Using a Generator

Hamiltonion

Hey lads,

anyone got any experience running CDJs/Basic Lights/Speakers etc off a petrol generator?

Organizing a 21st and we've no access to power (in a farm shed), just worried about the generator somehow damaging the gear. I presume using a surge protector would leave it safe enough though right?

Also, anyone know roughly how much power I'm gonna need?

ironclaw

You'll need surge protection. You'll also need a filter. Generators make 'noisy' electricity to put it in simple terms. Basically the AC waveform can be a little choppy which high end electronics don't like one bit. Its similar to the problem in the USA where having a whole lot of air conditioners etc on the same circuit can cause a serious about of noise. They don't have clean outputs because the likes of a mixer or power tools don't care nor will they will affected by it.

My recommendation is not to use one if I'm honest unless its a good one. Failing that, and either way, you'll need a VERY good surge protector and a VERY good filter. You can buy them combined in one. Not exactly cheap but well worth it. No matter where I am I have a filter on my extension lead that runs my laptop and mixer. You can actually hear the difference in the speakers (Less hum / noise)

As regards power, you'll need to tot up what your planning on running. Then see what the generator can output.

holystungun9

If you have a generator or are going to hire one the power reating will be labeled on top of it on a little tag. It will be in KVA (which is essentially Kilowatts). If you mean a handy size pull cord type start petrol that two people could lift around, it will probably 2.5 KVA or maybe up to 3.5 KVA if a big one. These are one lads bring to a house with no power to run some kangoes off of some leads and maybe with some lights.
These things do not run much and if you start using extensions leads with them there is a power drop all along the cable. So something might run off one or even two leads but not on a third.
I've seen lads running lights and a kango on site and they go to plug in their site kettle into the geney but a kettle is about 1.500 kwatts or something like that and it will trip the switch if the other stuff in running too. Lights are a killer.
I don't know the power ratings on all the individual bits of gear you want to run but you could find the tag and add up all the ratings. Remember that leads will kill how much power you have available.
Most people going to hire these things don't know the details but know from experience what size worked the last time for them.
At a guess, for what you are thinking of doing you would need a kind of tow behind your car type generator.
If you have access to a generator you could just go plugging things in until it trips out. I don't reccomend you do this with your gear unless you are super confident in whatever surge protector you have connected up. Maybe LED lights will be okay but regular bulb type lights will draw a lot of power.
I remember doing a little gig in a field years ago and I'm sure we had a small diesel geney just to run the decks, mixer and the sound system with just a short lead.
Either way, be careful with your gear and check it all out before the big night or whatever. Also, petrol goes really fast so if a petrol one, have lots of petrol and make sure if you are refilling you are super careful. Spilling petrol onto the exhaust(often beside the tank) will not end well.

Hamiltonion

Thanks a million lads

holystungun9

OP, leave us know what happened in the end, what you used and if you had any problems. As it comes up to 'Summer' who knows who might what to have a party in some out of the way place and your experience could help.

Hamiltonion

Will do guys, won't be for a while yet (I'm knee deep in exams) but I'll post a few pics of the setup