Allen Organ Speaker Switch

[andretheng]

Many thanks to all who had helped me out with hooking up external speakers to my church's Allen Protege AP-2 organ.

The organ has a relay board but no on/off speaker switches on the console. It however, has, several "blank" black tabs where the midi on/off would be - this organ has no midi installed and thus the tabs currently control nothing. I am wondering if these 'blank' tabs can be hooked up to the speaker on/off switches on the relay board to allow me to toggle between the internal and external speakers. Here's a picture of the organ and the speaker cabinets which will eventually be mounted in the church's gallery.

Thank you!

[jbird604]

You probably cannot use those black tabs for this purpose. In order to activate the relays it is necessary to ground the control line for each one. In other words, when the wire connected to "Main Off" is switched to the organ ground, the relay will move and the speakers connected to "Main Spk" will be turned off.

The reason you cannot use the black tabs is this: they don't ground anything. In the AP-2 and all Allen organs with the MN system, stops are all connected directly to the MN board, which takes care of the switching.

Allen intended for any AP-2 that has the relay to also have the auxiliary speaker switch assembly under one end of the key desk. Is there anything there that resembles a pair of toggle switches?

[andretheng]

Hi John, thank you. I know what the toggle switches look like from other installations but my organ is unfortunately missing them. Would you know if this is a part that can be ordered from Allen?

You probably cannot use those black tabs for this purpose. In order to activate the relays it is necessary to ground the control line for each one. In other words, when the wire connected to "Main Off" is switched to the organ ground, the relay will move and the speakers connected to "Main Spk" will be turned off.

The reason you cannot use the black tabs is this: they don't ground anything. In the AP-2 and all Allen organs with the MN system, stops are all connected directly to the MN board, which takes care of the switching.

Allen intended for any AP-2 that has the relay to also have the auxiliary speaker switch assembly under one end of the key desk. Is there anything there that resembles a pair of toggle switches?

[jbird604]

Allen probably still sells those switches, but they probably charge a LOT of money for them, just because that's the way Allen does with little obscure parts.

It is nothing in the world except two small toggle switches mounted in a metal box. One lead from one switch connects to the "Main Off" terminal on the relay and one lead from the other switch connects to "Antiphonal Off" terminal. The other side of each switch connects to ground.

You should be able to assemble a little unit to do this task for just a few dollars. Even ordinary AC light switches mounted in a box will do it. So use your creative skills and make something!

[andretheng]

That makes sense. The dealer in my area quoted me a lot of money and was wondering if it was a dealer thing or if Allen really charges alot of money for it. Thanks for your explanation, I'll give it a try!

Allen probably still sells those switches, but they probably charge a LOT of money for them, just because that's the way Allen does with little obscure parts.

It is nothing in the world except two small toggle switches mounted in a metal box. One lead from one switch connects to the "Main Off" terminal on the relay and one lead from the other switch connects to "Antiphonal Off" terminal. The other side of each switch connects to ground.

You should be able to assemble a little unit to do this task for just a few dollars. Even ordinary AC light switches mounted in a box will do it. So use your creative skills and make something!