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Post by deadair on Jan 27, 2007 20:35:43 GMT -7
Is the actual maximum handling wattage of the Air Break listed anywhere? The description hints that it might be 100 watts, "The Air Brake has a "bedroom" level control that, when selected, will allow for fine adjustment and maximum attenuation down to 1 watt (with amps less than 100 watts.)" But really I think that all that that's trying to talk about is the maximum possible attenuation for 100 watt or lower amps, not to suggest the Air Brake's handling limit. Furthering this impression that it can handle 100+ watt amps, in the manual, as someone has nicely put online in jpg form ( www.paulgirolamo.com/zbrake/zbrake1.jpg), it clearly states "When using a vintage 100 watt Marshall head the same technique applies, select the 8 ohm output setting on the head, then attach the Airbrake to the 16 ohm 4x12 cab" i would have to assume that using a 100+ watt head wouldn't be mentioned in the manual if it couldn't do it...... but at the same time, I don't really want to blow up my JMP finding out that my hunches are wrong..... is there any hard statement of the highest wattage the Air Brake can handle? Is there anyone using it regularily on 100+ watt amps cranked? Thanks!
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Post by ugoape on Jan 28, 2007 16:10:18 GMT -7
The Airbrake will handle a 100 watt amp. It has one fixed and one adjustable resistor rated at 100 watts and a rheostat resistor rated at 50 watts. The latter is for the bedroom level.
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Post by deadair on Jan 28, 2007 20:37:04 GMT -7
very interesting, thanks! if i follow that right then that means it can handle a total of 250 watts? i realize you don't want to run a "250 watt" tube amp in to it, just trying to access the amount of leeway it has......
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Post by mward on Jan 29, 2007 4:36:46 GMT -7
I don't think you followed that right. 100 watts total. The resistors and rheostat come into play differently, not all at once. I don't think you can exceed the power dissipation of any one resistor as they're not wired in parallel as far as I understand how it works.
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Post by deadair on Jan 29, 2007 8:05:53 GMT -7
Hmmmmm, well, I just dropped the Dr and company a line to see what the official line on this is...... If it's 100 watts total I'm surprised they would suggest using a 100 watt head in their manual......?
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Post by John on Jan 29, 2007 12:02:27 GMT -7
I don't think I'd ever hook up my Airbrake to my 1971 non-master volume Marshall 100 watt Super Lead. It almost set on fire a Scholts Powersoak (If I remember the name correctly) My 100 watt Weber Mass started to smell after a minute or two. (burning smell) It makes my Marshall PowerBrake really hot (even with the fan running) It didn't get it's knickname "The Beast" for nothing. Totally unusable for club gigs. Unless your club happens to be Madison Square Garden. Perhaps I'll bring it to Z open house this summer.
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Post by deadair on Jan 29, 2007 13:56:05 GMT -7
nice rig gtrman3!
Here's the official word I got back to clear this all up:
"Do not use it if the Marshall puts out over 100 Watts, which 99% of the early ones do. Ken said it would OK and I used his words about miss-matching the OT on old Marshalls and VOX's to make them run cooler in the manual.
But now that Ken is gone, my feeling is not to let an over 100 watt be used at all.
The Airbrake is rated at 250 Watts dissipation at max., but it's not the Airbrake I worry about , it is the 35 year old English Output Tranny and if it will overheat, or a old EL-34 will fail and spike back into the OT.
Thanks for checking with me first, maybe another type Attenuator would be better for you to purchase.
Z"
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