Behringer EP2500 & EP1500 amplifier temperatures

[Johnno]

I've just acquired EP2500 and EP1500 amps. The second time I ran them the 2500 kept tripping out then resetting a few minutes later. I noticed its fan wasn't turning and returned it to the supplier who changed the fan.

 

When they run the air the 2500 blows out is noticeably warmer than the 1500 even when they are idling for long periods, and the 1500 blows cooler even in action. In fact the 1500 feels as though it is not heating the air at all in comparison with the 2500.

 

This could be accounted for by the 2500 being a more powerful amp, or through having a different circuit topology that maybe idles warmer, but as the 1500 is driving 2x4 ohms and the 2500 2x8 ohms I expect more heat from the 1500.

 

Can any of you 2500 owners comment on the exhaust temperature of your beasts?

 

Does anyone have a useful email address for Behringer technical queries? I gave up on their website.

[johndenim]

Have you registered your amps with Behringer?

 

It does not say the equipment has to be brand new (if it isn't) and maybe you could get a human to talk to if you are lucky!

Or there is this, which you have probably seen already.

 

 

http://www.behringer.com/05_support/webfor...rt.cfm?lang=ENG

 

John Denim.

 

also this

 

http://www.prolineaudio.co.uk/

[Rob_Beech]

They do run a little warmer than expected even when idling. I believe though I could be wrong that its a variable speed fan. It may be that the 1500 fan is constantly working at full speed.

 

The New Crown XTI amps have variable speed fans with the slowest setting being off. this makes them run a little warm at idle but as soon as you push anything harder the fans start up.

 

 

Rob

[Bobbsy]

Does anyone have a useful email address for Behringer technical queries? I gave up on their website.

 

The "Global Customer Suppor Manager" for all of Behringer used to be a guy named Jim Savery based at their American office. I wouldn't normally post address details in an open forum, but he has been known to participate in a number of newsgroups and put his own info in his signature so I think it's okay in this case.

 

Details are:

 

Tel: +01-425-672-0816 x 111

Direct Dial: +01-425-939-3216

Fax: +01-425-673-7647

IP Phone Ext: 5024

mailto:j.savery@behringer.com

 

The one comment I'd better make is that I'm not sure if this info still holds good. Jim used to be a regular poster over in AAPLS but I haven't seen him there for a while....this may be because he's changed jobs or maybe just because that newgroup has degenerated into a useless flame war. Anyhow, if he's still there he's a very helpful guy.

 

Bob

[revbobuk]

The 1500 and 2500 are completely different amps inside - the 2500 isn't an uprated version of the 1500. My 1500 can be working flat out all night and not even get warm - and yes, the 1500 fan does seem to run flat out most of the time.

[Trunker]

My EP2500 burnt out at a gig (running at 4ohm) and doesn't even power up now!!!!

[Phazbat]

I use a couple of EP2500's as part of an 8k rig running into 4 ohm loads, and never had a problem - sure they run warm when pushed, but nothing to raise concerns. I would suggest following Bobbsy's idea and having a word with Behringer....

[Johnno]

Thanks all.

 

I followed the link posted by Johndenim and told Behringer my woes. They got back to me and said they'll make a warranty swap direct from them. So it's looking good.

 

Regards.

[foh_al]

Can any of you 2500 owners comment on the exhaust temperature of your beasts?

 

Strange, a couple of people suggesting they run pretty hot. We've got several in hire stock, and I haven't used them a lot but I swear when I have you could make ice cubes with the exhaust. Apart from that time a few years ago when the load-in crew managed to wire the +ve straight back to the -ve via a melted speaker cable - even then the breaker tripped a couple of times before I worked out what was going on, but the amp really tried its hardest.

 

Alex

[Rob_Beech]

It's amazing how alot of amps be them cheap ones or more expensive ones will drive a short circuit for ages before giving up.

 

I used a speaker lead with a partial short in it (not one of mine) on one of my THL828's off a Crown XTI4000, and it wasn't until it really started being pushed hard that it affected much. (It was at this time that I noticed the problem and swapped the lead)

 

 

Rob

[cliveybaby]

I had to fit 6 Ep2500's and 2 Ep1500's in rack a while ago

 

When running hard each amp seemed to give off a different amount of heat

 

but even then none of them got what I would call 'too hot'

 

Its amazing the difference in stress on the amp with the material you put through

 

it even if it 'sounds' the same out front

 

Always try to taylor the signal going into the amp so that you dont 'waste' amp power

with pointless bits of noise

 

Cliveybaby

[Johnno]

The 1500 and 2500 are completely different amps inside - the 2500 isn't an uprated version of the 1500.

 

I've just got hold of the circuit diagrams for both of these amps. The amplifiers are identical- same input circuits, same power circuits, same number and type of power transistors: what differs is the power supply. The 1500 runs off a plain vanilla 55v supply while the 2500 has a two-level supply of 55 and 110 volts. At "low" power levels the 55v supply suffices. Above some level of output - possibly the equivalent of full power in the 1500 since the circuits are the same - the 110v supply kicks in and the 2500 goes on to damage your ears even more quickly ;)

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

As an afterthought, if the two amps are identical at low power levels they could be expected to exhaust the same temperature when idling unless there are differences in the cooling arrangements. This is unlikely. The fan in the 1500 is a direct current one. If the 2500 has the same type Behringer may just spin it faster when the higher supply takes over.

[adam5365]

We have two Behringer EP2500, both run as cool as you like but, (and I hope I am not teaching grandma to suck eggs ) we had trouble with four core speaker cables running to carlsbro speakers, which had the speakon in the cab wired 1+ and 2+connected and 1-and 2-connected . Therefore because you have channels 1 and 2 output on outlet 1 on the amp, this made the amp drive one speaker with both channels, via the link in the cab. Then it got HOT till we tracked the problem down.

Dont know if this helps.

 

Hope you understand what I mean.

 

Adam

[revbobuk]

I stand corrected - you're quite right. Some other forum I visit had pictures, and I was remembering wrong. I believe that the 2500 is class G, the 1500 class A/B - because of the supply rail thing.

 

Actually, I'm sitting, not standing. But I'm corrected, whichever it is!

 

Bob

 

The 1500 and 2500 are completely different amps inside - the 2500 isn't an uprated version of the 1500.

 

I've just got hold of the circuit diagrams for both of these amps. The amplifiers are identical- same input circuits, same power circuits, same number and type of power transistors: what differs is the power supply. The 1500 runs off a plain vanilla 55v supply while the 2500 has a two-level supply of 55 and 110 volts. At "low" power levels the 55v supply suffices. Above some level of output - possibly the equivalent of full power in the 1500 since the circuits are the same - the 110v supply kicks in and the 2500 goes on to damage your ears even more quickly ;)

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

As an afterthought, if the two amps are identical at low power levels they could be expected to exhaust the same temperature when idling unless there are differences in the cooling arrangements. This is unlikely. The fan in the 1500 is a direct current one. If the 2500 has the same type Behringer may just spin it faster when the higher supply takes over.