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Topic: Rack system power and I/O |
Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 26 Jan 2007 5:47 pm |
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Does anyone have any pics or descriptions of how you get power and I/O in and out of your rack? I have a gator 6 slot powered rack with handle. I would like to leave the back cover on all the time and have a door or a well or something on the side with power and I/O connections. I plan on having 2 speaker outputs, 2 preamp outputs (for recording) and a stereo/mono switch for running the rack at times with only one speaker. This switch would reconfigure the MPX1 output to mono, giving me blended stereo effects for use with one speaker cab or mono recording at times.
Greg |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 26 Jan 2007 5:57 pm
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| Sorry I cant help but I am trying to do the exact same thing right now. Please keep us posted. |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 26 Jan 2007 6:34 pm
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Justin,
Hang on for the ride! I have or will have:
o Lexicon MPX1 Multi-effects
o Stewart World 1.2 power amp
o Revelation tube preamp (RTP)
With the Gator this leaves me 2 spare slots (for venting etc.) and the power strip does not take up any space and the handle is built into the power strip area also.
I am thinking about mounting an AC power power (3 pin male) connector into the outside of the case. The rest of the I/O I was thinking would be best left to a rack panel across one of the open spaces. I want to avoid putting any connectors or receptacles where they are unprotected or exposed to surfaces that will be on the ground outside as I roll it around or sit it somewhere.
Greg |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2007 3:09 am
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My Lexicon MPX110 has an internal routing switch that sets the signal to mono when you plug into one (right) side, and stereo when you plug in both inputs. If yours does also, it might be simplest just removing the back panel every now and then and unplugging the stereo (left) input and output cords, when you want to switch to mono. You certainly could hook up an external switch to route both outputs to mono (I think it'd take a 6-pole on-on-on switch, I'd have to think a bit). However, this just introduces another layer of complexity into the system - one more thing to distort, one more thing to go wrong - and I'd be concerned about line loading effects. Like, if you were sending out ping-pong stereo echoes, they'd potentially be feeding each other's cord and wouldn't "ping" or "pong" as well as the ideal.
There's nothing wrong with have a few extra holes and jacks that you don't end up using, of course, just wire it all up and see what works best. You'll also have to deal with the stereo/mono speaker ohm needs, of course - though I think the World will feed just about anything, right? |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 27 Jan 2007 4:05 am
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I have a 4 space sGrundorf case (Anvil) with flat sides. I have a computer type AC power connector on the rear. Also a steel plate (indented to the jacks do not stick out) and that has the two speaker connections.
On the side, I have 2 more indented jack plates that have 1/4" jacks. One set is a power amp in if I want to bypass what is in the rack and use the power amp separately. The other set is a "recording"/line output from my preamp.
I also have a 6" round speaker grille mounted on each side for air circulation.
I have a surge protector type power strip mounted internally on the bottom of the rack. |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2007 7:03 am
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Greg, here is a picture of my rack. On the right, you will see a white, standard wall receptacle for AC power out. There is a similar receptacle on the other end of the rack for plugging in my Hilton Pedal wall wart.
Below the white receptacle there is a male AC receptacle where I plug in an AC extension cord to supply power to the rack. This AC input is wired through a 15 amp toggle switch to turn all power on or off.
On the left, you will see a standard, metal, wall receptacle box with a signal in and signal out. The toggle switch in this box switches the input to the tuner, while shorting the signal out, to eliminate hum while tuning. Your setup will be a little different because your amp will be in the rack.
_________________
www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37
www.myspace.com/johndaughertysteelguitar |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2007 7:42 am
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My suggestion would be to get ahold of Fred Justice and he will
fix you out with whatever your little old heart desires.  |
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Hook Moore
From:
South Charleston,West Virginia
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2007 8:50 am
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Thanks for all the replies.
John, I did see the pic you posted in my travels last night. Pretty neat!
Hook, I have some of those connectors around and finally I have a use for them!
I have ordered a 2 space vent grill for the front of the rack. I will cut away a portion of it to mount a stereo/mono selector switch in a shelded box. This switch will be a SPDT and will disconnect the MPX1 out's right channel from the RTP's right input and connect it to the RTP left channel, same as using a "Y" connector to go from stereo to mono. This way both my left Stewart amp output and my left RTP preamp output will contain the summed L/R effects out of the MPX1. This is the way that Lexicon recommends it be done. Of course the Lexicon Left input will be configured in the system parameters for mono use so the RTP effects output will internally feed both the right and left signal chains.
My gator rack already has a built in power strip with 4 outlets in the back and one in the front. I'll just get a male computer outlet like the picture above to move the power connection to the outside of the case.
I've decided to mount a metal box similar to the above pic, with 4 1/4" jacks. Two for the power amp output and 2 for the preamp (RTP) output. I'll initially leave the RTP and Stewart amp connected internally as I might want to record from the preamp but also still have sound out of the speakers. Guess I'll have to see if the Stewart outputs can share a common signal ground, other wise I'll have to isolate them.
I've ordered all George L's .155 cable and connectors for the signal path and George L's speaker wire and connectors for the power amp output.
With the above setup, I can run one speaker cab in mono (with summed Lexicon stereo effects) or two in stereo and do the same for recording. If the Stewart doesn't like just one channel loaded in stereo mode, there's a few ways to dummy load one channel or just switch the whole setup to bridged mode.
In all my searches I started to realize that most rack users just set their racks up horizontally, remove the front and back covers, and cable everything up. We sure have a weird way of using our racks!
Greg |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2007 11:05 am
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Here's a photo page showing two of my racks. The AC power jack connects to a power strip on the inside of the rack. The outputs can be whatever. But what's nice is that at a gig, you never open the rear of the rack, you just put it down, remove the front cover, plug in your AC power and your line to the amp, connect the steel and VP, and you're up and running. Works great in those quick setup/breakdown situations.
http://www.steelguitarblackbox.com/page8/page10/rtpphotopage.html
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Brad Sarno
'82 Emmons S-10 push/pull, Revelation Tube Preamp, Furlong SPLIT powered speaker cab, V8 Octal Tube Preamp, Ganz Straight Ahead power amp - JBL D130 |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 27 Jan 2007 7:00 pm
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I'm useing 2 spaces in a 4 space rack with a 2 space panel,computer type ac in. Works real good, panel could be cut to size, and put in the side of the case.Also might add, Parts Express is tops to do bussiness with. Bill
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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Hook Moore
From:
South Charleston,West Virginia
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Tom Mossburg
From:
AZ,
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Posted 30 Jan 2007 7:10 am Rack Power
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| Greg, I wanted to hook up a system in which I left the back on the rack. I opted not to so as to get airflow through the system. With the tubes in the Rev and the Pwr Amp generating heat you'll need some airflow. I bit the bullet and put a 1u Furman power strip in mine. I bent some aluminum at right angle about 4" x 3/4" and mounted them inside the rack in the back so the cover could still go on. When the rack sits upright the aluminum brackets hold the rack about 2" off the ground to allow the air to circulate. |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2007 7:30 am
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Tom,
Thanks for the tip!
I have left room in the side of the rack for two vents and in the front vent panel room for one or two fans. It's going to interesting but I am prepared to deal with possible heat problems.
Greg |
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