Why so coy - Crown ?

[Phil Allison]

** Hi,

a customer dropped his "Crown XTi 1000" amp in the other day claiming one
channel was going screwy after a period of hard use in a disco system. No
sign of any such fault was found - so must be a cable or speaker problem.

Then I find the amp is able to work with 120V AC going in, just as well as
with 240V AC - only difference is it takes LONGER to settle down and
begin to operate when the supply is 120V.

How come Crown make no mention of this feature ??

The published data says there are 3 versions: 100V, 120V and 230/240V.

But in fact, the common version is dual voltage 120/240V with AUTO sensing
of the voltage coming in.

From Googling a bit, I understand the feature is built into all the XTi
range and also the new XLS range too.

So why hide it ????

I can only imagine it is to discourage folk in Europe and Australia buying
the amps "on-line" from the USA where many good bargains are to be had.

Even the on-line sellers seem to be unaware of the feature.



.... Phil

[Denny Strauser]

Post by Phil Allison
** Hi,
a customer dropped his "Crown XTi 1000" amp in the other day claiming one
channel was going screwy after a period of hard use in a disco system. No
sign of any such fault was found - so must be a cable or speaker problem.
Then I find the amp is able to work with 120V AC going in, just as well as
with 240V AC - only difference is it takes LONGER to settle down and
begin to operate when the supply is 120V.
How come Crown make no mention of this feature ??
The published data says there are 3 versions: 100V, 120V and 230/240V.
But in fact, the common version is dual voltage 120/240V with AUTO sensing
of the voltage coming in.
From Googling a bit, I understand the feature is built into all the XTi
range and also the new XLS range too.
So why hide it ????
I can only imagine it is to discourage folk in Europe and Australia buying
the amps "on-line" from the USA where many good bargains are to be had.
Even the on-line sellers seem to be unaware of the feature.

Phil,
What do you mean by "... it takes longer to settle down ...?" Does that
mean it takes longer for the big capacitors to charge up? I ask this
because I don't know.
- Denny

[Phil Allison]

"Denny Strauser"

Post by Denny Strauser

Post by Phil Allison
** Hi,
a customer dropped his "Crown XTi 1000" amp in the other day claiming one
channel was going screwy after a period of hard use in a disco system. No
sign of any such fault was found - so must be a cable or speaker problem.
Then I find the amp is able to work with 120V AC going in, just as well as
with 240V AC - only difference is it takes LONGER to settle down and
begin to operate when the supply is 120V.
How come Crown make no mention of this feature ??
The published data says there are 3 versions: 100V, 120V and 230/240V.
But in fact, the common version is dual voltage 120/240V with AUTO sensing
of the voltage coming in.
From Googling a bit, I understand the feature is built into all the XTi
range and also the new XLS range too.
So why hide it ????
I can only imagine it is to discourage folk in Europe and Australia buying
the amps "on-line" from the USA where many good bargains are to be had.
Even the on-line sellers seem to be unaware of the feature.

What do you mean by "... it takes longer to settle down ...?" Does that
mean it takes longer for the big capacitors to charge up? I ask this
because I don't know.

** Not knowing is an excellent reason to ask.

SMPSs with dual ( 120/240) voltage capability usually have a *switch* the
user operates to suit the AC supply.

When open, 240VAC feeds into a bridge rectifier followed by two identical
electros in series across 340V DC. When closed, one of the AC lines connects
to the centre point of the two electros forming a "full wave voltage
doubler" - so you still get 340V DC across the pair.

However, if the switch is closed when the AC supply is 240V - you get a loud
bang and the fuse blows or maybe worse !

So Crown XTi amps always start off in 240V mode and use a relay to switch to
120V mode if the DC voltage on the electros is low - ie about half the
normal level.

It takes a few seconds to make this "decision" hence the extra delay in
coming to full operation.



.... Phil

[Lord Valve]

Post by Phil Allison
SMPSs with dual ( 120/240) voltage capability usually have a *switch* the
user operates to suit the AC supply.

...

I seem to recall that (at least the early) QSC PLX series amps
had to be opened up and a wire shifted from one point to
another to go from 120 to 240. I did a few I sold into the UK.

LV

[Phil Allison]

"Lord Valve"

Post by Lord Valve

Post by Phil Allison
SMPSs with dual ( 120/240) voltage capability usually have a *switch* the
user operates to suit the AC supply.

I seem to recall that (at least the early) QSC PLX series amps
had to be opened up and a wire shifted from one point to
another to go from 120 to 240. I did a few I sold into the UK.

** Most of the US made amps that have no switch can be converted by removing
such a link.

Done a few QSCs for one customer who likes to pick up stuff on Ebay - same
dude blew the hell out of one last year when he connected it to a bad 3
phase outlet and got 415VAC at the IEC inlet !!




... Phil

[B***@somewhere.com]

Post by Phil Allison
** Hi,
a customer dropped his "Crown XTi 1000" amp in the other day claiming one
channel was going screwy after a period of hard use in a disco system. No
sign of any such fault was found - so must be a cable or speaker problem.
Then I find the amp is able to work with 120V AC going in, just as well as
with 240V AC - only difference is it takes LONGER to settle down and
begin to operate when the supply is 120V.
How come Crown make no mention of this feature ??
The published data says there are 3 versions: 100V, 120V and 230/240V.
But in fact, the common version is dual voltage 120/240V with AUTO sensing
of the voltage coming in.
From Googling a bit, I understand the feature is built into all the XTi
range and also the new XLS range too.
So why hide it ????
I can only imagine it is to discourage folk in Europe and Australia buying
the amps "on-line" from the USA where many good bargains are to be had.
Even the on-line sellers seem to be unaware of the feature.

I just checked the back of my XLS1000 and it has a plastic marker stuck into a
hole marked 120v. There are 3 other holes, marked 100v, 220v, 230-240v.

[Phil Allison]

<***@somewhere.com>
"Phil Allison"

Post by B***@somewhere.com

Post by Phil Allison
** Hi,
a customer dropped his "Crown XTi 1000" amp in the other day claiming one
channel was going screwy after a period of hard use in a disco system. No
sign of any such fault was found - so must be a cable or speaker problem.
Then I find the amp is able to work with 120V AC going in, just as well as
with 240V AC - only difference is it takes LONGER to settle down and
begin to operate when the supply is 120V.
How come Crown make no mention of this feature ??
The published data says there are 3 versions: 100V, 120V and 230/240V.
But in fact, the common version is dual voltage 120/240V with AUTO sensing
of the voltage coming in.
From Googling a bit, I understand the feature is built into all the XTi
range and also the new XLS range too.
So why hide it ????
I can only imagine it is to discourage folk in Europe and Australia buying
the amps "on-line" from the USA where many good bargains are to be had.
Even the on-line sellers seem to be unaware of the feature.

I just checked the back of my XLS1000 and it has a plastic marker stuck into a
hole marked 120v. There are 3 other holes, marked 100v, 220v, 230-240v.

** I just checked my mail box and it was empty..........

How ya goin' - Bob ?

Caught up with any of those roos loose in your top paddock ??





.... Phil