Radial Engineering PowerStrip User's Guide

®

Workhorse
Powerstrip

500 Series Rack

True to the Music

™

™

Radial Engineering Ltd.
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam
British Columbia, Canada, V3C 5M5
tel: [phone] • fax: [phone]
email: [e-mail]

www.radialeng.com

User Guide

®

www.radialeng.com

IMPORTANT SAFETY & USER NOTICE - FOR PROFESSIONAL USE

!

The Radial® Workhorse™ Powerstrip™ is specically designed for use

by qualied professional audio engineers. The open frame design is

not intended for use by consumers or those unfamiliar with this format.
Even though the current and voltage levels are relatively low, we

recommend that all slots be lled with a module or covers be placed
over unlled slots. This will help protect you from electrical shock.

The Powerstrip rack frame is designed to be used with 500 series or
what are commonly known as Lunchbox™ modules. The Workhorse
Powerstrip has been designed following the framework as outlined by
the VPR Alliance as described on the API™ website. Although some
manufacturers build modules that are not VPR compliant, they may in fact

work with the Powerstrip. Please consult those specic manufacturers for

details regarding their compatibility. The Radial Workhorse Open Source

Document outlines the required technical specications for manufacturers

that intend to have their modules used in a Workhorse or Powerstrip
frame. Compatibility of any modules other than a module made by Radial
Engineering Ltd. is the sole responsibility of the user. Please read the
Limited Radial Warranty for details. There are no replacement or user
serviceable parts inside.

SAFETY NOTICE - NO HOT SWAPPING OF MODULES

!

Hot Swapping, or exchanging modules while the power is on is not covered

under the Radial Limited Warranty. The user is responsible for any damage
to the Workhorse Powerstrip or module arising out of hot swapping and the
user shall save Radial Engineering Ltd. harmless should any damage occur.

Please consult the Radial Limited Warranty for further details.

®

™ ™

Radial Workhorse Powerstrip

500 Series Power Rack

Table of Contents .............................................. Page

Feature Set Overview ......................................................................1

Introduction & Basic Functions ........................................................3

Omniport ..........................................................................................5

Power Supply Capacity ...................................................................6

Sliding Modules In And Out .............................................................7

Signal Flow And Levels ..................................................................8

Using The Powerstrip ......................................................................9

Specications ................................................................................11

Radial Limited Warranty .................................................Back Cover

Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the Radial Workhorse
Powerstrip, an innovative three module card frame designed for the
500 series modular format. This guide describes how to approach us­ing the Powerstrip, and how to install modules safely. We recommend
that you take a few minutes to read it in order to familiarize yourself
with the many innovative features that are built in.

To make this guide as easy to understand as possible, we have divided
it into several sections. It begins with an overview, then descriptions
of each function, ending with some real world applications. Should
you have any questions, comments or concerns not covered in these
pages, we invite you to log onto the Radial web site at www.radialeng.
com and visit the Powerstrip FAQ section. This is where we post the

latest updates and answers from users. If you do not nd what you

need, feel free to send us an email at [e-mail] and we
will do our best to answer your question as quickly as possible.

Now get ready to bring the fun & excitement of old school analog into
your signal path.

®

FRONT PANEL FEATURE SET

True to the Music

1 2

3

4

1. CARD SLOTS: Three 500 series modules will t in the Powerstrip’s space-saving 1RU

horizontal format.

2. CARD SLOT BACK PLANE: Modules can draw as much current as they need from a
shared pool of 500mA through the card slot connector.

3. DC FILTER CAPS: On-board DC ltering provides additional power conditioning.

4. STEEL RACKMOUNT CASE: The Powerstrip’s standard 19” 1RU (rack-unit) chassis

is made from heavy 14 gauge steel to provide extra shielding against stray magnetic

elds and RF.

Radial Engineering Ltd.

1

Powerstrip™ Power Rack

True to the Music

REAR PANEL FEATURE SET

®

9

7

6

5

8

10 11

5. PWR LED: LED indicator will illuminate when the external power supply is connected
and energized.

6. EXTERNAL POWER: High current external switching supply delivers 500mA to the
card slots.

7. 48 VOLT PHANTOM: On/off switch for phantom power. LED indicator will illuminate
when active.

8. BALANCED I/O: Follows original XLR I/O format and adds parallel ¼” TRS jacks for

added connectivity and cross-patching.

9. OMNIPORT™: ¼” TRS connectors add functionality to enhance each module’s

capability as set by the manufacturer.

10. STEREO LINK: Makes it easy to pair up modules equipped with a stereo link function

in standard master/slave conguration.

11. FEED FUNCTION: Lets you connect one module into the next to set up elaborate
channel strips without having to hard patch modules using cables.

Radial Engineering Ltd.

2

Powerstrip™ Power Rack