Advice for assembling a PA rack?

[Ledvedder]

I've been getting great information from the forum regarding a mixer upgrade for my band. I've purchased a Behringer XR18. Now I want to assemble a decent rack for it. I've thinking the mixer, power conditioner, storage drawer, 2u power amp (for now), and possibly room for a wifi router. So my guess is 6u or 8u?

So with this, I'm asking the folks who are much smarter than me for some purchasing advice for a rack, power conditioner, etc?

 

[pipelineaudio]

For the router, a lot of us put velcro on the bottom of the router and the top of the rack or bag and stick it on during a show so that ts outside the rack and up high.

 

[Ledvedder]

I've purchases a rack and router. Now I need some advice on power. Are most of the rack mountable power devices pretty standard? I'm looking at the Radial Power 1, https://www.radialeng.com/product/power-1

 

[pipelineaudio]

I wouldn't spend too much. For the most part they are glorified power strips. They look nice but a surge protector power strip would do just as well and won't take up a rack space. The XAir is SUPER shallow so there's lots of space.

That said, I'm way too OCD so I always have a (cheap) rack mounted surge protector, and I like the types with pull out lights to help when its dark

 

[Ledvedder]

I wouldn't spend too much. For the most part they are glorified power strips. They look nice but a surge protector power strip would do just as well and won't take up a rack space. The XAir is SUPER shallow so there's lots of space.

That said, I'm way too OCD so I always have a (cheap) rack mounted surge protector, and I like the types with pull out lights to help when its dark

Any recommendations for a (cheap) rack mounted surge protector with lights?

 

[pipelineaudio]

I just saw this on Sweetwater and blown away that ART is still around https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SP4x4--art-sp-4x4-power-distribution-system

 

[Ledvedder]

I just saw this on Sweetwater and blown away that ART is still around https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SP4x4--art-sp-4x4-power-distribution-system

That's considered a "cheap" one?

 

[aflynt]

The Radial Power 1 is nice for the price. Nice long power cable. Some of the cheaper ones have short cables which is kind of annoying.

-Aaron

 

[FuzzyAce]

I have a few of the Furman M-8Lx, but they look to be out of stock at Sweetwater. $120 a piece. I like them because they have the pull-out lights with a dimmer control, and 9 total outlets per unit.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

^ Furman, for me, always. Also, a good isolated power conditioner is far beyond a normal power strip for sure ....it can solve so many problems, at the source. Do not by cheap garbage, get something quality.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Meant to say, if you're using this for live situations a voltage regulator is not a bad idea either. But they can get expensive.

 

[Gtrsolo]

Look for a used rack locally and you’ll save a lot of money. People don’t want to ship them and there’s not too many people in the market for them so prices tends to be low on the used market. I got a gator 8u rolling case for $150; new it’s around $400. And it’s nice having wheels on it.

 

[Diary Of An Axeman]

I used a Monster 1100 Power Bar and a Monster 2500 Power Conditioner with fast blow fuses mod an electrician friend added, so incase a huge power surge happens, all I have to do is replace the fast blow fuse.
Plus I have an ETA PD-9 Power Conditioner to power my lower voltage rack units and a Decibel Eleven Hot Stone Deluxe powering an Decibel Eleven Loop Expander with four foot pedals.

 

[GuitarBilly74]

I'd split the mixer and power amp in 2 racks. Those 8u full racks get crazy heavy quickly. And if you eventually end up going to powered monitors and get rid of the power amp, the mixer rack remains the same.

 

[Diary Of An Axeman]

I'd split the mixer and power amp in 2 racks. Those 8u full racks get crazy heavy quickly. And if you eventually end up going to powered monitors and get rid of the power amp, the mixer rack remains the same.

How many watts are your power amps ?

I use two Crate Power Blocks, running in Mono, at 8 ohms each / 150 watts each.
Before going into the Crate Power Blocks, I use two VHT Valvulator 1's, with one input and two outputs each.
With VHT V 1's, I can use two Crate Power Blocks for stage volume and or use two Seymour Duncan Power Stage 700's to be aimed at the crowd in larger venues.

 

[GuitarBilly74]

How many watts are your power amps ?

I use two Crate Power Blocks, running in Mono, at 8 ohms each / 150 watts each.
Before going into the Crate Power Blocks, I use two VHT Valvulator 1's, with one input and two outputs each.
With VHT V 1's, I can use two Crate Power Blocks for stage volume and or use two Seymour Duncan Power Stage 700's to be aimed at the crowd in larger venues.

I'm not sure what he has, but it's P.A. rack, not guitar rack. Power Blocks wouldn't work.

 

[Diary Of An Axeman]

I'm not sure what he has, but it's P.A. rack, not guitar rack. Power Blocks wouldn't work.

I used to lug around two Crate Power Blocks as back ups for my two VHT Pitbull amps, the clubs PA went capoot and the two CPB's were excellent back up for the emergency situation.