if the power is out, am I still protected?

[BWLover]

I recently got a RLC-1040. I am just wondering, if the power is out does the unit still protect everything?

My biggest concern is during a thunderstorm the unit is protecting my equipment. But if the power goes out then what?

[sal1k]

From what I understand the RLC 1040 is a surge protector and voltage stabilizer ("line conditioner?"). The 1080 has a battery backup as well.

If the power goes out, your system would in turn also switch off, but it would be protected from any variations in the electrical power.

For power outages, the 1080 and other battery backup systems are more appropriate, as they'll allow you to continue using the system components and shut them down appropriately.

Sal

[Glen B]

I recently got a RLC-1040. I am just wondering, if the power is out does the unit still protect everything?

The surge protection components are passive and work even when your line conditioner is not powered.

My biggest concern is during a thunderstorm the unit is protecting my equipment. But if the power goes out then what?

Having surge protection is no 100% guarantee that equipment plugged into it will not be damaged during a thunderstorm. No point-of-use surge protector can guard against a close and large enough lightning strike.

Although surge protection can offer some peace of mind for times when you are asleep or away from home, the best from of protection is to unplug your system during particularly bad weather or when such weather is forecast.

Installing whole-house surge protection can provide an additional level of security, not just for your A/V equipment but for all household electrical appliances.

[BWLover]

OK. i am asking because last night there was a thunderstorm. i felt better just unplugging the unit. now i have another question. if i unplug the 1040, should i unplug the phone line and coaxial line from the 1040 as well.

Also i know about the 1080 having battery back up but i decided to go with the 1040 as i would really have no need for the battery. And mike from rotel told me the 1040 is the exact same as the 1080 minus the battery. Same performance. Thanks

[Glen B]

You will have a dilemma in that when you unplug the 1040, you lose the surge protection afforded to the phone and coax lines.

[BassThatHz]

Most power "protection" devices have a clamp level of ~330volts, which is great for massive surges but is still high enough to cause anything connected to them to toast regardless.

You can see an example of a Monster powerbar being roasted here in comparison to a PS Audio Duet which disconnected safely at 130volts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slf6PgkpL2Q

Once you get into hundreds of thousands of volts, such as a lightning strike, air itself is a conductor of electricity.

Do you really think ANY product will save your stuff, from something like this here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIkNY5xjy5k 8O

If someone is willing to risk toasting a RLC-1040 with a 220V-variac($100 on ebay); then we can find out exactly how it fairs at low and high voltages.

[BWLover]

i think i'll just unplug everything during a storm

[seteven100]

hi

hey i have an RB-1080

can someone explain to me how its got battery back up? what does that mean?

the obvious?

what are the benefits ?

do all 1080s have it?

sometimes i turn everything off at the wall including the 1080 and i just let the amp turn it self on and off when i flip the electricity switch?

is this damaging?

thanks

[Blindamood]

hi

hey i have an RB-1080

can someone explain to me how its got battery back up? what does that mean?

the obvious?

what are the benefits ?

do all 1080s have it?

sometimes i turn everything off at the wall including the 1080 and i just let the amp turn it self on and off when i flip the electricity switch?

is this damaging?

thanks

The reference was to the RLC-1080, which is an APC-based power conditioner with battery backup, not the RB-1080 amp.

[Glen B]

sometimes i turn everything off at the wall including the 1080 and i just let the amp turn it self on and off when i flip the electricity switch?

is this damaging?

No, the amp does not care how its turned on/off.

[seteven100]

thanks guys

[Nuthed]

sometimes i turn everything off at the wall including the 1080 and i just let the amp turn it self on and off when i flip the electricity switch?

is this damaging?

thanks

Doubtful that it is damaging to the amp, but I don't think it is a good idea. Most amps have a "stabilization" period upon start-up where the amp is actually in protect mode to protect speakers from turn on thumps. If it still does that you'll be fine.

[Glen B]

The stabilization period commences the instant the soft start/protection circuit receives power. The means by which that power is received does not matter.

[BWLover]

another question. the voltage regulator jumps from 121, 122, 123. is this normal?

[Glen B]

What you're seeing are normal variations in the incoming AC line voltage. 121V-123V is within utility company voltage supply range as well as the specified tolerance of your 1040. Your 1040 only kicks in to make corrections when the incoming voltage is outside of normal range.

[BWLover]

ok cool. i thought it was something like that.

i decided to test my unit. I plugged in a 2 little block heaters into an outlet that i knew was on the same circuit. when i turned 1 heater it dropped to 118v (from 121) with nothing being changed. then i tunred in the second heater and it dropped to 115v and the RLC-1040 kicked in a brought it back to 121v. sound normal?

also, at what point will it trim down excess voltage. for example right now I'm watching tv and it says 124v. how much higher does the voltage need to go for it to trim it down?

[Glen B]

From the results of your test, it seems that you have your 1040 set on narrow regulation, which is ± 5% of 120V. The unit should kick in when the incoming line voltage falls below 115V or rises above 125V. During your test, the nominal line voltage was 121V. When it dropped to 115V (-5% of 121V) the 1040 kicked in and brought its output back to 121V. I would say its doing its job.

[BWLover]

awesome. thanks!