Low Voltage on Circuit

While looking at all of the components in that system, i found out that some of the custom pieces are not labeled for power draw. On some of the other stuff, such as the power supplies to run the various panels, i can't recall what was used. As such, i can't really come up with a grand total.

Since the amps are what draw the most juice, i figured that is what was most important. Some of these figures are based on calculations using the line voltage and fuse ratings on the individual amp. I had to do this since there was no total consumption figure listed on the chassis.

The two tweeter amps total 1600 watts of draw, the two mid amps total 2400 watts and the two woofer amps total 4800 watts. Add in the "whopping" FIVE watts ( !!! ) that my preamp draws and we come up with 8845 on just the backbone components. I'm sure that i would be well over 10,000 watts if everything would be factored in.

If you're wondering what "line level" components would add another 1200 watts of draw, i've got the electronic crossover, tuner, cassette, TT & vacuum pump, transport & dac and the four power supplies to run the mid and tweeter panels. As i've mentioned before, there is NO way to make this wiring nightmare look "pretty". The electrician that i had come in just kept shaking his head : ) Sean
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...and then, of course, you'd have to add in your other systems (how many of those did you say you have?)...I think I should start-up a small Enron-style company to corner the electricity market on your block... :-)

Hey guys,
Voltage went back up to 118V today and it turns out that that wasn't the problem. It seems to be the power amps themselves that are acting up. When I turn them on there is a rushing and popping noise that grows with time. It is worse on the left monobloc. The right monobloc has similar simptoms but milder. I have changed out the small tubes for some NOS to rule them out but haven't tested the large KT88 Driver tubes (4 per monobloc). I sure hope it isn't a cap or something bigger. Any ideas on what to test would be great. Thanks again for your help guys.

Although I was actually a little surprised to begin with that the voltage you reported would cause any problems, the fact that each of two monoblocks is acting up at the same time would tend to eliminate something like a parts failure - unless they both got zapped by a large power-line event that you didn't know about. Other possibility is that the tubes are growing too old together all around.

Conversely, are you absolutely sure that the problems originate in your amps at all? In a tube preamp, a single tube will often handle both channels. If you've got a tube pre and haven't ruled this out already, the symptoms could be worse in one channel than the other if a tube is going bad. If you need to, try running the amps with the preamp off, or better yet, with the amp inputs disconnected to rule out possible jack- or cable-related culprits. (Can you still cancel the order on that voltage regulator?) Gook luck!

Zaikesman,
your response came right after I figured out exactly what you hypothesized :) Looks like there is a bad tube in the pre amp. I should of known there was nothing wrong with the Rogue Monos, those things are indestructable. BTW the order for the regulator somehow didn't go through on the website, so that put a smile on my face. Thanks Zaikesman.