AC fluctuation

[blu-bee]

Hey all- after having read many threads on this and other forums I opted to return the craptastic Monster surge protector I initially purchased (it literally failed when I plugged it in for the first time, right out of the box, there's $90.00 well spent) and got a Panamax 4300 instead. I know we have our share of brown / blackouts here and I wanted to make sure we were protected.

Anyway, my question relates to AC fluctuation and I'm wondering what everyone's experience has been with these units. Since I installed the 4300 a couple of days ago, I've been watching the incoming voltage fluctuate anywhere between 116 ~ 123 VAC (the high side being late at night and the low being mid-day, I'm assuming this is due to power consumption on the local grid at those hours).

What's your experience been with power in your area? Is what I'm seeing normal?

BTW, we're in a relatively built up city, not a rural area.

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by blu-bee

Hey all- after having read many threads on this and other forums I opted to return the craptastic Monster surge protector I initially purchased (it literally failed when I plugged it in for the first time, right out of the box, there's $90.00 well spent) and got a Panamax 4300 instead. I know we have our share of brown / blackouts here and I wanted to make sure we were protected.

Anyway, my question relates to AC fluctuation and I'm wondering what everyone's experience has been with these units. Since I installed the 4300 a couple of days ago, I've been watching the incoming voltage fluctuate anywhere between 116 ~ 123 VAC (the high side being late at night and the low being mid-day, I'm assuming this is due to power consumption on the local grid at those hours).

What's your experience been with power in your area? Is what I'm seeing normal?

BTW, we're in a relatively built up city, not a rural area.

Hey there, i have a Panamax 5300. Mine is typically at 120V's but has strayed from 119 to 121V's. Not too bad i dont think but yours sounds like more of a jump around...

[slaizer2000]

My monster seems to fluctuate between 119-122 volts periodically. But i live in and older building. I also seem to see ti drop the most when my window air conditioner kicks in as it draws lots of power. I think this is normal as most devices don't need exactly 120v and will allow for some tolerance although i think this varies from device to device as well.

[Johk]

Originally Posted by blu-bee

Hey all- after having read many threads on this and other forums I opted to return the craptastic Monster surge protector I initially purchased (it literally failed when I plugged it in for the first time, right out of the box, there's $90.00 well spent) and got a Panamax 4300 instead. I know we have our share of brown / blackouts here and I wanted to make sure we were protected.

Anyway, my question relates to AC fluctuation and I'm wondering what everyone's experience has been with these units. Since I installed the 4300 a couple of days ago, I've been watching the incoming voltage fluctuate anywhere between 116 ~ 123 VAC (the high side being late at night and the low being mid-day, I'm assuming this is due to power consumption on the local grid at those hours).

What's your experience been with power in your area? Is what I'm seeing normal?

BTW, we're in a relatively built up city, not a rural area.

The power in my area is stable...

In your case, I think you would benefit from voltage regulation... A power conditioner with voltage regulation will maintain the power to your components constant.

Units like the APC H10, APC H15, Panamax 5400, Furman SPR-20i, etc have that feature...

By the way, the APC H15 is selling at 170$ here (normally at 450$).

Check out the Power conditioner thread...

[DiverSpear]

Originally Posted by blu-bee

Hey all- after having read many threads on this and other forums I opted to return the craptastic Monster surge protector I initially purchased (it literally failed when I plugged it in for the first time, right out of the box, there's $90.00 well spent) and got a Panamax 4300 instead. I know we have our share of brown / blackouts here and I wanted to make sure we were protected.

Anyway, my question relates to AC fluctuation and I'm wondering what everyone's experience has been with these units. Since I installed the 4300 a couple of days ago, I've been watching the incoming voltage fluctuate anywhere between 116 ~ 123 VAC (the high side being late at night and the low being mid-day, I'm assuming this is due to power consumption on the local grid at those hours).

What's your experience been with power in your area? Is what I'm seeing normal?

BTW, we're in a relatively built up city, not a rural area.

It is the grid. A voltage regulator would be the way to go.

[blu-bee]

Thanks all for your input; Johk, that figures, because I was looking at that APC H15 on the other 'power conditioner' thread the other day and was so close to purchasing that unit. Do'h! I've used a high end APC UPS at work for years for my PC, I should have known. I guess I'll stick with the Panamax for the time being and see what happens, I'm already vested in that unit and let's face it, it looks cool on my component stack.

[4Dblu]

Originally Posted by blu-bee

Hey all- after having read many threads on this and other forums I opted to return the craptastic Monster surge protector I initially purchased (it literally failed when I plugged it in for the first time, right out of the box, there's $90.00 well spent) and got a Panamax 4300 instead. I know we have our share of brown / blackouts here and I wanted to make sure we were protected.

Anyway, my question relates to AC fluctuation and I'm wondering what everyone's experience has been with these units. Since I installed the 4300 a couple of days ago, I've been watching the incoming voltage fluctuate anywhere between 116 ~ 123 VAC (the high side being late at night and the low being mid-day, I'm assuming this is due to power consumption on the local grid at those hours).

What's your experience been with power in your area? Is what I'm seeing normal?

BTW, we're in a relatively built up city, not a rural area.

i have both furman & monster conditioners for a few years now and i have yet to have a problem with either. jus because u buy a product and it doesn't work when u hook it up does not mean it's crap. its jus the one item u brought take it back and get a replacement. its funny how alot of people on these forums talk bad about monster conditioners how they r junk. but if u go over to the "hometheater pics" forum. all those hi-line and super hi-line theater systems have monster conditioners on their racks. so it must b something good about them or these rich guys with their $50k to $100k systems wouldn't b buying them.....

by the way my voltage stays between 120 to as high as 125 i saw that one time and was like damn thats a lot of power coming in...

[blu-bee]

4Dblu> It wasn't a conditioner, it was one of those grey surge protectors. You're right, just because this one failed doesn't mean all Monster products are overpriced junk.... but it doesn't help. Seriously, I had evaluated several products and almost bought an APC or a Monster conditioner before I got the 4300.

BTW, over the last day it's been right at 120 or 121, so it could have been a fluke. Everything plugged into it is working flawlessly so I can't complain either way.

[4Dblu]

Originally Posted by blu-bee

4Dblu> It wasn't a conditioner, it was one of those grey surge protectors. You're right, just because this one failed doesn't mean all Monster products are overpriced junk.... but it doesn't help. Seriously, I had evaluated several products and almost bought an APC or a Monster conditioner before I got the 4300.

BTW, over the last day it's been right at 120 or 121, so it could have been a fluke. Everything plugged into it is working flawlessly so I can't complain either way.

cool, no harm, no foul...