Surge protection

[Dom_P]

I'm having two dedicated 20a circuits installed and am planning to use them to power an MC302 and MC303. I'll be adding a power regenerator later, but I'd like to have some basic surge protection in the short term. I've used these http://www.panamax.com/Products/Other/M2A20.php in the past but not sure how appropriate they are for an audio application. Any thoughts/advice?

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Dom_P

I'm having two dedicated 20a circuits installed and am planning to use them to power an MC302 and MC303. I'll be adding a power regenerator later, but I'd like to have some basic surge protection in the short term. I've used these M2A20 | Other | Products | Panamax.com in the past but not sure how appropriate they are for an audio application. Any thoughts/advice?

Dom... I recommend not using those; plug your amps directly into the dedicated outlets till you get an AC Regenerator.

[Cheezewhiz]

Originally Posted by Dom_P

I'm having two dedicated 20a circuits installed and am planning to use them to power an MC302 and MC303. I'll be adding a power regenerator later, but I'd like to have some basic surge protection in the short term. I've used these http://www.panamax.com/Products/Other/M2A20.php in the past but not sure how appropriate they are for an audio application. Any thoughts/advice?

I demo'ed a Panamax several years ago. I forget the model number but it was the one just below the regenerating model, roughly selling for $700-$800 retail.. I found that it killed my sound. Lost a lot of detail and soundstage. And that was comparing the Panamax to a $150 Monster Cable conditioner. Needless to say the Panamax didn't work for me. I ended up getting the PS Audio Quintet which works pretty good, definitely better than my previous Monster Cable conditioner. Although they don't make the quintet anymore PS Audio seems to have just come out with a replacement, the Dectet for $500. I've not seen any reviews about it though. I've seen quite a few people on the forum have good things to say about the furman equipment. Although with the power that your two apps would like to be fed you might want to look into a pure power regenerator or something equivalent but I diverge. My 2 cents for Panamax is

[Dom_P]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Dom... I recommend not using those; plug your amps directly into the dedicated outlets till you get an AC Regenerator.

Ivan,

What kind of risk am I running plugging them straight into the wall? I figure amps are probably less susceptible to surges than other equipment with more delicate integrated circuitry, but I don't have a lot of experience with seperates.

Dom

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Dom_P

Ivan,

What kind of risk am I running plugging them straight into the wall? I figure amps are probably less susceptible to surges than other equipment with more delicate integrated circuitry, but I don't have a lot of experience with seperates.

Dom

For an amplifier, very little. Devices such as the one you suggested limit current, and you should try to avoid those.

You'll be fine till you are ready for an audiophile surge protector.

[Dom_P]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

For an amplifier, very little. Devices such as the one you suggested limit current, and you should try to avoid those.

You'll be fine till you are ready for an audiophile surge protector.

Ok, sounds like a plan. Thanks!

[mbovaird]

Dom - I one of the few here who firmly believes in power conditioner/surge protection/battery backup. I've managed hundreds of thousands of dollars in servers and associated equipment and I know first hand what power shorts, brown outs, etc. can do, not to mention lightening storms (I live in Florida). Many people say it affects the sound. I say baloney. I have A/B over half a dozen times and heard zero difference between plugging everything straight into the wall and a high quality power conditioner, surge protector and battery backup. Knowing what I know about expensive servers and expensive electronics, it's imperative and quite frankly, stupid not to do it.

If you go to Home Depot and buy a $30 surge protector bar - yes, you will notice sound degradation. If you buy a $150 battery backup/surge protector like you would for a computer - again, yes....it will affect the sound - big time.

But I did my homework and went with 4 APC S20's. The S20 is built for big amp/audiophile/home theater applications.

I plug one mono block into one S20 each and the other two are spread out with preamp, CD, etc - all low current draws. Each piece is getting its full capacity of current. When I had my 1.2kws, I put the S20's to the test and they performed perfectly....and no single chassis amp draws more current than a 1.2kw.

One of your amps at maximum wattage would pull no more than 13 amps and likely considerably less. I would say pick up a couple of APC S20's and you should be fine.

Word of caution: the S20 is a beast. It weighs as much as most amps. It takes up a full shelf too. But when you see and feel it, you know this isn't some run of the mill expensive wanna be power conditioner/surge protector. It's a beast, made by the company that makes the highest quality surge protectors/conditioners/battery backups in the game.

Mike

[Dom_P]

Mike

Thanks...

Long term, I definitely plan to add a regenerator. That makes a lot of sense to me.

I was debating adding something short term for basic surge protection, but if that starts to approach the regenerator price, then I might as well bite the bullet and buy the regenerator. In the mean time, I'm not too uncomfortable with plugging directly into the wall. Between fusing, caps and transformers in the amps, I feel they shouldn't be too susceptible to surges (knock wood )

[mbovaird]

Originally Posted by Dom_P

Mike

Thanks...

Long term, I definitely plan to add a regenerator. That makes a lot of sense to me.

I was debating adding something short term for basic surge protection, but if that starts to approach the regenerator price, then I might as well bite the bullet and buy the regenerator. In the mean time, I'm not too uncomfortable with plugging directly into the wall. Between fusing, caps and transformers in the amps, I feel they shouldn't be too susceptible to surges (knock wood )

Not a bad idea I guess. Just note that some of the fuses Mc uses are not the easiest to find, run of the mill fuses you get at Home Depot. Your dealer may/should have them. My local dealer is an idiot....so I would be searching on the web and waiting a few days if I needed one.....or calling 911-Ivan!

[jdandy]

Dom.......Consider installing a whole home surge protector at your electrical service panel. It is far wiser to clamp surge voltages at the panel BEFORE these voltages run through your home circuits. A whole home surge protector will help protect all of your homes electronics, not just the audio gear. Check out Square-D, Ditek, Siemens, and Surge-X.