Amp Shutting Down, need help

When i get the Oscilloscopes what should I be looking for? Is there a setting I should use?

I described one of the things that should be done in my post dated 8-18-12. Also, you should look for any major distortion of the 60 Hz waveform. Ideally it should look like a close approximation of a 60 Hz sine wave. If you see anything questionable try to photograph it, and post the photo at one of the free online photo-sharing services, with a link to it here.

As far as settings are concerned, there are a great many of them, so try to have Ken guide you through this. Also, of course, be cautious of the fact that you will be connecting to a potentially lethal voltage.

Sorry that the Brick Wall didn't help. Before selling it, it may be worth your while to compare sonic results between it and the SR, powering the entire system from one and then the other.

Regards,
-- Al

When i get the Oscilloscopes what should I be looking for? Is there a setting I should use?
09-06-12: Sailcappy

Sailcappy,

A lot depends on the power quality analyzer Ken is able to borrow from the company he works for. And more important how to use the instrument and interpret the info.

*Ken will need to check for odd Harmonics, voltage as well as current distortions.

*Poor PF, power factor, lagging as well as leading.

*Voltage sag.

He needs to measure the current draw of the Cary amp as it goes through its active start up cycle. Especially the current draw at the point the 15 amp magnetic breaker trips open. At the same time measuring the voltage.

If the current through the breaker exceeds the 15 amp rating then he will need to figure out the possible reasons why.

Harmonics?

Lagging or leading poor power factor?

Voltage sag? Depending on the power supply/s of the Amp
a voltage sag can result in an increase in current draw.
SMPS.....
So if the voltage sags, is the power supply drawing more current to compensate exceeding the 15 amp rating of the magnetic breaker?

As I have said in earlier posts your best bet is to hire a Power Quality expert. A person who is trained in the field of Power Quality.
.

For the hell of it I tried a grounding adapter (cheater plug) and grounded it to the Circuit Breaker box, kitchen metal water pipe and to my outside lighting rod grounding wire. Same problem so it is not a ground issue as we all agreed.

Just keep trying things until I can get someone to look at my electric.

All the lengthy power cord is doing is dropping the AC voltage a little over its length. But I had understood that you had checked the AC voltage and it was OK. If the voltage was high then I could see the power cord helping out. That is why I suggested other things. Any chance of getting another AC voltage measurement at the wall socket?

Hi Ralph,

I learned a couple of weeks ago from Jon Risch, an EE as you know, that a SMPS will draw more current if the voltage sags to try and maintain output power of the PS.

Sailcappy has verified the mains voltage at the dedicated branch circuit receptacle is 118V using a true RMS meter. That is only one volt above what the manufacture recommends for the amp.

In Sailcappy's test he ran for me, with out the 50' 16/3 cord connected to the amp, amp plugged directly into the wall recept, the mains voltage dropped from 118V to 112V at the same instance the 15 amp magnetic breaker tripped open.

With the amp connected to the 50' 16/3 cord the voltage at the end of the cord was 118V unloaded, naturally, and at the sound heard from the last relay closing the voltage dropped from 118V to 115V then back to 118V as the amp
completed its start up cycle.

So is the 50' cord working more like a current limiter
keeping the current below the 15 amp cutoff of the magnetic breaker trip solenoid mechanism?

It would be interesting if Sailcappy were to plug in a 120V table lamp with a 60 watt incandescent light bulb into one of the recepts of the branch circuit that feeds the Cary amp, then start the amp up, plugged directly into the wall recept. I wonder how dim the light gets at the split second before the magnetic breaker trips open?

A lot? Somewhat?
.
Jim