I got called on to help a friend out with a 70V system that was poorly installed in a warehouse here in town. When the building was being constructed, the wires were tossed in and the equipment was installed by a crew that ran away when it didn't work.
Here's what I get to work with:

Sources are Phone for paging, toner for breaks/shift starts ect, and fire alarm that overrides everything when triggered.

Equipment:

Bogen PCMTIM PCMCPU PCMZPM
Viking CTG-1 (tone generator)
Architectural Acoustics UMA 1502 (amp)
Bogen Black Max X600 (amp)
Bogen OPS1B speakers (50 units)

If anyone knows what I'm dealing with here, your help in regards to how this should be setup would save me a lot of time playing with this to get it working. This seams like a lot to ask, but I'm sure someone deals with this stuff on a daily basis and can fill me in without a problem. I would like to use the existing equipment on site, but if more is needed then thats fine. Thanks in advance!

What is the problem? I mean, just what about it doesn't work? I'm sorry to say this, but a basic understanding of the 70 volt idea coupled with the manuals that you probably can get on line ought to be a big help.

Meanwhile, is it totally dead, or could you pin down somewhat where the malfunction or lack of function is?

I haven't been on site yet and probably won't get there till tuesday. I just wanted to know the best way to hook it up. Right now all I know is that nothing works and I get to go there to fix it. I reviewed the manuals already. Seams like threes a bunch of ways to hook up the Bogen cpu modules. I'm a bit confused. Other then that, I was wondering if the amps were not big enough for the system. I can fix that if the speakers are too quiet after I get the show running. I guess what I'm asking is what order should I hook the components up for best performance. Any ideas?

Depends on how you configure the transformers .. just make sure your total consumption does not go over the amps max output, personally i try to keep a 25 to 30% buffer just to be on the safe side and to allow for further expansion in the future

This is the part where you tell the owners/ managers and your friend that this job is obviously over your head. No offense, but asking a bunch of guys on a website how to wire up a system, with only a simple parts list, is no place to start.

You have the part numbers, and hopefully an idea of the cabling structure in the system. Go to the manufacturer websites, download the manuals, and spend the next three days immersing yourself in how to hook up the components.

Here's something that WILL help you: get a graph-paper notebook, and a few colored pencils. Draw out your system, color-coded, a few different ways. You'll figure out the best way to hook everything up.

This method is the best for you to learn how to do it yourself. If you ask us how to do it, you'll get ten different answers, and you'll be worse off than when you started.

Call Bogen directly. They have guys that can talk you through this crap.

You're right... why put any effort into actually learning something, when you can just get somebody to hold your hand.

Is Bogen on site? Do they support other manufacturers' parts? Do they know what you're working on? Is it their turn to babysit? If you're not a Bogen Dealer, will they even talk to you?

Nut up, study, and figure it out. If you can't, then you shouldn't even be messing with it.

Let somebody else hold your hand?? Please...

This is why tech support people are always so damn frustrated- they have to deal with crap like this. Take some responsibility for what you do, and make yourself more valuable by actually learning about the gear, and how to hook it up.

I've done 70v systems before but I use different equipment. I'm not going to drop this job. It's not over my head at all. I was simply asking for an opinion on how to use what's there so I don't look like someone walking in there and saying "It's all crap and needs to be replaced with stuff I want to use". Money's not the issue here. I rather go in and impress the owners, which in time has put more money in my pocket because they get me back for other work, and refer me for other jobs. Honesty goes a long way around here.

I absolutely understand this equipment.

What do you want to do? What did the original installer say it would do?

Your parts list doesn't define the scope of project, so I'll leave it there.

The parts list suggests that you have at least two zones of paging divided into 50 or so speakers. There is a phone interface, CPU and, zone module. With this you can page, insert audible alarms, and have background music. Programming allows paging to specific or all zones via a telephone interface. A single ZPM module will handle three zones if I remember correctly. As mentioned above a 70V system is not rocket science to configure correctly. There are some things that need to be programmed via the telephone interface and some jumpers to configure but the manuals will walk you through that. As previously mentioned, the real challenge is to find out what the client was told the system would do or what they expect that it will do. Bone up on the manuals and you will be ok.

Gene, You're going to be fine. 70v is easy, its different but easy. Was this thing ever operational? Even for a short time? it may be hooked up correctly but overloaded. I would test the Amp first. If its fried I would Look at the runs to see how many speakers are on each run and check the speaker taps to make sure they are set accordingly. This is the most common thing I run into when taking over 70v systems. Also, Im not a big fan of Bogen but they are pretty solid and they have great tech support. To answer the question above, yes they will talk to you and are happy to help in any way they can. If you have to replace the Amp, I would suggest using Crown and getting something big enough to leave about 20% headroom.

Edit: The Bogen speakers adjust wattage with wire scheme and not by tap settings.
Speco uses tap settings.

I was told by the IT guy they had the tone generator working at one point but it was very quiet out in the warehouse area. By the sounds of things, I'm thinking their is two zones. One for the office area, and one for the warehouse. The first thing I'm doing there is testing out the equipment. I have a feeling the equipment being used, should of been able to handle a lot more load then the first guys intended. After I test, I'll get the sky jack out to see what the speakers in the warehouse are set at.

*I can't help but feel you guys think this is my first 70v job. I really don't mind 70v systems and believe they are a lot easier to setup and manage then your typical home setup. I have read up on this system and have no problem going in there and taking care of this problem. I am old enough to admit when a job is over my head and this isn't one of them. It's basic troubleshooting. I like this site because the feed back is very good and speeds up the troubleshoot process. In this case I use a different product line then bogen, so there might be something about the product I should know when I go and attack this on tuesday. (directed at faithful 'Evohome')

lol, :) I'll keep an eye on the thread tuesday. I'm betting its something stupid and an easy fix. Keep us posted.

Yes, sir!

*Provided I can fix everything at the head end. If I have to go to each speaker I'll cry. There's a warehouse full of product that I'll have to move around. 70' ceilings are not fun to work with...

I have found my new catch phrase!