Power centers for HT

[cameronthorne]

I'm looking a power center for my equipment rack and having trouble finding exactly what I want. It doesn't have to be one device. If I found some combination of devices that met my needs, that would work too.

• I need surge suppression, but nothing fancy. I plan to add a series-mode surge suppressor later.
• EMI/RFI filtering would be nice.
• Battery backup would be nice - just enough juice to let me power down everything nicely in the event of a power outage.
• Some voltage regulation for both under- and over-voltage conditions would be good. We have terrible power in my area.
• Sequential/delayed power for some outlets. I'll have several DIY crossovers and power amps that I would like turned on in a particular sequence. So the delayed outlets also need to be high current. If it could autosense one outlet, say my processor, and turn on all the rest based on that one, that would be neat also.
• Telephone/DSL & Coax filtering would be nice to have in the future, though I don't have a need for either of them at this particular point in time.

Any suggestions? I don't need anything fancy like balanced power at this point in time. I am trying to keep it below $250 if possible. I was considering the Tripp-Lite SMART1000LCD, but it does not provide sequential/delayed power-up. Are there any simple power strips that do that? What other devices should I look at?

Thanks.

-- Cameron

[dtb300]

What about one of these? Just conditioner and surge..but may fit the bill for now.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?powrcond&1182014783

[Glen B]

Any suggestions? I don't need anything fancy like balanced power at this point in time. I am trying to keep it below $250 if possible. I was considering the Tripp-Lite SMART1000LCD, but it does not provide sequential/delayed power-up. Are there any simple power strips that do that? What other devices should I look at?

Thanks.

-- Cameron

The Belkin PF-60 will do everything you need except voltage regulation and battery backup. I got one just two weeks ago from Provantage.com for $217. I have an HDTV, DVD recorder, 2 cable boxes, a 100W x 5 receiver, 200W x 2 amp and subwoofer all plugged into the PF-60 with no problems. A conditioner with everything on your list for below $250 is unrealistic. Unless you have components that need to retain memory, I don't understand why you necessarily need battery backup.

http://www.provantage.com/belkin-ap41300-12~7BELD011.htm

[cameronthorne]

I remember not being very impressed with the PF60 last time I looked at it, but now I don't remember why. I'll take a closer look again. Thanks.

I don't need voltage regulation per se, I just want over-/under-voltage protection, like what a UPS does by kicking in the battery. :W As long as my voltage is within some nominal range, I'll be happy for now.

Some day I'll do it right and get ZeroSurge and ExactPower or Equi=Tech. But that is not this day. :E

I might just have to bite the bullet and just install power switches on these DIY things, and turn them on manually one by one in the proper order. :roll:

-- Cameron

[Glen B]

I remember not being very impressed with the PF60 last time I looked at it, but now I don't remember why. I'll take a closer look again. Thanks.
-- Cameron

Each outlet bank is isolated by its own LC network of a pair of caps and balun similar to what PS Audio employs in their Ultimate Outlet and Soloist in-wall conditioner. On each "digital" outlet bank Belkin employs a second balun and set of caps for even more filtration. Then there are ferrite beads on each outlet. On the incoming hot and neutral lines the manufacturer also employs ferrite-core chokes, caps and another ferrite bead. The high-current outlet bank does not have a balun for obvious reasons.

I don't need voltage regulation per se, I just want over-/under-voltage protection, like what a UPS does by kicking in the battery. :W As long as my voltage is within some nominal range, I'll be happy for now.
-- Cameron

What is the range of voltage you have at your house ? Although it may vary at different times during the day, it may still be within "normal" tolerance range.

I might just have to bite the bullet and just install power switches on these DIY things, and turn them on manually one by one in the proper order. :roll:
-- Cameron

The PF-60 has individual switches on the rear panel that will allow you to individually program the turn-on/turn-off delay of each outlet bank and remote triggering by turning on a single component.

[aud19]

I vote APC :T Great products/value/cutomer service etc

[cameronthorne]

Glen,

That PF60 does look quite a bit nicer than I remember it. I may have been looking at a cheaper model before, without all those features.

My *only* concern with it is under-voltage conditions. Our power never goes out "cleanly"; it sputters and browns out and back on repeatedly for a period of 2-3 minutes, and then goes out completely. Will the Belkin simply shut down when the voltage drops below a certain point? And if so, will it stay off regardless of what happens after that, until I manually turn it back on? If it did that, I think it may be the right unit after all.

I could always cascade it with an inexpensive UPS for under-voltage protection. Would you go Wall->UPS->PF60->Equipment or Wall->PF60->UPS->Equipment?

Thanks.

-- Cameron

[Glen B]

Glen,

That PF60 does look quite a bit nicer than I remember it. I may have been looking at a cheaper model before, without all those features.

My *only* concern with it is under-voltage conditions. Our power never goes out "cleanly"; it sputters and browns out and back on repeatedly for a period of 2-3 minutes, and then goes out completely. Will the Belkin simply shut down when the voltage drops below a certain point? And if so, will it stay off regardless of what happens after that, until I manually turn it back on? If it did that, I think it may be the right unit after all.

I could always cascade it with an inexpensive UPS for under-voltage protection. Would you go Wall->UPS->PF60->Equipment or Wall->PF60->UPS->Equipment?

Thanks.

-- Cameron

According to the user's manual, the PF-60 disconnects power during overvoltage conditions and restores power when voltage returns to normal. There is no mention of undervoltage protection. In the warranty, they warn against daisychaining the unit with any kind of power strip, UPS or other similar device. You will assume all risk if you cascade the unit with a UPS.

[EdAdams3]

Check out these two from Rotel. I have the RMB1080 & RMB1040 and they both perform flawlessly. I have no noise, and no power loss for my tivo and tv for up to 45 minutes.




Rotel RMB 1080