What can I do to be sure that rented amps and speakers can't be damaged by idiots?

I realize that someone will reeducate the idiot, but give me some guidelines to over modulation at the input.

 

define damage?
kicked over?
blown?

It is 100% impossible to "idiot proof" something.. Idiots will always find a way to be idiots.

 

I was thinking blown. Speakers or amp. I understand that it will be easier to protect the amp.

 

What exactly did you have in mind that would be even remotely practical.

1. Speakers that reduce the power amp output?
2. Power amps that measure the spekaer impedance and adjust the output accordingly?

Not that I think either of those would be practical.

 

What can I do to be sure that rented amps and speakers can't be damaged by idiots?

I realize that someone will reeducate the idiot, but give me some guidelines to over modulation at the input.

Connect the amps to a power cord (that only you know about) with a inline fuse of about 1 or 2 amps. When some drunk fool cranks it to 11, pop goes the fuse not your speakers and amp. Then look at the drunk fools face.

 

I suppose that it is not possible. I just thought I'd ask the smartest people I know. .......then again.....a lot of them are not awake yet.

 

Connect the amps to a power cord (that only you know about) with a inline fuse of about 1 or 2 amps. When some drunk fool cranks it to 11, pop goes the fuse not your speakers and amp. Then look at the drunk fools face.

Yugh confrontation is not an option. I tend to stay away from people.

 

Yugh confrontation is not an option. I tend to stay away from people.

Then ask "nicely" for the drunk fool to pay $100 for a new amp. (secret fuse)

 

Incandescent lamps are sometimes connected in series with drive units, particularly tweeters and midrange units. High currents cause the filament to heat up and its resistance to increase rapidly, thereby, reducing the power to the loudspeaker. It may seem a little crude but it can work very effectively as the filament is subject to the same heating affects as the loudspeaker coil and it's the heat that does the damage.

There is some useful information on the subject here:

http://sound.westhost.com/articles/speaker-failure.html

 

Then ask "nicely" for the drunk fool to pay $100 for a new amp. (secret fuse)

That sounds good. ..... I cant see anyone doing it though.

 

Incandescent lamps are sometimes connected in series with drive units, particularly tweeters and midrange units. High currents cause the filament to heat up and its resistance to increase rapidly, thereby, reducing the power to the loudspeaker. It may seem a little crude but it can work very effectively as the filament is subject to the same heating affects as the loudspeaker coil and it's the heat that does the damage.

That might work with the people that I am dealing with

 

I can tell them that they are LED's.

 

I can tell them that they are LED's.

Have a look at the link I just added above....

 

That sounds good. ..... I cant see anyone doing it though.

I agree but if you do it loudly in the silence of no music or audio the next fool won't touch the amp and will turn their attention to something else to break like maybe their neck.

 

Thanks Blocco skimming the article I see a little help.

 

I agree but if you do it loudly in the silence of no music or audio the next fool won't touch the amp and will turn their attention to something else to break like maybe their neck.

 

Cheaper than my neck.

 

For protection tailored to each speaker individually, a bidirectional tranzorb is basically two high power zener diodes in series in a single diode package. If you know the AC voltage peak the speaker can tolerate, a tranzorb across the speaker terminals will clip anything above that no matter what amp is connected. That and a fuse in series with the speaker will turn a small overdrive into distortion, and a large overdrive into silence.

ak

 

Charge the users a hefty deposit up front, non-returnable if the equipment is damaged.

 

Connect the amps to a power cord (that only you know about) with a inline fuse of about 1 or 2 amps.

I did that, successfully. I took out the 3 amp speaker fuses and installed 1 amp fuses. The idiot cranked the amp up, exactly as I told him not to do and the fuses blew.