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20 Amp Power Conditioner

5664 Views 53 Replies 25 Participants Last post by  rboster
Hey guys, I’ve been looking for a reasonably priced 20 amp power conditioner. I don’t have a rack so the options are extremely limited and expensive!

I am not completely bought into the benefits of noise reduction / video enhancement, but I need at least 10 outlets and there are no basic surge protectors out in the market in a 20amp configuration. I’m basically forced to either buy 2 Leviton surge protection 6 outlet strips for about $200, or a Furman Elite 20 PFI 12 outlet power conditioner for about $750 (or around $500 used on eBay). I suppose there has to be some benefit but spending an additional $300-$500 over the Leviton surge protectors is crazy to me.

Am I missing something? Any other ideas or power conditioner brands?
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Out of curiosity, why does it need to be a 20 amp model?
Out of curiosity, why does it need to be a 20 amp model?
Well I have a dedicated 20amp line so figured I should be taking advantage. No?
@classic_erik, EDITED

Hey Erik this is Erik, can you list what you are putting on that 20 amp circuit?

I have been using a monster power strip for 14 years without issue, like THIS

1. Do you live in an area that gets lightening? That is a big one to address.
2. Hum and noise are almost always introduced from non-grounded outlets somewhere in the chain and/or long coax cable runs/cable boxes.
@classic_erik, this Erik #2, as Mike said, do you just need 10 outlets on a single 20 amp circuit?

Hum i think is from non-grounded outlets in the chain or the always noisy cable runs/cable boxes.
Great spelling! :)

All of my equipment will be in my built-ins in a single cabinet, which only has a single gang 20 amp outlet. With all of my equipment I figured this was the way to solve for my problem.
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Well I have a dedicated 20amp line so figured I should be taking advantage. No?
Taking advantage of what exactly? Just because the circuit happens to have a 20amp breaker doesn't mean you specifically need a 20 amp power conditioner. I run a pair of APC G5BLK 9-Outlet power conditioners and an APC J25B power conditioner with battery backup on a 20 amp line.
Erik Look into this apc theater part. Works amazing. Never seen a bad review. I have 2 of them and it will use all the power u can feed. Audiholics reviewed this model and uses it.

Amazon.com: APC H15BLK 12-Outlet H-Type Rack-Mountable Power Conditioner: Home Audio & Theater
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Taking advantage of what exactly? Just because the circuit happens to have a 20amp breaker doesn't mean you specifically need a 20 amp power conditioner. I run a pair of APC G5BLK 9-Outlet power conditioners and an APC J25B power conditioner with battery backup on a 20 amp line.
Power is not my strong suit, but I was thinking that if I have a 20 amp outlet, my equipment could pull 2400 watts of power from the line, where if I broke the chain and used a power conditioner with a max current of 15 amp I decrease my supply down to 1800 watts. Apologies for my naïveté!
I have a receiver, a Buttkicker 1900 watt amp, two HSU 15" 600 watt powered subs, a 55" TV, a 43" TV, a projector & electric screen, three DVR's, five powered seats, a PC & a bunch more on one circuit. I'd be surprised if your gear is even pulling 10 amps. Unless of course you have a large space heater in that cabinet. :)
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Denon joke coming, but will refrain for my online safety :D
@classic_erik, EDITED

Hey Erik this is Erik, can you list what you are putting on that 20 amp circuit?

I have been using a monster power strip for 14 years without issue, like THIS

1. Do you live in an area that gets lightening? That is a big one to address.
2. Hum and noise are almost always introduced from non-grounded outlets somewhere in the chain and/or long coax cable runs/cable boxes.
Here is my set up:

Marantz SR7015 AVR
Monoprice Monolith 3 Channel Power Amp
Dynaudio Evoke 20 Bookshelves
Dynaudio Evoke 25C Center
Monitor Audio W280 Rear Surrounds
Monitor Audio C265-IDC Ceiling Atmos Speakers (x4)
SVS SB-4000 Sub
77” LG G1 OLED
Xbox Series X
Nintendo Switch
Apple TV
DVR

Yes, we get a fair amount of lightning in the Boston area.
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@classic_erik nice set up E! As Mike and ssmokeyy said those apc units look nice. Maybe someone will chime in and help address the lightening issue?
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If you're looking for surge protection, there's nothing better than SurgeX. All MOV based units degrade over time and fail.

Here's that APC linked above taking 6k volts and 6k amps compared to a SurgeX:
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As an electronics tech I can say that just as important as spike protection is sag / brownout protection. Also you want a true sinewave output. Cheaper stepped sine wave units can be the kiss of death for switching power supplies. Your first line of defense should be a mains panel mounted surge protector. This has to be installed by an electrician. There was a lightening strike on the transformer in front of a friends house and his neighbors lost all their appliances and electronics. He had protection and the only fatality was the protector on his main panel it cost $350 to have it replaced. The unit itself cost $95. Amazon.com: CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS System, 1500VA/1000W, 12 Outlets, AVR, Mini Tower, Black: Home Audio & Theater
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If you're looking for surge protection, there's nothing better than SurgeX. All MOV based units degrade over time and fail.

Here's that APC linked above taking 6k volts and 6k amps compared to a SurgeX:
Is there a particular surgex model you suggest?
Is there a particular surgex model you suggest?
That is why I suggested a mains panel protector. Surgex does nothing for other power problems.
People usually think that it is only my tv/ av system that needs protection. Most everything is microprocessor based .Just about all kitchen appliances A/C units, furnaces and more have a microprocessor in them. Back in the days of vacuum tubes it took a direct hit to kill kill them. Now a small static discharge can be fatal.
Hey guys, I’ve been looking for a reasonably priced 20 amp power conditioner. I don’t have a rack so the options are extremely limited and expensive!

I am not completely bought into the benefits of noise reduction / video enhancement, but I need at least 10 outlets and there are no basic surge protectors out in the market in a 20amp configuration. I’m basically forced to either buy 2 Leviton surge protection 6 outlet strips for about $200, or a Furman Elite 20 PFI 12 outlet power conditioner for about $750 (or around $500 used on eBay). I suppose there has to be some benefit but spending an additional $300-$500 over the Leviton surge protectors is crazy to me.

Am I missing something? Any other ideas or power conditioner brands?
Check out something like Panamax M5300-PM 11-Outlet Home Theater Power Conditioner. I use these.
Get the furman elite 20 pfi .. it’s their 20 amp version
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Erik Look into this apc theater part. Works amazing. Never seen a bad review. I have 2 of them and it will use all the power u can feed. Audiholics reviewed this model and uses it.

Amazon.com: APC H15BLK 12-Outlet H-Type Rack-Mountable Power Conditioner: Home Audio & Theater
I use this exact model. Works great!! I would highly recommend that one as well.
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