Furman Power Conditioner 15 Amps Vs 20 Amps

[Bongo5HH]

When would you need a 20 Amp Power Conditioner over a 15 Amp Power Conditioner? In most cases is the 15 Amps enough?

Thanks

 

[seamonkey]

You don't need either. An outlet strip is fine, but that's a different topic.

In the US - You will rarely run into a 20Amp outlet.
If you do it probably look like:[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

See the little tag on the neutral side.

A real 20A plug from a 20A conditioner would only be able to plug into an outlet like this.
A 15A plug can plug into this 20A outlet and a 15A outlet fine.

 

[toobalicious]

to put it into perspective, every plug in my entire studio (admittedly, neither large or fancy) runs off of ONE dedicated 20A circuit. the lights are on an existing 15A circuit. the only time i ever tripped the breaker was when the 750 watt power supply on my computer failed. i have run a full-band worth of gear along with my recording gear, which included such high-draw items as a 700RB and a CS-4000 power amp.

so, 15A is plenty for virtually any rig. and truly, there isnt a lot of "conditioning" going on in most of those things anyway.

 

[fdeck]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

That outlet takes a special screwdriver to get electrocuted

 

[fatgoogle]

sorry this is a really noob question but what does a power conditioner do?

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

A real 20A plug from a 20A conditioner would only be able to plug into an outlet like this.
A 15A plug can plug into this 20A outlet and a 15A outlet fine.

This is what a 20 A plug looks like and you can see that it won't fit in a 15 A receptacle (which would be a pain in most places).

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

sorry this is a really noob question but what does a power conditioner do?

When we talk about a power conditioner, we're usually referring to a rack mounted outlet strip that provides filtering of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and transients (voltage spikes on the line from lightning some distance away). The rack mount units often include a resettable supplementary protector (mini circuit breaker as they're called) and maybe even some pull-out lights with a dimmer to light up the front of the gear you have mounted in the rack.

Electronically, it's not unlike the outlet strip you might plug your computer into, but in a package that can be mounted in a rack.

 

[bongomania]

Electronically, it's not unlike the outlet strip you might plug your computer into, but in a package that can be mounted in a rack.

...with a lot of extra fanciful claims made by the manufacturer.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

sorry this is a really noob question but what does a power conditioner do?

Nothing that well engineered and built gear doesn't already do with what's built into it.

 

[AndrewClaycomb]

probably the wrong forum, but what's you opinions on using a power conditioner with an HD television?

I tried using a monster conditioner with an older Sony HD projection TV and I thought the image wasn't as grainy. I tried it, because I kept arguing that a conditioner was a worthless item, so a friend challenged me to try it on my old tv.

 

[hey]

probably the wrong forum, but what's you opinions on using a power conditioner with an HD television?

I tried using a monster conditioner with an older Sony HD projection TV and I thought the image wasn't as grainy. I tried it, because I kept arguing that a conditioner was a worthless item, so a friend challenged me to try it on my old tv.

More than likely, your mind is playing tricks on you and making you think that there's an actual difference when there really isn't.

 

[xbrandonx]

More then anything to me its just a convince factor. One plug in, one plug out.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

I tried using a monster conditioner with an older Sony HD projection TV and I thought the image wasn't as grainy. .

Placebo effect.

 

[paganjack]

hey, the placebo effect works!

i need to design the placebo effect pedal...it will just make your bass seem to sound better!

 

[Bassflute]

Placebo effect.

:scowl::scowl:

We're quite happy with our placebos, Bill, and if you keep saying this, they'll stop working, THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?



Cheers,
Cameron

 

[Bassflute]

When would you need a 20 Amp Power Conditioner over a 15 Amp Power Conditioner? In most cases is the 15 Amps enough?

Thanks

Home outlets stop at 15 amps, commercial ones go to 20. You don't need a special plug to plug into a 20 amp outlet, although they are made. Every club, restaurant, hotel, casino, etc. you play in has 20 amp circuits, if their building and electrical codes are recent. Home use 15 amps.

The only difference is you can load more stuff onto the 20 amp power conditioner, which might be important to you if you are running a bunch of power amps or large lighting systems off the same circuit. For most bass gear, with one amp involved, 15 is enough.

I have had circuits pop when running my E(vil) World T(Domination) 800B bridged mono and having a large PA board and powered speakers in the same circuit, so if you're doing that, watch out.

Cheers,
Cameron

 

[Bassflute]

Nothing that well engineered and built gear doesn't already do with what's built into it.

you'll greatly diminish the chances of ground loops if you plug everything into one circuit, and also you'll only have one on/off switch and plug to deal with. BTW, I would ALWAYS turn the bass amp / power amp off with it's own switch first. Power amps should be the last ones on, the first ones off to avoid spikes and transients.

Cheers,
Cameron

 

[Bassflute]

This is what a 20 A plug looks like and you can see that it won't fit in a 15 A receptacle (which would be a pain in most places).

and would blow a 15 amp circuit.

Cheers,
Cameron

 

[Bongo5HH]

Thank you very much for your response, it is very helpful.