FSR SPC-15 - Manual (Page 3)

POWER PRODUCT GROUP
Phone: 973-785-4347 Fax: 973-785-3318
W
eb: www
.fsrinc.com E-Mail: [email protected]
FSR
INTRODUCTION Thank you for your purchase of an
FSR SE-
QUENCING POWER CONDITIONER (SPC- 15)
and congratulations on your choice.
This
equipment, not only sequences the power turn on, it also provides maximum protection form the types of hazards faced by delicate analog and digital pro audio and video equipment. Y
our SPC-15 provides the most complete and
comprehensive protection form power line- related transient voltages, noise and wiring faults available. It combines a high voltage sur
ge and
transient suppressor with an RFI/EMI interfer
-
ence
fi
lter
.
The fast-acting suppression circuit
responds in less than a nanosecond, clamping transient voltages to safe levels, the
fi lter
works
to prevent noise from
fl
uorescent lights, certain
dimmers, radio transmitters, and similar sources of “electronic pollution” from contaminating the AC line and from there, leaking into sensitive audio, video, or computer circuits. What sets the FSR SPC Series apart fr
om
other
sequencers and conditioners is the use
of
TRIACS as the switching element instead of
relays, which ar
e pr
one to failur
e.
Also
another
distinguishing feature is the quantity
, quality
, and
con
fi
guration of its suppression devices.
These
include MOV’
s, gas dischar
ge tubes, fast-blow
fuses, and high voltage inductors and capaci- tors.
This unique combination can safely absorb
and dissipate lar
ge spikes from nearby lightning
strikes and other sources as well as highly attenu- ate audible high frequency noise. NOTE: SPC-15 requires that a safety ground be present for proper operation.
Any attempt to
operate the SPC-15 without a safety ground is considered improper operation and could invali- date the warranty
.
Effects of Lightning Lightning is a natural phenomenon of overwhelm- ing force that represents the most dif
fi cult
circum-
stance faced by a power protection product.
The
degree of protection a SPC-15 can of
fer depends
on the intensity of the strike. If lightning strikes a distant power line and causes a relatively small disturbance to reach your location, the spike suppressors in the SPC-15 will absorb the excess voltage invisibly and harmlessly
. However
, if
lightning strikes the actual building where the SPC-15 is installed (or somewhere very nearby) some damage may be unavoidable due to the ex- tremely high voltage and current present. If this does occur
, most likely damage will be limited
to the SPC-15 itself and will af
fect only certain
spike suppression components (called varistors or MOV’
s.) In this “suicide” mode, the SPC-15 may
sustain minor damage but generally will protect all equipment plugged into it from much more seri- ous and costly damage as long as the equipment is properly grounded. Proper grounding requires
the use of three-prong
AC cords, and that the
building’
s outlets are actually grounded to earth
as speci
fi
ed by local building codes.
Any SPC-15 known to have taken a direct light- ning hit should be checked by a quali
fi ed
techni-
cian or the FSR factory to determine whether the MOV’
s need replacement.
If the surge cir
cuits
indicator
is not lit, ther
e is de
fi nitely
some
damage. Some spike suppr
ession capability
may still be available, but ther
e is no guarantee
of this. For optimum protection, you should not rely ex- clusively on the SPC-15 to protect against a direct lightning hit.
The
fi
rst line of defense against
lightning should be a lightning arrestor installed on your building’
s electrical service entrance. If
your building does not have one, contact your local power company or a contractor to have one installed.