ET-3 vs. daisy-chaining amps

[ac2011]

I currently daisy-chain the 12v triggers on my 3 XPA-100's. I recently added the BAS-X A500 - haven't actually started using it yet. My receiver (Yamaha RX-A3040) has 2 12v trigger outputs. I also have a surge bar which some of my stuff is plugged into which can be setup to trigger some of the outlets - I'd like to use this feature to trigger some stuff that isn't "key" to the setup (buttkicker amp, neon "Corey's Home Theater" sign, etc.) (Note, my amps are all plugged into CMX-2's, and the receiver is plugged into an "always on" outlet of the aforementioned surge bar).

And, if it makes any difference, I have 2 dedicated 20amp circuits for my system (not including the subwoofers, which are on different plugs/circuits), and the availability of a third circuit in the vicinity, which isn't dedicated, but can be used for some of the less power-hungry stuff.

So, I'm trying to work out the best option to make this all work. I could just leave the daisy-chain as is and plug the A500 into the other output. Or, I could add the A500 to the chain. (And in either case, chain the surge bar to the last amp in the chain) Is there any difference to whether the A500 is first or last in the chain?

Is there any benefit (or downside) to adding an ET-3 to the mix? I guess it would still use up one of the outputs and only control the XPA-100's, so no real difference there, except for the fact all 3 amps are triggered simultaneously.

That being said, I guess I could leave the XPA-100 daisy-chain as is, add an ET-3 to the other 12v trigger output and connect the A500 and the triggered surge bar to that.



A lot of rambling questions, now that I read this Oh, well - any thoughts appreciated.

[KeithL]

Be careful where you plug in that neon sign.... they're notorious for making noise (a neon sign is basically an electric arc in a tube).

Jan 4, 2017 8:01:13 GMT -5 ac2011 said:

I currently daisy-chain the 12v triggers on my 3 XPA-100's. I recently added the BAS-X A500 - haven't actually started using it yet. My receiver (Yamaha RX-A3040) has 2 12v trigger outputs. I also have a surge bar which some of my stuff is plugged into which can be setup to trigger some of the outlets - I'd like to use this feature to trigger some stuff that isn't "key" to the setup (buttkicker amp, neon "Corey's Home Theater" sign, etc.) (Note, my amps are all plugged into CMX-2's, and the receiver is plugged into an "always on" outlet of the aforementioned surge bar).

And, if it makes any difference, I have 2 dedicated 20amp circuits for my system (not including the subwoofers, which are on different plugs/circuits), and the availability of a third circuit in the vicinity, which isn't dedicated, but can be used for some of the less power-hungry stuff.

So, I'm trying to work out the best option to make this all work. I could just leave the daisy-chain as is and plug the A500 into the other output. Or, I could add the A500 to the chain. (And in either case, chain the surge bar to the last amp in the chain) Is there any difference to whether the A500 is first or last in the chain?

Is there any benefit (or downside) to adding an ET-3 to the mix? I guess it would still use up one of the outputs and only control the XPA-100's, so no real difference there, except for the fact all 3 amps are triggered simultaneously.

That being said, I guess I could leave the XPA-100 daisy-chain as is, add an ET-3 to the other 12v trigger output and connect the A500 and the triggered surge bar to that.



A lot of rambling questions, now that I read this Oh, well - any thoughts appreciated.

[Gary Cook]

I have a personal preference for the daisy chain method (for HT mine is UMC-200, XPA-5, XSP-1, XPA-100, XPA-1L, XPA-1L) as it avoids the single big hit of current drain if all turned on at once. For stereo music it is a much simpler chain being XSP-1, XPA-100, XPA-1L XPA-1L. Being in Australia we have 240 volts and use 2 x 15 amp circuits, for HT one has the UMC-200, XSP-1 and the XPA-5 (with 3 channels used) and the other has the XPA-100 and the pair of XPA-1L's plus the TV and the BD player or cable box or ATV4. For stereo music one has a TT, the ERC-3 and the XSP-1 whilst the other has the XPA-100 and the pair of XPA-1L's.

Even though the current draw is spread across 2 circuits each capable of 3,600 watts I prefer the one at a time daisy chain. I have no surge protection or power conditioning, with underground power supply and having tested the circuits (for voltage spikes and/or sag) I see no real world need for either of them.



Cheers
Gary

[leonski]

Jan 4, 2017 9:46:38 GMT -5 KeithL said:

Be careful where you plug in that neon sign.... they're notorious for making noise (a neon sign is basically an electric arc in a tube).

Jan 4, 2017 8:01:13 GMT -5 ac2011 said:

I currently daisy-chain the 12v triggers on my 3 XPA-100's. I recently added the BAS-X A500 - haven't actually started using it yet. My receiver (Yamaha RX-A3040) has 2 12v trigger outputs. I also have a surge bar which some of my stuff is plugged into which can be setup to trigger some of the outlets - I'd like to use this feature to trigger some stuff that isn't "key" to the setup (buttkicker amp, neon "Corey's Home Theater" sign, etc.) (Note, my amps are all plugged into CMX-2's, and the receiver is plugged into an "always on" outlet of the aforementioned surge bar).

And, if it makes any difference, I have 2 dedicated 20amp circuits for my system (not including the subwoofers, which are on different plugs/circuits), and the availability of a third circuit in the vicinity, which isn't dedicated, but can be used for some of the less power-hungry stuff.

So, I'm trying to work out the best option to make this all work. I could just leave the daisy-chain as is and plug the A500 into the other output. Or, I could add the A500 to the chain. (And in either case, chain the surge bar to the last amp in the chain) Is there any difference to whether the A500 is first or last in the chain?

Is there any benefit (or downside) to adding an ET-3 to the mix? I guess it would still use up one of the outputs and only control the XPA-100's, so no real difference there, except for the fact all 3 amps are triggered simultaneously.

That being said, I guess I could leave the XPA-100 daisy-chain as is, add an ET-3 to the other 12v trigger output and connect the A500 and the triggered surge bar to that.



A lot of rambling questions, now that I read this Oh, well - any thoughts appreciated.

I was just going to note how much RFI a neon sign can kick out!

And it comes thru the AIR and thru the WIRES.    Difficult to suppress the noise completely.

A neon lamp is not QUITE an 'arc in a tube' but the PLASMA it IS, really does make a mess..