Electricity experts needed

[riceaterslc]

i have just received my RMA'd belkin PF-60 back today. i set it up but it keeps blowing the house fuse. below is a description of what i did and how it is set up. i would appreciate anyone that would have suggestions on how to get this thing working. thanks in advance.

we have 220v power in korea.
i am using a grounded 3kVA 220-110 converter.
i do not know the rating of the master fuse since it is all in korean.
i have 5 single channel amps, 1 processor, dvd player, and cable box plugged into the PF-60. none of the master switches are on.
as soon as i turn on the converter the master fuse blows.
if i leave the converter on and switch the master fuse on, it blows instantly.
i don't understand where the draw is coming from since every master switch on the components is off.
i used the same converter in my last house with no problems.

so what do you guys think? what should i be looking at?

[GregLett]

Sounds like the converter is bad. It seems to have a short.

[riceaterslc]

well i was using the same converter with a power strip before i got the PF-60 back. the only difference is now i have another 2 amps plugged into it...

i also tried unplugging everything from the PF-60 and it still trips the fuse. man this is frustrating :M

[GregLett]

What if you have just the converter plugged in?

[riceaterslc]

What if you have just the converter plugged in?

thanks for the replies,

converter by itself is no problem
converter with power strip no problem
converter with PF-60 blown fuse. i'm baffled...maybe i need a higher rated converter? thats the only thing i can think of...

[GregLett]

thanks for the replies,

converter by itself is no problem
converter with power strip no problem
converter with PF-60 blown fuse. i'm baffled...maybe i need a higher rated converter? thats the only thing i can think of...

Looks like the PF-60 has a problem. What was wrong with it before?
If you just plug the PF-60 in with no load it shouldn't blow the fuse
unless it has a fault.

[Glen B]

I also suspect the PF-60. I am also curious to know what was wrong with it ? The PF-60 uses MOVs for surge protection and if one or more have failed and not been replaced, that could be responsible for the fuse blowing. The PF-60 has a circuit breaker that should open if there is a problem, but it is possible for the house fuse to blow faster than the breaker can react. I have seen this happen on more than one occasion before, where a household breaker trips before a device's internal breaker.

[Amphiprion]

The converter - does it use a toroidal transformer?

A 3KVA unit is huge. It might just be initial current inrush. Toroids are particularly bad about it. Make sure you have a slow blow fuse with an appropriate rating.

[riceaterslc]

i appreciate the replies everyone!

the previous PF60 somehow got broken during my last move. i don't know exactly, but it looked like capacitors blew. unfortunately i didn't take any pictures.

the one i received is a brand new unit, not refurbished or repaired.

there is an adjustable output knob on the converter. i may try to turn it all the way down at first to output about 50 volts. do you guys think this could help the inrush issue?

mark: are you talking about a slow burn fuse in the PF60 or the house fuse?



i think i'm just going to remove the main breaker and jump it with some 0 gauge cable... :M just kidding

[Glen B]

Its the household fuse that needs to be time delay. That will allow the inrush current through when power is first applied to the converter without popping the fuse.

[riceaterslc]

thanks Glen, i'll ask the landlord to help me locate a time delay fuse