Frequently Asked Questions - Panamax M5100 Owner's Manual

FAQs
My MAX 5100 power cable does not
®
reach the wall outlet. Can I use an
extension cord to make it reach?
Yes, but you must use only Panamax extension
cords to keep your warranty valid. Ask for part
# GEC1410.
The provided coax or telephone jumper
cables are not long enough to reach my
equipment. Can I use other cables?
Yes, any length cable of the same type meets
the policy requirements.
The coax and/or phone cable will not
pass signal through the MAX
my connected equipment. What is
wrong?
For the piece of equipment that is not receiving
signal, disconnect the wire from the MAX
5100 which comes from the source (satellite,
antenna, or telephone wall jack) and plug it
directly into the piece of equipment to be pro-
tected. If the equipment receives the signal, call
Panamax customer service. There could be
damage to the MAX 5100.
®
USA & Canada (800) 472-5555 • (707) 283-5900 • Fax (707) 283-5901
There was a lightning strike in my
neighborhood and now my MAX
won't turn on. What is wrong?
The Protect or Disconnect™ circuitry has done
its job and protected your equipment from the
lightning by sacrificing itself. Your MAX
5100 will need to be repaired or replaced.
Please refer to the preceding section on
"Contacting Panamax" or the policy
documentation for more information.
What is the difference between a Surge
and Spike?
A spike is a high-energy pulse of electricity that
5100 to lasts for short periods of time (a few millisec-
®
onds, 0.001 second) but can reach up to 6000
volts or higher. Nearby lightning strikes and
ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) are the cause for
most power spikes. A surge is similar to a
®
spike, but will last for longer periods of time
(15 milliseconds to 2.5 seconds) and reach up
to 500 volts. Utility grid switching and motors
turning on or off cause most power surges.
Both surges and spikes are damaging to
sensitive solid-state components present
in Audio/Video equipment.
What is the difference between an
5100 Overvoltage and Undervoltage?
®
An overvoltage happens when power rises to an
unsafe level (over 150 volts) for a long period
of time (2.5 seconds to several hours).
Overvoltages are usually caused by car acci-
®
dents involving power poles, construction
wiring accidents, wind and ice storms. An
undervoltage (brownout) happens when power
drops to an unsafe level (under 80 volts) for a
long period of time (2.5 seconds to several
hours). Undervoltages are usually caused by
failures in the electric utility system or by very
heavy power demands during a hot day. Both
overvoltages and undervoltages will damage
Audio/Video equipment power supplies.
What Does EMI and RFI stand for?
RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) and EMI
(Electromagnetic Interference) refer to high fre-
quency signals emitted through the air and
induced into AC power lines. Audio/Video
equipment will pick up these signals and gen-
erate enough noise to degrade picture and
sound quality.
INS5100 REV B
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