All Articles Tagged Power Protection

Robert Archer | 07/27 06:54 AM, 0 Comments

In any line of work, there are common terms you should know. Whether you've been working in power conditioning for years or are just starting to dabble in the field, we've rounded up the terms the experts should know. Thanks to SurgeX for providing the glossary. 1. Alternating Current (AC) - Electric current that reverses direction periodically, usually many times per second. Used for power distribution because the AC voltage can easily be changed by a transformer. 2. Ampere (Amp) - The practical meter-kilogram-second unit of electric current that is… View this story

CE Pro Editors | 07/20 06:09 AM, 5 Comments

Even the most crammed equipment racks can be rigged to minimize energy consumption. In the case of this Rhode Island home, a Control4 automation system manages much of the power usage in this multirack setup. Most of the devices in the rack are plugged into power strips and connected to a couple of Control4 appliance modules. At night, the modules shut off the connected gear. But some devices should never be powered down. Central control system: Although thermostats, security and other subsystems can operate without the controller, you’ll want to… View this story

CE Pro Editors | 07/20 06:09 AM, 0 Comments

A power conditioner can help eliminate interference on a power line and protect electronic equipment from harmful surges or voltage spikes. But what else can it do? David Haddad of Chicago-based Vidacom suggests how to shop for some powerful bells and whistles. 1. If the power conditioner has controllable outlets, can every outlet be controlled individually? Or are certain banks of outlets controllable? The former allows for more flexibility because power can be killed or reset on an outlet-by-outlet basis. 2. Does the unit have a built-in web server for… View this story

Robert Archer | 07/20 06:09 AM, 1 Comment

Installers know one product doesn't make or break a system, that it's the sum of the parts that really counts. Installers also know that power protection is one of the critical aspects of a system. An investment in electronics is reliant upon a clean supply of surge-free electricity. A quality power conditioner allows any system to perform to its potential and meet its life expectancy. We've taken a closer look at some of the latest power conditioners on the market. If there's a power conditioner you prefer to use with… View this story

Steven Castle | 07/20 06:09 AM, 0 Comments

Vampire power is the phenomenon that occurs when home electronics or appliances continue to consume power - even when they're "off." This is caused by ghostly apparitions, pixies and blood-sucking ghouls who perpetrate this when we leave our electronics alone or go to sleep. Just kidding. Standby, phantom, or vampire power is caused by digital clocks, LED lights, remote control sensors and other circuits in electronics that remain active when the device is shut "off." According to a recent report by McKinsey Global, "Standby power consumes an estimated 6 percent… View this story

Robert Archer | 07/20 06:08 AM, 0 Comments

For a long time, battery-powered backup systems were commonplace in the information technology (IT) field, but recently the concept of battery backup has made its way into the world of residential A/V. Driven by traditional A/V's convergence with computer-based technologies like hard drives, Ethernet, microprocessors and flash memory, the arrival of battery backup couldn't have come at a better time for installers and clients that have made substantial investments into state-of-the-art electronics. Now with DVRs, Apple TV, A/V receivers and other components that employ computer technologies commonplace in today's home… View this story

Tom LeBlanc | 06/18 07:33 AM, 0 Comments

Technically, SurgeX and Chief Manufacturing announced their strategic partnership during InfoComm 2010 in Las Vegas, but they clearly put their heads together beforehand. During the event, SurgeX talked about a bundled solution combining Chief’s line of Raxxess racks protected with SurgeX technology. Plus, two new rear mounted racks to free up space have been co-developed and one was on display in SurgeX’s booth. Shannon Townley, SurgeX’s senior VP of sales demonstrated the solution, showing how the rack’s rear door has integrated power outlets to preserve component space. Statement from Townley… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 06/08 07:07 AM, 1 Comment

Ever since the Electronic House Expo in March, Innovolt has been on fire. The manufacturer of power protection products had a large booth at the show, but EHX was more about product than personality. Attendees may well remember Innovolt for its sponsorship of the CE Pro All Star band and its giveaway of a custom Fender guitar. But what else should we know about the company? VP of sales Walter Crowder answers some of our questions here, but if you want more, be sure to visit Innovolt’s booth during CE… View this story

Jessica Camerato | 05/26 08:51 AM, 1 Comment

It happens all the time. Turn on an appliance and see the lights dim. It may last just a second, but it is in that instant that an entire home system could be disrupted. "There are power anomalies that are seldom protected against that make up for 99 percent of all power disturbances," explains Michael Maziar, sales and operations at Innovolt. "When you plug in a hair dryer, it dims the lights a little bit. Even if it's just in a flash, that can cause a current inrush to zap… View this story

Walter Crowder | 03/31 06:44 AM, 1 Comment

There are many varieties of "power" products: surge suppressors, power conditioners, power stabilizers, power managers and more. Alone, very few of these provide the comprehensive protection your customer really needs. According to Innovolt's Dr. Deepak Divan, an authority on power grid technology, most surge suppression devices merely protect against the rare voltage surges caused by lightning strikes, which account for less than 1 percent of the occurrences that plague the grid. Innovolt has defined five major power grid disturbances that are known to take down A/V components. Knowing how to… View this story