CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

stereodave70 · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 138 Location: Bloomington, IL

Been looking at a few different power supplies/surge protectors, and I've noticed huge variations. Some cheep and some VERY expensive. Was looking at "Monster Power 3600 MKIII"...but found some bad reviews stating it has no line conditioning. I have cheap surge protectors on all my gear, but I'm sure they're just that...CHEAP. Is line conditioning a big help?...or is it all hype like spending thousands on interconnects????

I'm also planning on adding new amps to the rack, so I will most likely install a sub panel behind the rack for all the power needed. My point is, with separate circuits for more available power...means multiple power supplies. At least 2 to begin with. This gets expensive very fast.

Curious about your ideas on these???

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 10:57 pm Post subject:

Nashou OOOOHHHHH NASHOOOOOO! Where are you Wink

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Those things suck!!

Get an Isolation Transformer, look on E-bay for one to feed your sub panel.

I have a thread in the home theater construction forum here. How to add an Isolation transformer ...... Ignore the arguing at the end.

My system works great and the power is clean.

Athanasios

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 12:00 am Post subject:

What you get really depends on how your power is, and if you get a lot of lightning strikes every year.

There were a couple of really good and informative threads in the high end section of avs, that actually ended up changing my mind about power conditioning, etc.

If you have limited power outages or brownouts and surges, along with little or no lightning strikes, I'd say it's all a waste of money. Keep in mind that a pretty direct lightning hit will blow the crap out of any protection as the amount of joules coming down the line way exceeds whatever filtering/conditioning you have.

If you expect lightning, the best protection is to unplug the power, cable, satellite wiring and telephone line if applicable.

If you get power surges or some lightning strikes, get an electrician to put a brute force surge protector right at the breaker panel. That's whole house protection.

I'd UPS any computer in the house, that's saved me some crashes. Around my place, we get 3-4 outages every year. I have no protection save for two UPSs, and nothing has blown in 10 years, and a lot of equipment here is on 24/7.

Monster Cable is the last place I'd start to look though. See if you can find the thread on the high end avs, it was really good and had a lot of good and differing opinions.

Sparky015 · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 12:06 am Post subject:

Nash's solution is great. I use a Panamax. I use it to act like a switch to turn off all of my gear, including my pj when not in use. I didnt want to hear the whir of fans, nor did I want to keep power to my expensive tubes I invested so much in. Long story short, I had more than power conditioning needs when I chose the Panamax.

I am not a fan of Monster gear. Inferior product that you basically are paying for a name. Thats my opinion.

stereodave70 · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 138 Location: Bloomington, IL

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Yeah you have to keep looking, id go no lower than a 3kv , that will handle close to 30 Amps. Mine is a 5kva and goes up to about 45 amps. some are shielded between windings whih are better, but almost any Iso will ahve cleaner power.

Mine has 220 in and 120 out.

be patient , one will come up. Also if you just want a plug and play type with no sub panel the triplite rack mount units will be great
as well.

Athanansios

stereodave70 · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 138 Location: Bloomington, IL

Hey Nash!

Would this work for a plug and play solution?...save me the expense of another panel and breakers.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150681217273#vi-content

I could easily run a 220v 50amp circuit to behind the rack. UHH! 215lbs...I guess I'll need a new rack.
Still waiting on a shipping quote....could be a deal breaker.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I was going to suggest that and tell you to get the tripwire power bar for more outlets.

Nashou

stereodave70 · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 138 Location: Bloomington, IL

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 1:21 am Post subject:

Trippwire power bar perhaps?

http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/surge-suppressors.cfm

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Something like this.

http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtSeriesID=754&txtModelID=2652

Athanasios

stereodave70 · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 138 Location: Bloomington, IL

OK, I thought I was all set. I bought an SURT003, just like in the add, but from another seller. Today I got an E-mail to confirm because it is an "international item and may not work in United States". This is good customer service, avoid a problem before it begins, as they offered full refund.

I know there is a difference in our (USA) a/c and overseas a/c. My question is how is overseas 200+v attained? Is it the same way we attain 220volts... 2 legs of 110 and a ground?...If so... then this unit will still work for me, right? OR, is there something else completely different that I can't use this?

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

This isn't plug and play but its an awesome unit.

Watch it, if it doesn't sell he might re-list it lower.

But even at 500 bucks its a deal those go into the thousands for 5kv.

Plus you'll have fun hooking it up! Very Happy

Athanasios

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 1:13 am Post subject:

stereodave70 · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 138 Location: Bloomington, IL

Well...The one I bought was for $178.00 + $207.00 shipping, great deal agreed, But, can you or anyone from overseas verify that it will work here (US) with 2 legs of 110 volts

stereodave70 · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 138 Location: Bloomington, IL

trebortaergeht · Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 73 Location: California

Most of Europe is straight 240v or whatever the local voltage is meaning one leg is the neutral at zero volts and the other is full line voltage. In the states it is 110-120v differential meaning one leg is positive while the other is negative(cycling back and forth) giving a total of 220-240 between them and 110-120 from each leg to ground. As long as the transformer doesn't have one leg of the primary grounded it should work fine. Most of the 240v appliances I've worked on don't use the neutral at all.

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527