H15 a good choice, even though......?

[Anonymous user]

Hi all,

My monster power HTS 2500mkII kicked the bucket recently and I am in need of a new unit. I will not be returning to Monster Power this time. I was about to push the button on a panamax unit, when I came across the APC series of AV protectors. The H15 is appealing to me BUT......I have 2 rather large amplifiers (an Aragon 4004mkII and a Hafler XL-600) I have heard of people having issues with the voltage regulation when using certain power amplifiers. I don't think the rest of my gear would present any problems, but the amps worry me. I don't want THEM damaged, and don't want to damage the APC, either.

Anyone have any experience with this? Would I be better off with a different model?

Thanks for any information/responses!

[Anonymous user]

"Let's say the amplifiers turn on, and one or both fools the H10/H15 into thinking it's a voltage sag....causing the AVR to kick in and raise the voltage...in the meantime the amps have returned to normal...could the excess voltage the H10/15 puts out potentially harm the amps or other equipment, which are now getting more voltage than they need?"

I have the same concern as Tull1996. I have been using the H10 for about a year. I often see the AVR kicks in while my DENON receiver is turning on, and then the AVR goes off as soon as the receiver is on. I thought it happens because the DENON demands too much current, and the AVR just does it job to supply more current. However, recently, the power outlets in my living room have complettly broken. It makes me to really wonder whether or not the damage was caused by the H15 or the electrical circuit in my house.
Any suggestion about what I can do to prevent the AVR to kick in while the receiver is turning on? I dont think it turns on because the voltage is low. Sometime, I turn on the receiver even while other appliances that are connected to the H15 are currently on and drawing currents, and the AVR feature would still not be activated.
Thank you very much.

Message was edited by: thientai

[BillP]

you can try to adjust the AVR range. the unit should not be boosting/trimming the voltage to unacceptable levels for the attached equipment. if the unit allowed that, certainly things would become damaged if they were supplied extra voltage.

are you able to see what the input/output voltage is when this happens?

[BillP]

we'd have to check the specs on those amps but the inrush current problem would really be related to the thermal ratings of the breakers since this device, the H15, is a surge protector with AVR in general terms.

the only thing i can see happening is if the current is SO much that it causes a brownout/sag on the line, then the AVR may kick in but that is about it.

i dont see why this unit wouldnt be able to handle it. it also has delayed outlets so that everything doesnt turn on at the same time.

do you definitely just want AVR and surge protection or are you interested in a UPS as well? our AV UPSs, cause they have inverters, are very beefy and can handle in rushes up to 250% for a couple of seconds on certain models.

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure what specs would be valuable to you concerning the amps, but the Aragon puts out 200wpc into 8ohms, and the Hafler puts out 305wpc into 8ohms. I know they are both considered high current amps but don't know the actual numbers. I DO know that the Hafler dims the lights momentarily when it first turns on....

As far as the UPS...although I love the idea, they are a little rich for my blood. I'm more concerned with whether I should get the H15 WITH the voltage regulator, or if I should get something like the C10 which (I believe) has the same surge and spike protection, but does not have the voltage regulation feature.

I will definitely be going with SOMETHING from APC....I have several computers at home all using a variety of APC UPS units, and as an IT Technician at a network affliliate television station, we use larger APC UPS units on all of our critical systems, and none have ever let me/us down.

[BillP]

yeah i mean its all what you need. if you dont want a UPS, I think you will still see the lights dim when turning these pieces of equipment turning on even with some type of AV surge protector type of thing.

if you experience a lot of brownouts/sags/overvoltages, i'd go with the AVR. If not, i think a C type device should suit you just fine. you are right in saying that the C type has all the same surge protection as the H type besides the AVR. the H type also is a bigger box with some more indicators/LEDs on the front.

let me know if you have any other questions.

[Anonymous user]

Well, as a last question and concern.....and maybe my thought process here is incorrect....

Let's say the amplifiers turn on, and one or both fools the H10/H15 into thinking it's a voltage sag....causing the AVR to kick in and raise the voltage...in the meantime the amps have returned to normal...could the excess voltage the H10/15 puts out potentially harm the amps or other equipment, which are now getting more voltage than they need?

I promise this will be the last question I make on this thread! 😉

Thanks for your help so far!

[BillP · Accepted solution]

you can post on this thread as much as you like 😛

the AVR should only be active while the voltage is low. so if the amps go back to normal, the voltage should jump back up on the line and the AVR will go off. basically, the unit should never provide excessive voltage to the connected equipment regardless of what happens.