can power conditioners cause lcd displays to function for sale

The HD Guru’s readers have asked for the real story on power line conditioners. Are they really needed with an HDTV? Do they provide a sharper picture as some salesmen claim? How well do they protect the TV in case of a lightening strike or other electrical spike? What about surge protectors and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)? The HD Guru responds.

In the United States the alternating current (AC) sent from your electric company should be delivered to your home at a steady rate of 120 volts at 60 cycles per second. In some parts of the US, there are variations, resulting in voltages that are either too high or too low. Sometimes interruptions cut the power altogether. Delivery of too much power is called a voltage surge; too little, a voltage droop or sag. Electrical storms can deliver lightening strikes, which can produce catastrophic voltage surges capable of destroying the power supplies of all the electronics plugged into the system, whether they’re powered up or not. Air conditioner and refrigerator motors powering on and off can also cause momentary voltage fluctuations. Another potential power problem is electrical interference caused by industrial grade electrical equipment operating nearby as would be found in a factory. Your home’s wiring may also pick up electrical line interference or radio frequency interference (RFI) caused by, among other things, broadcast transmitters located in your vicinity.

Fluctuating voltages can cause lights to brighten and dim. TV, lights and other electrical devices may momentarily shut off due to total voltage dropouts. Radio frequency interference can create hum and/or video noise bars and static.

Power conditioners can’t give your digital HDTV a sharper picture or better color, regardless of display technology, whether plasma, LCD, DLP, SXRD, or DILA rear projection. Period. Resolution is, by definition fixed, and so cannot be increased. If a salesman tells you otherwise, ask why are there no power conditioners connected to the dozens of TVs on display. All HDTVs have internal power supplies designed to filter and transform the incoming AC to voltages necessary for the set’s operational needs. These built-in power supplies do a great job, and are designed to accept a fairly wide range of line voltages. Can a power conditioner clean up heavy interference in your power line? Yes, but most of the time they are simply not necessary and will be of no use because the vast majority of households are free of electrical interference.

While power conditioners cannot improve your picture, a surge protector can protect your set in the event of a power surge. What’s needed depends on the display and the amount of protection you can afford. For LCDs and plasmas the HD Guru suggests a surge protector at the very minimum. According to experts, the rating should be at least 360 joules. These are very inexpensive, with prices starting at under $20. For lamp driven devices such as microdisplay front and rear projectors, including LCOS (Sony SXRD and JVC DiLA), DLP and LCD, you should purchase an uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). The HD Guru also recommends using the UPS with digital video recorders (DVRs like TiVo). A UPS will prevent the lamp’s cooling fan motor (or hard drive in the DVR) from shutting off during a power failure. You need just enough battery power to cool off the projector to prevent premature lamp failure or a DVR’s power down. 10 minutes worth of battery back up is more than sufficient. Virtually all UPS units also have built-in surge protection.

UPSs’ are either on-line or off-line designs. The on-lines are best because they actively filter and convert AC wall power into DC (Direct Current) to charge the battery, while simultaneously converting the DC back to AC to run your HDTV or DVR. In addition to offering excellent line conditioning, on-line UPS systems provide surge protection. Because it’s “on-line” there is no voltage drop when the AC power fails. The switch to battery backup is seamless.

The Tripp-Lite SU750XL is a good on-line UPS. Rated at 750VA, it will run a 500-watt load for about 10 minutes, which is plenty of time to cool off the lamp in any projector or properly shut down a TiVo. While it retails for $449, a quick internet search found it for $288.93 + shipping.

Depending upon capacity off-line UPS prices start at around $40. Because the AC in/out circuitry is not coupled to the output there’s around a 1-millisecond switch between line current and battery power. Virtually all have built-in surge protection and many of the mid size and larger one also have line conditioners.

Bottom line? Instead of selecting a line conditioner with surge protection, which can cost up to $500 or more, get first-rate protection that includes surge and battery backup plus top quality line conditioning, for under $300 by purchasing an on-line UPS. For under $100 you can be protected from the most common surge and short-term power loss problems with a UPS with surge protection combo.

Whether you’re building a home theater or have had yours set up for years, longevity is of utmost importance to you, because you want your investment to last for as long as possible. So what can you do to keep your home theater in great working condition for years to come? You may have heard about how a power conditioner can be a great solution to increase the longevity of home entertainment equipment!

So do you need a power conditioner for a home theater? Yes, a power conditioner is a vital piece of equipment that filters out the “dirty” power and keeps your expensive equipment safer and functioning more efficiently. It helps to ensure that your equipment lasts for as long as possible.

In our post, 10 Ways to Protect Home Theater Equipment, we explained that power, by nature, is dirty. When your power runs throughout your equipment in your home theater, small dips and spikes in electricity can cause damage to your equipment. A power conditioner filters these out, and in turn, better protects your equipment. Additionally, a power conditioner typically also filters out AC line noise. Check out this YouTube demonstration by Panamax on how power conditioners work.

So if you have expensive equipment in your home theater, as many of us do, a power conditioner is a great investment for you! Whether you want a budget-friendly or high-end power conditioner, you’ll be able to find one that meets your needs. In addition, many power conditioners come with great additional protection features, like surge protection to help your home theater equipment’s longevity in every way possible. No matter what your budget is, you’ll find that a power conditioner is a great investment for your home theater equipment, helping it last for many more years.

If you’re still not convinced that you need a power conditioner for your home theater, here are some reasons why it’s a great investment for many home theaters or home entertainment systems.

When it comes to home theaters, most are built with a lot of expensive equipment, even if there are some components that are on the lower end. Whether it’s an expensive receiver, subwoofer(s), front speakers, or all of the above, you want to do everything you can to protect your equipment from damage.

Maybe you’ve only taken precautions against physical, visible damage to your home theater equipment, but what about the damage you can’t see? Internally, your equipment goes through a lot. Are you doing everything you can to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently? The best option for you to keep your equipment up-to-speed internally is through the use of a power conditioner.

If you have a home theater in your living room, the chances are that it gets a good amount of use. Whether you’re watching movies with your kids and family regularly or you’re a die-hard sports fan that loves to watch your games, then your home theater definitely gets used a fair amount. This will bring on a lot of internal wear and tear on the smaller components within the equipment. Normally, lots of wear and tear can shorten the lifetime of your equipment, so you’ll want to do everything you can to extend that lifetime. One surefire way to add years onto your equipment’s life, in the midst of lots of everyday use, is through the use of a power conditioner.

It’s not every day that you buy new home theater equipment. It takes lots of time, energy, research, and testing to decide what is right for you. And it’s likely that you took a couple of years saving up money to buy the individual components. The last thing you’d hope for is to have to replace your expensive receiver or subwoofer within a few years! You wouldn’t want to replace any of your components with less than what you have, and it may not be in your budget to purchase the same caliber equipment, if something were to happen.

The good news is that, with a small investment in a power conditioner, you’ll be able to trust that your equipment will be highly protected from internal damage, and you won’t have to worry about making room in your budget for an emergency replacement anytime soon. Additionally, many power conditioner and surge protector manufacturers will actually back their product with money, even though it’s a good practice to replace them every 2 years anyway as we explained in our tutorial! Depending on the product and manufacturer, if something were to happen to a piece of equipment, it’s possible that the company would cover the damages and replace the equipment.

Budget– When deciding which power conditioner is right for you, you’ll need to figure out your budget. You can find a great power conditioner for many home theaters for under $100 such as the Furman M-8X2. This unit is a great budget power conditioner with 8 outlets and built-in surge protection! Or if you want to splurge, you can find one for a couple or few hundred dollars for really high-end equipment such as the Panamax MR4300. This unit is specifically built for home theater systems. It includes both power conditioning, surge protection, and even comes with a lifetime connected equipment protection policy!

Of course, there are a few differences between the high-end and budget-friendly models, such as the number of outlets and the level and quality of the power filtration. One similar feature you’ll find across all models of power conditioners is surge protection, which is a great add-on to the protection of power conditioning.

Your needs– It’s important to also know what the power needs of your home theater are. How big is your home theater? What type of equipment are you using? You’ll need to know the power capabilities of all of your home theater equipment, so that you can match your power conditioner with your current system. The power conditioner you choose has to be able to handle the amount of power that you’re sending through it from your equipment. For example, you’ll need to know if it has to the right amount of high current plugs for equipment like your subwoofer and receiver.

Where to go – There are a lot of places you can turn to, when you’re ready to browse and buy a power conditioner for your home theater. Amazon is one destination that many home theater gurus turn to, because you can easily look at hundreds of reviews to see what the best products are and what the downfalls are of each. In addition, you can go to any tech destination, such as Best Buy and other tech stores in your local area. It might be helpful to talk to one of the professionals in-store and physically see the different options to choose from.

Not sure if you need to consult an expert for your power conditioner purchase or if you should just browse online and make a selection? If you’re unsure of any of the specs of your home theater equipment and how much power your home theater system uses, you’ll definitely want to seek the advice of a home theater or tech expert. Additionally, if you’re unsure of which brand of power conditioner is best for you or what capabilities you need in your power conditioner, it’s a great idea to speak to a tech professional.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by going to a tech store, because they specifically hire people that can help with this. In fact, you’ll probably learn more than you even thought possible about which choice is the best for your specific home theater.

Is a UPS a power conditioner? A UPS is an uninterrupted power supply. It provides backup power in the event of a power outage. Most UPSs will have built-in power conditioning and surge protection. However, this isn’t standard on all uninterrupted power supplies, so check the specs before you purchase.

What are some brands to keep an eye out for?When it comes to power conditioners, there are a few brands that stand out above the rest, like Panamax, Furman, APC, Pyle, Bryston, and PS Audio. Monster is a popular entry-level brand, but the quality is typically rated less than the aforementioned brands, which have power conditioner models for all budgets and needs.

Is there any reason that my home theater doesn’t need a power conditioner?Although a power conditioner is a great investment for most home theaters, it is not 100% necessary if you have an overall low-end home theater system. Power conditioners are most useful for high-end equipment in home theaters, so if you have any expensive equipment in your home theater, it is important to purchase a power conditioner. If not, then you won’t need to purchase a power conditioner for your home theater. Just know that it’s likely that your equipment will degrade a faster rate and is more suseptible to

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Power surges are both common and costly. According to IBM, every home or business gets hit every day by at least one surge measuring between 100 and 1,000 volts. The effects of a surge can be subtle or dramatic, depending on the surge’s duration, intensity, and whether the affected devices have adequate protection. Smaller surges destroy internal circuitry slowly, over the course of several months. Larger surges, on the other hand, inflict the same damage, but in less than a millisecond. If the surge is long enough and strong enough, it may even heat up the internal electronic circuits to the point that they catch fire. In addition to the obvious costs needed to replace damaged devices, surges also cause lost productivity (when employees are idle in business environments) and loss of use (when home theater equipment and appliances are idle in home environments).

Surge protectors protect against spikes and surges. They come in many configurations, and most include EMI/RFI filtering to decrease line noise and improve audio/video quality.

A surge protector should be sufficient for devices with lower inrush currents, like TVs and stereos. Their usefulness, however, depends on the protection you need. If your equipment is mission-critical or your facility experiences frequent outages, this might not be the solution for you.

And while surge protectors require less money up front, they often cost more in the long run, because they typically need to be replaced every few years.

Power conditioners not only protect against surges; they protect against brownouts as well. With built-in voltage regulators, they continuously monitor power, then condition it and keep it steady.

What a power conditioner will not provide is EMI/RFI shielding. If you want to improve video quality or decrease line noise, this might not be your best option.

While power conditioners cost more up front than surge protectors, they’re better suited for higher inrush devices like copiers and laser printers. Because they’re designed for devices that need ongoing power regulation, they’re often used in factories and hospitals.

A UPS can do everything a surge protector can do, but its main purpose is to reduce downtime that can cost your business money. And unlike a surge protector, a UPS features battery backup that allows equipment to stay up and running through power failures.

Like power conditioners, many UPS systems have voltage regulators. These models not only provide battery backup, but they also keep voltage at an acceptable level.

For a data center or server room, a UPS is your best option. They come in various configurations for both single- and 3-phase applications. Many also include special features, like LCD panels, hot-swappable batteries and energy-saving operation.

In the United States, National Electric Code article 210-19 FPN No. 4. suggests a 5% maximum combined voltage drop on the feeder and branch circuits to the furthest outlet "will provide reasonable efficiency of operation." The Canadian electrical code also requires no more than a 5% drop between the meter and outlet. Applying the 5% tolerance gives a nominal 120V range of 114V to 126V.

Yes, a power conditioner will stabilize the voltage from a generator. However, it will not convert the modified sine wave produced by some generators to pure sine wave, making those generators unsuitable for sensitive electronics.

Yes, but not with the printer itself. Printers and copiers use a hot roller called a fuser unit to bind ink toner to the paper as it passes through the printer. Periodically, the printer needs to reheat the fuser unit to the required temperature, and this requires a lot of electricity. To prevent a power sag (under-voltage) from impacting computers and other sensitive equipment on the same circuit as the printer, use a power conditioner with Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR).

Connecting a printer to a line conditioner may prevent the printer from getting the voltage it needs. A better approach would be to have a qualified electrician check the capacity of the existing line and add a separate circuit for the printer if necessary.

A power or voltage spike is a sudden increase in voltage, ranging from a few hundred volts to tens of thousands and lasting between 1 and 30 microseconds. A power surge is like a spike but lasts longer. Voltage fluctuations are normal and do not typically harm equipment connected to an outlet. Over- or under-voltages occur when the voltage reaching powered devices falls out of the normal service range.

As a power conditioner corrects high or low input voltage, it will make a gentle clicking sound. The frequency of the clicking will depend on the quality of the utility power in your area. The clicking is normal, and no action is required on your part.

A power conditioner can potentially improve sound quality by providing a cleaner and more stable power supply to audio equipment. Power fluctuations and electrical noise can interfere with the performance of audio equipment, leading to degradation in sound quality. By conditioning the power, a power conditioner can reduce the amount of electrical noise and provide a stable voltage, which can result in improved sound quality.

However, it is important to note that the effect of a power conditioner on sound quality can vary depending on the equipment and the specific electrical problems being addressed. In some cases, the improvement in sound quality may be minimal or not noticeable, while in other cases it can be significant.

A power conditioner is an electrical device that improves the quality of the power supplied to an electrical load by regulating voltage, reducing noise, and filtering out electrical disturbances. The goal of a power conditioner is to protect sensitive electronic equipment from damage caused by power fluctuations and electrical noise.

A surge protector, on the other hand, is specifically designed to protect electronic equipment from damage caused by power surges and spikes. It accomplishes this by diverting excess voltage away from connected equipment.

Some power conditioners include surge protection as part of their functionality, effectively combining the two functions into a single device. In these cases, the power conditioner can improve the quality of the power supply while also providing protection against power surges and spikes.

If improved sound quality is your primary goal, an isolation transformer is the best choice. Microphones, instruments and amplifiers can pick up unwanted hums or buzzes if they are plugged into the same circuit as items such as fluorescent lights, air conditioners and dimmer switches. If your band is playing in a bar, even the bartender"s blender is a potential source of interference!

An isolation transformer uses two coils of copper wire, wound so that the primary coil connected to incoming AC power induces a current in the secondary coil powering connected devices. Since there is no direct connection between the coils, musical instruments and recording equipment attached to the secondary coil are isolated from audio frequency noise on the power line.

With five outlets on battery backup and 10 outlets total, this UPS can reliably keep your Wi-Fi network running for up to four hours in a blackout or keep your home-office setup powered long enough for you to save your work and shut down.

The CyberPower CP900AVR will cover the basics for most people during common, short-term blackouts. In our tests, it provided enough power to keep a household broadband modem and Wi-Fi router running for four hours, which means you can stay online while the power is off and get in touch with emergency services, follow news and weather changes, or just pass the time on your favorite websites. It requires no setup aside from plugging it in, and it includes automatic voltage regulation—an important feature that some cheaper models lack. Five of its 10 outlets are backed up by a battery, and its compact shape—about the size of a three-ring binder—and its 6-foot cord make it relatively easy to stow under a desk or nightstand.

This UPS has the highest peak power output and run time of any model we tested, so it can run more gear for a longer stretch than anything else. Plus, its higher-quality power is compatible with even the most sensitive electronics.

The APC BR1500MS2 is the most expensive UPS we recommend for most homes or small offices, but it offers a lot of value in the extra features it includes. If you need to provide power to more (or larger) devices at your computer workstation during an outage, it can deliver up to 847 W—we had trouble finding home-office gear powerful enough to overload it in our testing. Like our top pick, it can keep the average modem and router running for up to four hours, giving you more than enough time to save your work and wait for the blackout to end. Roughly the size and shape of a small PC tower, it has 10 outlets in total, six of which it backs up with the battery, and it adds two USB ports (one USB-A and one USB-C) for charging small devices without the need for an extra power adapter. Because it has a pure sine-wave inverter, its power is as smooth as that of a standard wall outlet, making it safe and reliable for even sensitive equipment such as a CPAP machine. Lastly, its backlit screen provides helpful information such as the remaining battery life and the total wattage of the devices plugged into the unit.

This UPS lacks premium features, but it has plenty of outlets and power to keep a home Wi-Fi network up and running for up to an hour and a half when the power goes out.

If you’re on a tight budget, the Amazon Basics Standby UPS 800VA is an affordable UPS with the battery and run time of a more expensive model: It can keep a typical router and modem running for up to one and a half hours. Its maximum output is on the lower side (we measured up to 470 W in our testing), but that should be plenty of power for the six battery-backed outlets to support basics such as home Wi-Fi gear. Unlike our other picks, this less expensive model uses standby power management instead of automatic voltage regulation (AVR). That should be fine in most cases, but it’s harder on the battery, and you shouldn’t use it for sensitive AV gear or medical equipment. Plus, Amazon offers only a one-year warranty on its UPS models, in contrast to the three-year warranties that brand-name companies provide.

Integrity Standard power conditioners protect sensitive electronic equipment from hardware damage and prevent operational disruption due to common power problems.

The Integrity series combines surge diversion with a highly effective low-impedance isolation transformer and noise filtering to bring you the cleanest and most conditioned power available. This device allows fewer than 10 volts to pass through the device in normal mode and less than 0.5 volts neutral-to-ground when tested to ANSI/IEEE C62.41, category A & B.

Every NXT Power 80-480 VA “INTEGRITY” power conditioner has “NXT GROUND” integrated within each unit and combines surge diversion with a highly effective low impedance isolation transformer and noise filtering. NXT GROUND provides networked systems with benefits beyond traditional power conditioners by eliminating ground loops that cause system lock-ups.

CyberPower Smart App Online rack/tower UPS models, with double-conversion topology provide sine wave output to mission-critical applications and equipment requiring seamless power correction. These units offer generator compatibility and deliver clean AC power with zero transfer time.

CyberPower has launched a customer-inspired Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) series, the New Smart App Sinewave UPS systems. This series is the next generation of professional-grade UPS systems for corporate applications and has line-interactive topology, surge protection, and battery backup. The New Smart App Sinewave Series has sine wave output to eliminate power gaps that can be detected by sensitive equipment and cause unexpected shutdowns.

Designed with line interactive topology, CyberPower Smart App Sinewave mini-tower, rackmount, and rack/tower UPS models offer guaranteed power protection for corporate and departmental applications. They provide sine wave output, offer Active PFC power source compatibility, and correct minor power fluctuations without switching to battery, thereby extending battery life — essential in areas where power fluctuations occur frequently. Features include a multifunction LCD panel, Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), energy-saving GreenPower UPS™ design, data line protection, and management software to easily control and monitor your UPS.

Designed with line interactive topology and simulated sine wave output, CyberPower Smart App LCD rackmount and rack/tower UPS models offer guaranteed power protection for departmental servers, networking hardware, and other equipment capable of using simulated sine wave output. These models provide cost-effective, feature-rich power protection for networking, servers, and telecom equipment. They correct minor power fluctuations without switching to battery, thereby extending battery life — essential in areas where power fluctuations occur frequently. Features include a multifunction LCD panel, Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), energy-saving GreenPower UPS™ design, data line protection, and management software to easily control and monitor your UPS.

CyberPower Medical Grade UPS systems have been designed to power and protect sensitive equipment in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Each medical UPS is UL 60601-1 tested to provide standby power in patient-care settings and comes with hospital-grade plugs and hospital-grade outlets, and a built-in isolation transformer.

PFC Sinewave UPS systems from CyberPower, designed with line interactive topology, offer guaranteed power protection for individual work areas, home networking hardware and devices, entertainment electronics, department servers, networking and telecommunications hardware, and equipment (including high-end audio/visual equipment) requiring Active PFC power source compatibility. They provide sine wave output and correct minor power fluctuations without switching to battery, thereby extending battery life. Features include a multifunction LCD panel, Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), energy-saving GreenPower UPS™ design, data line protection, and management software to easily control and monitor your UPS.

Intelligent LCD UPS systems from CyberPower are designed with line interactive or standby topology and offer guaranteed power protection for desktop computers, workstations, routers, modems, gaming consoles, and home theater equipment. They provide simulated sine wave battery backup power during outages, maintain steady voltage during brownouts, and offer surge protection against over voltages and power spikes. Features include an LCD status panel, Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), energy-saving GreenPower UPS™ Design, data line protection, and management software to easily control and monitor your UPS.

CyberPower Ecologic UPS systems, designed with standby topology, offer guaranteed power protection for individual home and small office computer systems. They provide simulated sine wave battery backup power during outages, maintain steady voltage during brownouts and blackouts, and offer surge protection against over voltages and power spikes. Features include a multifunction LCD panel, ECO mode outlets, energy-saving GreenPower UPS™ design, data line protection, and management software to easily control and monitor your UPS.

AVR UPS systems from CyberPower, designed with line interactive topology, offer guaranteed power protection for desktop computers, workstations, personal electronics, and home networking/VoIP. They provide simulated sine wave battery backup power during outages, maintain steady voltage during brownouts, and offer surge protection against over voltages and power spikes. Features include Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), energy-saving GreenPower UPS™ design, data line protection, and management software to easily control and monitor your UPS.

Standby UPS systems from CyberPower, designed with standby topology, offer guaranteed power protection for desktop computers, workstations, personal electronics, and home networking/VoIP. They provide simulated sine wave battery backup power during outages, maintain steady voltage during brownouts and blackouts, and offer surge protection against over voltages and power spikes. Features include energy-saving GreenPower UPS™ design, data line protection, and management software to easily control and monitor your UPS.

CyberPower designs and manufactures a complete line of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to meet the full spectrum of power protection needs from enterprise applications to home office and entertainment systems. Award-winning Backup UPS is ideal for small business and home applications. Safeguard your irreplaceable data and equipment with easy-to-use battery backup from CyberPower.

Optimize the operation of Smart App UPS systems with our CyberPower Hardware products. Our Remote Management Cards (RMCARDs) provide remote management and configuration of a compatible UPS via a standard Web browser or network management system. Our environmental sensor, (ENVIROSENSOR) monitors the status of four connected devices, such as door alarms and security switches. When used with select RMCARDs, the sensor also provides real-time temperature and humidity readings of a datacenter, IT closet, or other critical environment.

CyberPower UPS Replacement Battery Cartridges restore life to CyberPower UPS systems that have weak or completely depleted internal batteries. Our replacement battery cartridges contain from one to four leak-proof, sealed lead-acid batteries, which meet or exceed original manufacturer specifications and never require replacement fluid. The pre-assembled cartridge installs easily in your CyberPower UPS system and is shipped with reusable packaging for delivering expired batteries to a suitable recycling center. All CyberPower replacement battery cartridges come with instructions, recycling information, and an eighteen-month warranty.

Extended Battery Modules (EBMs) from CyberPower, for select Smart App UPS models, ensure extended battery runtimes during power outages. Each rack/tower convertible EBM takes up 2U or 3U of rack space, depending upon the model, and can be installed in a tower form factor to match the UPS. The DC plug-and-play power connectors allow for daisy-chaining additional EBMs to an UPS system. The EBMs compatible with Smart App Online UPSes also have a built-in battery charger, providing Fast Charge Technology to quickly restore the backup power supply to full capacity Every CyberPower EBM has a three-year warranty.

CyberPower Gov/Ed/TAA UPS systems and related products comply with standards set by the U.S. Trade Agreement Act (TAA). These TAA products optimize energy efficiency and are listed on the GSA Schedule Contract for approved use in government installations.

Make sure you"re getting the most out of your home theater equipment with the MAX 5400-PM from Panamax. Voltage Regulation Improve system performance and prolong equipment life by providing a consistent level of optimal power to your equipment. Improves Picture and Sound Quality Level 4+ power cleaning and filtration eliminates common symptoms of contaminated power (including loss of detail, pops, hisses, hums and visual artifacts) and allows you`re a/V equipment to perform up to its full capability. Monitors Incoming Line Voltage and Provides a Visual Indication of Power Level Panamax"s patent pending AVM circuitry continuosly monitors the incoming power as displayed on the digital voltmeter. In case of an undervoltage or an overvoltage, a flashing lightning bolt will be displayed in red in the voltmeter, and power to the connected equipment is automatically turned off if either of these conditions is detected. When voltage returns to a safe level, power to the equipment is automatically reconnected. Reduces Cross-Contamination Between Components The M5400-PM is designed to provide noise isolation between 5 isolated outlet banks (including 1 bank with 2 high current outlets) so that any noise created by an A/V component cannot contaminate the power going to equipment plugged into another outlet bank.

Level 4+ Power Cleaning and Linear Filtration eliminates common symptoms of contaminated power (including loss of detail, pops, hisses, hums and visual artifacts) and allows your A/V equipment to perform up to its full capability. Panamax"s patent pending AVM circuitry continuously monitors the incoming power as displayed on the digital voltmeter. In case of an undervoltage or an overvoltage, a flashing lightning bolt will be displayed in red in the voltmeter, and power to the connected equipment is automatically turned off if either of these conditions is detected. When voltage returns to a safe level, power to the equipment is automatically reconnected.

The M5400-PM is designed to provide noise isolation between 5 isolated outlet banks including 2 high current outlets so that any noise created by an A/V component can not contaminate the power going to equipment plugged into another outlet bank.

Improve Your Picture and Sound Quality While Protecting Your Home Theater InvestmentAll the features you need to keep your system running clean and safe

Voltage RegulationRegulates the output voltage on Banks 1-4 to 120 VAC ± 5 VAC. This is accomplished through two boost stages and one buck stage of voltage regulation. In Boost Stage 1 the voltage is boosted in the 109-119V range, while Boost Stage 2 boosts the voltage in the 100-109V range. The Buck Stage acts to reduce voltage in the 125-136V range. LiFT Technology EMI/RFI Noise Filtration : Your audio/video components are constantly being bombarded by electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) through their AC power source. This contaminated power can affect audio/video equipment and will degrade the overall performance of your entire system. Common symptoms of contaminated power include loss of picture detail, dull colors, pops, hisses, hums and visual artifacts.Automatic Over and Under Voltage Protection (AVM)Panamax"s patent pending power monitoring circuitry constantly monitors the AC line voltage for unsafe voltage conditions such as momentary spikes or prolonged over-voltages and under-voltages (brownouts). These unsafe conditions pose a very dangerous threat to all electronic equipment within the home. If the MAX 5400-PM senses an unsafe power condition, it will automatically disconnect your equipment from the power to protect equipment from damage.Once the voltage returns to a safe level, the M5400-PM will automatically reconnect the power. When subjected to a 6,000V (open circuit voltage) / 500A (short circuit current) surge, the M5400-PM limits its voltage output to less than 330V peak, UL"s best rating. If the magnitude of the surge is greater than the capacity of the surge protection components, the M5400-PM"s Protect or Disconnect Circuitry will disconnect your equipment in order to protect it. The M5400-PM will need to be repaired or replaced by Panamax if this occurs within the product’s 3 year warranty.Five Isolated Outlet BanksThe M5400-PM is designed to provide noise isolation between the outlet banks so that any noise created by A/V components plugged into the M5400-PM cannot contaminate the power going to equipment plugged into the other outlet banks of the M5400-PM.Sequential Startup/ShutdownComplex audio/video systems may be susceptible to voltage transients generated internally at start-up/shutdown if all of the equipment is powered on or off at the same time. This can cause speaker "thumps" which are not only annoying but can also damage the speakers and/or trip product circuit breakers. The M5400-PM is designed to eliminate these transients by providing a "start-up" delay for the High-Current outlets and a "shutdown" delay for the Switched Outlet Banks. This minimizes in-rush current issues by allowing the components plugged into the Switched Outlet Banks to power-up and stabilize before any amplifiers and powered sub-woofers are turned on. This sequence is reversed during shutdown. The amplifiers and powered subwoofers turn off, their power supplies drain, and then the equipment plugged into the Switched Outlet Banks are turned off.USB Charger, LAN, and Gaming PortsThe M5400-PM features a front panel convenience charger for mp3 players, cell phones, video game controllers, and other small electronics. (NOTE: Some devices may not be compatible with this USB charger.) Add to this an easy-to-access LAN port pass-thru from the rear panel to the front panel for online gaming and a convenience outlet located on the front panel, perfect for gaming systems and other electronics.Find out more about the M5400Voltage Sense TriggerThe M5400-PM voltage sense trigger input uses a standard 3.5mm (1/8") mini-mono plug. This feature provides an ON/OFF trigger for the M5400-PM using a Direct Current voltage signal. Many components such as pre-amplifiers and receivers have a DC trigger built in, and will transmit a constant power signal when turned on and in use. The presence of this power signal will turn on the M5400- PM"s switched outlets. When the source component is turned off, the voltage trigger signal is also turned off and the M5400-PM"s shutdown sequence is initiated. An AC Adapter of the appropriate voltage plugged into a switched outlet may also be used if a DC trigger is not built in.Protection for Cable/Satellite/Antenna as Well as LAN and Telephone LinesCoaxial protection circuits achieve optimum signal quality from our new coaxial protectors that have the smallest signal loss on the market - less than 0.5 db of attenuation from 0 MHz to 2.2 GHz. Our upgraded coaxial protection has been specifically designed to virtually eliminate signal loss. The clamping level of 75V will meet the demands of both cable and satellite voltage while minimizing exposure to damaging spikes and surges.

Digital video recorders and satellite TV receivers require a telephone line connection for TV show scheduling and/or Pay-Per-View services. The M5400-PM also provides surge protection for this line. One pair of RJ-11 telephone jacks is provided for this. The circuitry utilizes auto-resetting PTCRs and solidstate SIDACtors for reliability and unsurpassed protection. The clamping level of the M5400- PM"s telephone protector is 260 volts. This will allow typical ring voltage (90-130VAC) and operating battery voltage (-48DC) to pass through the circuit and still protect the modem in your satellite receiver from damage.

Protection circuits for 10/100 baseT Ethernet lines. Incoming LAN line MUST be plugged into the LINE jack. Patch cord to the equipment MUST be plugged into the EQUIP jacks. 1 LAN jack goes to the front panel output jack. 8 wire protection, 52V clamping.The M5400 provides reliable power protection for mid-sized home theater systems

The Panamax Family of Power Management Solutions for Home Theater ApplicationsSurge Protection & AVMVoltage RegulationHome Theater ApplicationsLinear FiltrationIsolated Outlet BanksTotal OutletsHow this benefits your home theater system:Protects equipment against momentary spikes and prolonged over/under voltages by disconnecting the power and reconnecting it when safe power returns Improves system performance and extends equipment life by providing a consistent level of optimal power to your equipment Just a few examples of electronic equipment pieces that need power management protection Improves Picture and Sound. Provides concert-quality sound and theater quality video Isolating outlet banks from one another prevents noise contamination between components Each model offers a mix of always-on, switched, and high-current outlets to meet the needs of every systemM7500-PROIncluded (The Ultimate)*

*with regulation Included 50” and above TV screen size, Media Servers, Home Automation Systems, Audio/Video Receivers (AVR), Amplifiers, DVD players, Video Game Consoles, Powered Speakers, Subwoofers EMI/RFI Banks 1 - 4 100 db, 100 KHz – 2 MHz

*with regulation Included 50” and above TV screen size, Media Servers, Home Automation Systems, Audio/Video Receivers (AVR), Amplifiers, DVD players, Video Game Consoles, Powered Speakers, Subwoofers EMI/RFI Banks 1-4: 80db, 100KHz, -2MHz

Bank 5 (Hi Current): 60db, 100KHz -2MHz 5 11M5300-PMIncluded (Best) Not included 50” and above TV screen size, Receivers, Amplifiers, DVD players, Video Game Consoles, Powered Speakers, Subwoofers EMI/RFI Banks 1-4: 80db, 100KHz, -2MHz

Bank 5 (Hi Current): 60db, 100KHz, -2MHz 5 11M5100-PMIncluded (Better) Not included 19" and above TV screen size, Receivers, DVD players, Video Game Consoles, Powered Speakers, Subwoofers EMI/RFI Banks 1-2: 80db, 100KHz, -2MHz

Bank 3 (Hi Current): 60db, 100KHz, -2MHz 3 11M4300-PMIncluded (Good) Not included 19" and above TV screen size, Receivers, DVD players, Video Game Consoles, Powered Speakers, Subwoofers EMI/RFI Bank 1: 60db, 100KHz, -2MHz

What"s in the Box(1) M5400-PM Power Management Component (1) Coaxial cable, 36 inches (1) Telephone Cable, 48 inches (1) LAN cable (CAT-5), 48 inches (1) Rack mount kit

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Modern flat screen TV"s have a known problem with capacitors going bad. If your LCD or LED TV won"t turn on, or makes repeated clicking sounds, there is a very good chance that you can save hundreds of dollars doing this simple repair yourself.

I know, I know. You"re thinking, "Tinker inside my LCD HDTV. Are you crazy?" No, I"m not crazy. This is a repair almost anyone can do and this fix will work for any TV.

You sit down and get comfortable, ready to watch your favorite TV show or movie. You turn on your TV and...nothing! Unsure if you hit the power button, you try again...again, nothing! But you do notice a clicking sound emanating from your TV.

HDTV"s aren"t cheap. Most of us have to save, or at least be prepared to spend $800-$1000 on new one. Heck, I"m sure many of you don"t savor the idea of spending a few hundred on repairs.

I have good news. This repair is actually quite simple, and with only a few basic tools and about 20 bucks, you can have your TV working in less than an hour.

If you need a soldering iron, that no problem. They are cheap and easy to use. I highly recommend this 60 Watts Soldering Iron Kit. It"s less than 20 bucks. If your looking for the lowest price possible, this 60W soldering iron with stand is about $8 (shipped prime) and will work fine.

After unplugging everything on the TV, you will need to remove the stand. If your TV was wall mounted you will need to remove the TV from the wall, and remove the mounting bracket from the back of the TV.

The TV sits on top and inside the stand, so it wont just flop over when you remove the stand screws, but it"s always safer to have a friend hold the TV upright as you remove the screws from the stand. Then each of you grab a side and carefully lay it flat on a carpeted surface.

Above is a a picture of the back side of a typical TV. The left picture is my LG 42LN5300 and the right picture is my Samsung LN46A550, but all TVs are similar. Remove all of the screws along the outer edge of the back casing. There can be anywhere from 10 - 16 of these screws.

There will also be screws within any area where the are power or cord plugins. You can see these in the lower middle of the pictures. (highlighted with the red rectangle on my Samsung)

Then identify the "power board". Every TV is a little different, but the power board will have can shaped capacitors and is the board that the main power from the plug goes to first. On this Samsung TV I put a green rectangle around the power board that we will be working on..

Remove all of the wiring harnesses from the circuit board. A simple tug on the connector clip (not the wiring) should be sufficient to remove them. On this particular Samsung board there are 7 different harnesses.

Remove the screws holding the power board to the TV chassis. Most boards will have 6 screws holding them down, as does the one shown in the picture. But look it over there could be more or less.

This TV repair focuses on the small "can shaped" Aluminum ElectrolyticCapacitors.These capacitors come in many colors and sizes but are easy to find on any power board. Not only are these the most likely cause of your problem, but bad ones are simple to find and simple to replace. In most instances you will be able to visually identify the bad capacitors. You don"t need any special skills in electronics or testing.

When a Capacitor fails, the chemical reaction inside the capacitor can produce hydrogen gas, so capacitors have vents cut into the tops of their aluminum cans. These are intended to break and release the gas that has built up inside the capacitor. So, a capacitor which has failed can show bulging at the top..

Another sign of a failed capacitor is leaking fluid (electrolyte). This can be an orange or brownish discharge from either the top or bottom of the capacitor. Usually, with leaking the capacitor will also be bulging. But a capacitor can bulge but not leak.

Capacitors do not always show visible signs of failure. But, if you see either of the 2 signs above on your board, you can be confident that you"re close to fixing your TV. If you don"t see these signs of failure, but your TV had the tell-tail clicking sound, you still can be fairly certain the steps below will fix your TV.

On power board pictured above, I have indicated which capacitors you should be examining for signs of failure. These Capacitors are Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors, and are the most likely cause of your problem. The capacitors with the green arrows are the most likely candidates for being bad, but the blue arrow are other capacitors to examine.

Warning: Do not bother with the large capacitors (2 or 3 will be on every board). These are high voltage, rarely fail and for safety require a little more expertise to work on.

The pictures above are actual closeups of my TV"s board. Notice how the blue capacitors in the foreground are bulging. These are the capacitors I will replace. All other capacitors look OK. If you can find replacements for all 4 of these capacitors, and any others that show visual signs of going bad, I recommend replacing them all while your in here.

Capacitors have polarity. What this means is, like a battery, they have a positive (+) and a negative (-) side. Before removing any capacitor, note which side the white stripe of the capacitor is facing. You will need to put in the new capacitor in the same direction. You probably noted on my pictures that I actually made a note on the aluminum heat sink with a pen.

Now that you"ve identified the capacitors that look bad, turn the board over and carefully identify exactly which points on the board are the wire leads from the these capacitors.

Circle them with a "sharpie" type pen to keep track. Grab your friend and have them help you on this next step. Balancing the circuit board on its side while using a hot soldering iron and pliers can be a bit tricky.

With the circuit board on its edge, have your friend grab one of the capacitors with the pliers and apply a very gentle pulling pressure. Apply the tip of the soldering iron to one lead on the back side of the board and hold it there until you see the solder melt. Now switch to the other lead until it melts. Keep going back and forth on the leads. Each time the solder will melt faster. After going back and forth a couple times the capacitor will easily come out.

Ideally you should match the uF and the temperature rating exactly. But it is acceptable to use a capacitor rated higher uF if it is within 20% of the original.

Place your soldering iron and solder on lead until the heat melts the solder. Once solder melts onto the lead, apply the iron on the lead and solder a few times to melt the solder cleanly on the lead. If you have solder flux, the solder will make a clean connection.

Hi, I have a tv that stopped working in the 5 minutes I left the room. I"ve opened it, and from my tests I know these details: 1, the psu is fine, 2, the leds and their drivers are fine, but the logic board doesn"t signal the psu to turn on,(I had to signal it myself to test if it is ok) and it doesn"t signal the led drivers. I checked the regulators and they output correctly. What else can I check?0

So I took my tv apart and I think I found the problem can you please verify for me? Pictures attached. I think one of the big CAPACITOR is bad and leaking on the bottom of the board is brown.

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) offers a simple solution: it’s a battery in a box with enough capacity to run devices plugged in via its AC outlets for minutes to hours, depending on your needs and the mix of hardware. This might let you keep internet service active during an extended power outage, give you the five minutes necessary for your desktop computer with a hard drive to perform an automatic shutdown and avoid lost work (or in a worst case scenario, running disk repair software).

In terms of entertainment, it could give you enough time to save your game after a blackout or—perhaps more importantly—give notice to others in a team-based multiplayer game that you need to exit, so you’re not assessed an early-quit penalty.

A UPS also doubles as a surge protector and aids your equipment and uptime by buoying temporary sags in voltage and other vagaries of electrical power networks, some of which have the potential to damage computer power supplies. For from about $80 to $200 for most systems, a UPS can provide a remarkable amount of peace of mind coupled with additional uptime and less loss.

UPSes aren’t new. They date back decades. But the cost has never been lower and the profusion of options never larger. In this introduction, I help you understand what a UPS can offer, sort out your needs, and make preliminary recommendations for purchase. Later this year, TechHive will offer reviews of UPS models appropriate for home and small offices from which you can make informed choices.

The UPS emerged in an era when electronics were fragile and drives were easily thrown off kilter. They were designed to provide continuous—or “uninterruptible”—power to prevent a host of a problems. They were first found in server racks and used with network equipment until the price and format dropped to make them usable with home and small-office equipment.

Any device you owned that suddenly lost power and had a hard disk inside it might wind up with a corrupted directory or even physical damage from a drive head smashing into another part of the mechanism. Other equipment that loaded its firmware off chips and ran using volatile storage could also wind up losing valuable caches of information and require some time to re-assemble it.

Hard drives evolved to better manage power failures (and acceleration in laptops), and all portable devices and most new computers moved to movement-free solid state drives (SSDs) that don’t have internal spindles and read/write heads. Embedded devices—from modems and routers to smart devices and DVRs—became more resilient and faster at booting. Most devices sold today have an SSD or flash memory or cards.

It’s still possible if your battery-free desktop computer suddenly loses power that it may be left in a state that leaves a document corrupted, loses a spreadsheet’s latest state, or happens at such an inopportune moment you must recover your drive or reinstall the operating system. Avoiding those possibilities, especially if you regularly encounter minor power issues at home, can save you at least the time of re-creating lost work and potentially the cost of drive-rebuilding software, even if your hardware remains intact.

A more common problem can arise from networking equipment that has modest power requirements. Losing power means losing access to the internet, even when your cable, DSL, or fiber line remains powered or active from the ISP’s physical plant or a neighborhood interconnection point, rather than a transformer on your building or block. A UPS can keep your network up and running while the power company restores the juice, even if that takes hours.

When power cuts out, the UPS’s battery kicks in. It delivers expected amounts over all connected devices until the battery’s power is exhausted. A modern UPS can also signal to a computer a number of factors, including remaining time or trigger a shutdown through built-in software (as with Energy Saver in macOS) or installed software.

One of the key differentiators among UPSes intended for homes and individual devices in an office is battery capacity. You can buy units across a huge range of battery sizes, and the higher-capacity the battery, the longer runtime you will get or more equipment you can support with a single UPS. In some cases, it may make sense to purchase two or more UPSes to cover all the necessary equipment you have, each matched to the right capacity.

Batteries do need to be replaced, although it can be after a very long period. A UPS typically has a light or will use a sound to indicate a battery that needs to be replaced, and it might indicate this via software running on the computer to which it’s connected.

UPSes for consumer and small-business purposes come in standby and line interactive versions. Standby units keep their battery ready for on-demand, automatic use, but it’s otherwise on standby, as its name indicates. A line interactive version feeds power through an inverter from the wall to connected devices while also charging the battery. It can condition power, smoothing out highs and lows, and switch over to the battery within a few milliseconds. (Other flavors are much more expensive or intended for critical systems and higher power consumption.)

A few years ago, the price differential was high enough that you had to really balance the need for particular features against cost. Now, you may want to opt for a line interaction UPS because of its advantages, which include less wear and tear of the battery, extending its lifetime. Batteries are relatively expensive to replace, at a good fraction of the original item’s purchase price, so keeping them in fit condition longer reduces your overall cost of ownership.

Surges: Utilities sometimes have brief jumps in electrical power, which can affect electronics, sometimes burning out a power supply or frying the entire device. Surge protection effectively shaves off voltage above a certain safe range.

Sags: Your home or office can have a momentary voltage sag when something with a big motor kicks on, like a clothes dryer or a heat pump—sometimes even in an adjacent apartment, house, or building.

Undervoltage (“brownouts”): In some cases with high electrical usage across an area, a utility might reduce voltage for an extended period to avoid a total blackout. This can mess with motor-driven industrial and home equipment—many appliances have motors, often driving a compressor, as in a refrigerator or freezer. With electronics, extended undervoltage has the potential damage some power supplies.

A standby model typically relies on dealing with excess voltage by having inline metal-oxide varistors (MOVs), just as in standalone surge protectors. These MOVs shift power to ground, but eventually burn out after extensive use. At that point, all the UPS models I checked stop passing power through. (That’s as opposed to most surge protectors, which extinguish a “protected” LED on their front, but continue to pass power.)

For power sags and undervoltage, a standby model will tap the battery. If it happens frequently or in quick succession, your UPS might not be up to the task and provide enough delay that a desktop system or hard drive loses power long enough to halt its operating system or crash.

A line interactive UPS continuously feeds power through a conditioner that charges the battery and regulates power. This automatic voltage regulation, known as AVR, can convert voltage as needed to provide clean power to attached outlets without relying on the battery. With a line interactive model, the battery is used only as a last resort.

There’s one final power characteristic of a UPS that can be found in both standby and line interactive models: the smoothness of the alternating current generation produced by the model from the direct current output by its battery. Alternating current reverses its power flow smoothly 60 times each second, and a UPS must simulate that flow, which can be represented as an undulating sine wave.

A UPS might produce a pure sine wave, which adds to cost, or a stairstepped one, in which power shifts more abruptly up and down as it alternates. A rough simulated sine wave can be a showstopper for certain kinds of computer power supplies, which have components that interact poorly with the voltage changes. It could cause premature wear on components or cause them to outright shut down or cause additional damage.

If your device has active power factor correction (PFC) or incorporates fragile or sensitive electronics, especially for audio recording, you likely need a pure sine wave. It’s not always easy to figure out if your device has active PFC; when in doubt, opt for a pure sine wave—the additional cost has come way down.

Even for equipment that isn’t susceptible to power-supply problems, a stepped sine wave can cause a power supply to emit a high-pitched whine when it’s on battery power.

One final UPS feature that may also be helpful: less-expensive models have one or more LEDs to indicate certain status elements, like working from backup power or the internal battery needing to be replaced. Others have an LCD screen (sometimes backlit) that provides a variety of information, sometimes an excessive amount, which may be viewable through software installed on a connected computer.

Most of us have two main scenarios to plan for: keep the network up, and prevent our AC-powered computers from abruptly shutting down. These involve very different choices in hardware and configuration.

One common element between both, however: having enough outlets spaced correctly to plug all your items directly in. Most UPSes feature both battery-backed outlets and surge-protected outlets that aren’t wired into the battery. You need to study quantity and position, as it is strongly recommended you don’t plug a power strip or other extensions into either kind of UPS outlet, as it increases the risk of electrical fire.

Examine all the devices that make up your network. That may include a broadband modem, a VoIP adapter