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EP4000 Breaker Trip Question

post #1 of 11
7/5/11 at 4:52pm
Thread Starter 
Question for you guys.

I have a EP4000 Bridged into 2 Captivators running a 4 Ohm load. I have an Integra 80.2 with Balanced connects.

LFE level on the Integra is at -8
EP4000 is set at 12 o'clock.

I keep tripping a 20 AMP breaker on hard scenes like TRON and WOW when i get the MV at about -10.

I am assuming since I have AFCI Breakers this is the case. Would there be any other reason this would be happening.

Thanks
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post #2 of 11
7/6/11 at 8:27am
Thread Starter 
Forgot to add that it is the only thing on this curcuit.

Thanks
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post #3 of 11
7/6/11 at 11:43am
I presume this is a panel-board breaker, not a local breaker via a plug-strip?

What are the Caps individual loads?
You're paralleling the Caps, correct?

My guess is that the EP4K is seeing a near dead short at some freqs, and thus attempts to dump it's reserves into the load, only to ask so much of the amps PS that the circuit opens up,...as it should.

Ever think about 2 EP4K's, ...one for each Cap? They're cheap.
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post #4 of 11
7/6/11 at 1:07pm
Thread Starter 
They are 8 Ohm each. Would I be better running one (1) on each channel for now (Not Bridged). My room is small but not sure I would get the output level.
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post #5 of 11
7/6/11 at 1:22pm
What kind of bass output levels are you getting at your seating area with you current settup? At -10 MV, you shouldn't be getting much more than 105db readings. If you are getting much more than that, you are running the subs hot.

Before the breaker throws, are the clipping lights on the amp glowing?
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post #6 of 11
7/6/11 at 1:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KERMIE View Post

They are 8 Ohm each. Would I be better running one (1) on each channel for now (Not Bridged). My room is small but not sure I would get the output level.

Running two 8ohm stereo channels is certainly going cut both your available power and your current draw. Unless you run the subs very hot, getting the proper output levels for -10MV should be a piece of cake even running two 8ohm channels instead of one 4ohm bridged. You will lose some headroom however.
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post #7 of 11
7/6/11 at 2:34pm
wow, I have run 3 ep4000's off the same breaker all bridged and only tripped it after playing a bass CD and just cranking it at 15hz. You may just have a faulty or weak breaker.
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post #8 of 11
7/6/11 at 2:52pm
Thread Starter 
It is an AFCI 20amp Breaker. I am inclined to change it for a standard breaker. Standard Breakers have been around for years and are in the rest of my house. I installed a sub panel in the basement and the inspector said I had to have AFCI. What is funny is the Sub Panel is fed by a 60 AMP Standard breaker in Main Panel.
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post #9 of 11
7/6/11 at 2:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mojomike View Post

What kind of bass output levels are you getting at your seating area with you current settup? At -10 MV, you shouldn't be getting much more than 105db readings. If you are getting much more than that, you are running the subs hot.

Before the breaker throws, are the clipping lights on the amp glowing?

That is about right. The Clip Lights do come on with both the WOW and some TRON Scenes. Then POP!
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post #10 of 11
7/7/11 at 3:13pm
Thinking about this further,...one EP4k on a circuit shouldn't trip under any normal circumstance.

I believe you're right, your concern wrt the breaker seems valid to me. AFCI breakers do nuisance trip, and it's entirely possible and likely this is what's going on.

Good luck
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post #11 of 11
7/7/11 at 9:51pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you FOH, I will try that this weekend.
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