Adding protection to 1.2TLs

nacam
nacam Posts: 56
edited July 2009 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to add some protection (breakers, fuses) to protect the tweeter and midwoofer arrays on the 1.2TLs? I know the tweeters have a thermal protection circuit, but I am interested in protecting the arrays from power spikes and DC just in case.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!
2 Channel Basement Setup:
PC With M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 Card
Rotel RC-1070
Rotel RB-1090
Polk Audio SDA SRS 1.2TL (1991) w/RD0-198 Tweeters.
Post edited by nacam on
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Comments

  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited July 2009
    You can protect from DC using big and expensive transformers, or HUGE caps(this is unrealistic).

    The other options will degrade the sound quite a bit (varistor, fuses) or not offer enough protection.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2009
    ShinAce wrote: »
    You can protect from DC using big and expensive transformers, or HUGE caps(this is unrealistic).
    I wouldn't say unrealistic. He could parallel a pair of Mundorf 330uf or Solen 330uf caps on each speaker for a 1st order HP at 30-40hz.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited July 2009
    True, but how will it interact with the existing crossover network?

    Personally, I go active to protect against DC. Maybe using an opamp as a comparator and have it relay the power supply. If DC appears on the output, the relay disconnects the power rails.

    But heh, that's just me. I like fancy solutions.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited July 2009
    I would go active as well, if I did anything. In reality you can turn in damage like that to your insurance company. I used to work at a sears and we had people bringing in a lot of stuff just for estimates to turn into their insurance.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2009
    The risk of actually getting damaging levels of DC is low but could occur if one half of the output stage of a solid state amp failed potentially leaving tens of volts DC at the output that could destroy the woofers voice coils.(the tweeters will be protected by their series cap in the crossover).Another rare posibility is if a Directly Coupled amp were used and DC appeared at it's input from a faulty pre amp.If it doesn't have DC protection then it will be passed on to the speaker.

    There are some DIY kits around that will add speaker protection if the amp does not already incorporate it.Other than that its use a big capacitor or a tube amp.
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