound systems are usually so effecient (unless you have large seperate amplifiers) that most common 5000 wat generators we bought at Home Depot or Lowes for about $500 worked well with no equipment loss. Although we always argued over who was getting the Honda generator. Those were nice and the best Honda one always went to my Zombie concert (like the band Gwar). Had 3 - 1000 watt fogers, full DMX lighting and 2 Mackie SRM 450s, mixer cumputer, etc. ALLOT

IMPORTANT turn off and disconnect all equipment BEFORE you turn the generator off. As the generator shut down, voltage drops, not cuts to 0. Turn everything off, then either cut the braker or unplug the cords feeding everything directly from the generator. This will avoid what happens to most people.

Now to really do your homework, get a watt meter (like Killawatt) plug your whole system into it and figure out what your whole system draws. That is always a handy bit of information anywhere! Let alone it will help you pick the right size generator. Find out you max wattage and doule that value. This is the generator that you should run.

Then take that information and go rent a good one. I am sure buying one will gut too deep into your proffit. If not, when I get home I can ask what brands we run. Hayride is over now but ran 5 years. I did all the electrical and automation myself. Electronics were only replaced because of rain, mud, fake blood or just plain abuse. Still have all the electronics to this day 3 years later and they all still work.
 
DHoude thank you so much for the detailed explanation. The watt meter sounds like a brilliant tool to have on hand. This is good info to help me move forward. Thanks again.
 
You did not address the noise issue. The cheaper generators, the noisier. I placed the generator 50 feet away, and use a top of a old kitchen table, to place in front. This cut down a great deal of noise, since this is not gonna be a loud party. There are battery units out there, that may address this. look here.
 
Ah yes the noise...good call on the kitchen table top!
 
We used hay bails, didn't think about that part... And no problem :)
 
Just had my first generator powered gig this summer. I ran a QSC GX5 (500w/channel) amp to an 18" sub and two tops. Also had 5 lights (only two were LED so more power draw).

We used a 5000w Honda generator and there were no problems whatsoever. Noise is the concern at this point so make sure you also have at least a 50ft extension cord, large gauge is best (12g should be fine) as you start seeing power dissipation at long cable runs.

I did the wattage/amp math beforehand and a 5000w gen was plenty of power (at least on paper) for my setup. If you go with a less powered generator, you could get problems when the bass hits!

Schmidi
 
Generators can be very bad for electronics, depending on the generator. They can spike and dip in delivering their amps, or voltage. Do your homework. Don't try to cut corners. It will only cost you more in the long run.
 
Ok would adding a battery backup help this??
 
Depends on the back up, Brian. We sell one at my day job, customer cost is @$800.00USD.
 
Ok just wonderin Terry, I thought they helped as they offered clean power?? Maybe I am missing something as I never had to use a generator but it got me wondering.
 
discobrian24 wrote :
Ok just wonderin Terry, I thought they helped as they offered clean power?? Maybe I am missing something as I never had to use a generator but it got me wondering.


Did you see my link above?
 


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