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#12475 - 01/26/04 12:38 PM Turning older devices on and off
73Bruin Offline
Desperado

Registered: 01/01/03
Posts: 506
Loc: Torrance, CA USA
I am trying to determine whether it would be worthwhile and possible to install a device to power my external amp (an older 205 wpc Parasound 1200 II) and an even older velodyne subwoofer on and off. Neither device has a DC trigger circuit that could be attached to the 1050's trigger, nor any type of direct infared input. Consequently if I go forward I would need to get an external device that could handle their large power loads.

Is this even a worthwhile effort for either device. The 1200II's manual indicate the device "requires at least 72 hours of continuous operation after it is first turned on to sound its best". It doesn't indicate it should be left on continually as I have been doing. Also if I do so, I will bypassing what ever power on buffering might occur in the internal systems. If turning the power on via an external switch damages the circuits of either device then I would rather stay the way I am. If this doesn't cause any problems than I am interested in a way to make this happen.

Does anyone have any suggestions for something that would be reliable and cheap besides turning them on and off manually? It could work off the 1050's circuit or with an infrared signal. My primary objective is to reduce my electrical costs so I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on an elaborate power management/conditioning system as this would defeat the primary purpose of acquiring this which is to save money. Also in my particular location of Southern California, this is almost completely unnecessary.
_________________________
Living Room 24x18 open 1/2 flight up to a raised dining room/hall 24x12
Outlaw 976 pre-pro running 5.1 system
Outlaw 750 for Artison Masterpiece LCR and 2 NHT SuperZeros rears
Velodyne Servo FX-1200
LG OLED65C8PUA via HDMI2 to/from 976 HDMI ARC
Roku Ultra
Samsung BD-D5500 BluRay
Amazon FireStick 4K to 976 Aux HDMI input for Amazon Music Ultra

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#12476 - 01/26/04 02:51 PM Re: Turning older devices on and off
Jeff Mackwood Offline
Desperado

Registered: 12/19/02
Posts: 427
My, ahem!, definitely low-budget solution:

In my main theatre I leave all of my subwoofers (four in total - including two Velodyne Servo 1200's) in the "on" position - including those with a "standby" setting. No problem. My B&W ASW-1000 made funny sounds in the "standby" position during soft passages - as it cycled itself on and off - subwoofer burps!

I have all of my power amps (7 stereo units, 4 of which are running in "bridged" mode) connected to a single switched powerbar (strip outlet) - which is in turn connected to a "protected" plug on a big UPS unit (ie. surge and spike protected but not UPS-enabled.) I leave all of the amps switched on, and when I hit the powerbar switch they all fire up - with absolutely no problem. (They all still go through their initial power-on cycle ranging from a few seconds to more than twelve seconds, until their protection circuits disengage.) I was initially worried that the turn-on draw would be enough to trip that 15A circuit but it's never happened. I would therefore conclude that someone with a more modest amp stack should have no problem as well.

Jeff Mackwood
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Jeff Mackwood

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#12477 - 01/26/04 04:47 PM Re: Turning older devices on and off
73Bruin Offline
Desperado

Registered: 01/01/03
Posts: 506
Loc: Torrance, CA USA
Thanks for the feedback on the safety issue. Would I be correct in assuming there isn't a significant sound issue?

While I could implement a solution similar to what you have suggested, this will cause some issues for the wife and kids.

Consequently, I am still interested in finding a solution that I could automate. For example, is an X10 type solution an option.

I understand the Panamax 5100 and 4300 type units would work but they are in the $130 - $200 plus range. I would love to find something cheaper. However, if anyone has a comment about the 4300 I am interested in their experiences.
_________________________
Living Room 24x18 open 1/2 flight up to a raised dining room/hall 24x12
Outlaw 976 pre-pro running 5.1 system
Outlaw 750 for Artison Masterpiece LCR and 2 NHT SuperZeros rears
Velodyne Servo FX-1200
LG OLED65C8PUA via HDMI2 to/from 976 HDMI ARC
Roku Ultra
Samsung BD-D5500 BluRay
Amazon FireStick 4K to 976 Aux HDMI input for Amazon Music Ultra

Top
#12478 - 02/04/04 06:58 PM Re: Turning older devices on and off
Willy24 Offline
Deputy Gunslinger

Registered: 02/04/04
Posts: 5
Loc: Bethesd, MD, USA
I use X10 to turn my two older Adcom amps on and off, and have been very happy with it. I got an X-10 IR receiver ($27.00), along with two appliance modules ($13.00 each), from Smarthome.com. I use my Home Theatre Master MX-500 remote to turn them on or off. It makes it really easy for the wife and kids, because I programed it into my "On" and "Off" macros on my remote.

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#12479 - 02/05/04 01:22 AM Re: Turning older devices on and off
73Bruin Offline
Desperado

Registered: 01/01/03
Posts: 506
Loc: Torrance, CA USA
Willy: Do you plug your appliance modules into a surge protector or are they wall plug replacements. I assume that if you use the former configuration the surge protector does not impact the X10 power line signature signal? If you use the later do you have the surge protector(s) after the X10 units?
_________________________
Living Room 24x18 open 1/2 flight up to a raised dining room/hall 24x12
Outlaw 976 pre-pro running 5.1 system
Outlaw 750 for Artison Masterpiece LCR and 2 NHT SuperZeros rears
Velodyne Servo FX-1200
LG OLED65C8PUA via HDMI2 to/from 976 HDMI ARC
Roku Ultra
Samsung BD-D5500 BluRay
Amazon FireStick 4K to 976 Aux HDMI input for Amazon Music Ultra

Top
#12480 - 02/05/04 01:04 PM Re: Turning older devices on and off
Willy24 Offline
Deputy Gunslinger

Registered: 02/04/04
Posts: 5
Loc: Bethesd, MD, USA
I do have them plugged into a surge protector, and it does not interfer with the X10 signals.

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#12481 - 02/05/04 02:55 PM Re: Turning older devices on and off
Philip Hamm Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 08/29/01
Posts: 93
Loc: Northern Virginia, USA
I'd like to hear more solutions here, as I have two amplifiers that don't have a 12v trigger; I'd like to turn them on and off instead of leaving them on all the time.

------------------
Philip Hamm
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Philip Hamm

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#12482 - 02/05/04 07:58 PM Re: Turning older devices on and off
alfredo mora Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 01/15/03
Posts: 44
Loc: Corona CA
Well as mentioned before, a component line
conditioner like Panamax (4300,4310,5100,5300
5500 and 5510) or Monster Power (HTS2600,3600,5100 and higher) have 12v inputs,some even have pass thru outputs!
If you have a 950 unit,plug the 12v (main)to
the power conditioner 12v in.
I have a Panamax 5100, and by turning the 950
on and off the amps follow.
Also this units protect from AC surges and brown outs.

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