Panamax MB1500

Features

Overview: The Panamax MB1500 is an all-in-one, programmable Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), Automatic Voltage Regulator, Surge Protector, and Power Conditioner that features Panamax's Automatic Voltage Monitoring (AVM) circuitry and Linear Filtering Technology (LiFT).

• Uninterruptible Power Supply: A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) maintains power temporarily to ride out short black-outs or brown-outs preventing lengthy restart sequences. It allows safe shut down for extended black-outs. DVR's can continue to record. Unique IR control (Patent Pending) allows projectors to cool their lamps properly to prevent damage from excessive heat before shutting down.
• Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR): Voltage regulation (keeping voltage within specific operating ranges) prevents equipment lock-ups due to power sags and keeps equipment from heating up (power supplies require more current when voltage is low). There are two AVR settings; Sensitive AVR supplies 120 volts AC +/- 5 volts with an input of 98-135 volts, Standard AVR supplies 120 volts AC +/- 10 volts with an input of 93-145 volts, AVR can also be turned off.
• AVM Automatic Voltage Monitoring: Panamax's power monitoring circuitry constantly monitors the AC line voltage for unsafe voltage conditions such as momentary spikes or prolonged over-voltages and under-voltages (brownouts). These unsafe conditions pose a very dangerous threat to all electronic equipment within the home. If the MB1500 senses an unsafe power condition, it will automatically disconnect your equipment from the power to protect equipment from damage. When MB1500 disconnects from the power, the Battery Backup Outlets are switched to battery power. When subjected to a 6,000V (open circuit voltage) / 3,000A (short circuit current) surge, the MB1500 limits its voltage output to less than 330V peak, UL's lowest rating. The MB1500 will withstand, without damage, 10,000A surges, far exceeding the UL requirement of only 3000 Ampere surges.
• Protect/Disconnect Surge Protection:  If the magnitude of the surge is greater than the capacity of the surge protection components, the MB1500's Protect or Disconnect Circuitry will disconnect your equipment in order to protect it. The MB1500 will need to be repaired or replaced by Panamax if this occurs within the 3 year product warranty.
• LiFT Linear Filtering Technology Noise Filtration: Unfortunately, traditional AC power conditioners have been designed for unrealistic laboratory conditions. Prior technologies, whether multiple-pole or conventional series-mode filters, could actually harm audio and video performance more than they help, due to the resonant peaking of their antiquated, non-linear designs. Under certain conditions, these designs can actually add more than 10 dB of noise to the incoming AC line. Worse still, lost digital data, the need to reboot digital presets, or destruction of sensitive digital converters are frequently caused by excessive voltage spikes and AC noise contaminating the equipment ground. Panamax's LiFT takes a different approach, ensuring optimal performance through linear AC noise filtering with no ground contamination.

Critical Load Function: The MB1500's Critical Load Function sets the battery capacity level where the non-critical load outlets are turned off and all remaining battery power is reserved for equipment plugged into the four critical load outlets. The non-critical outlets can be set to turn off immediately when power is lost. This value is stored internally by the UPS and is not dependent on having the software running on a computer.

Learning IR Control: The learning IR function lets you program the UPS to send standby or shut-down commands to components such as a projector. If the power fails, the projector's lamp is turned off while the UPS continues providing battery power to the projector's cooling fan. Proper shutdown is ensured and expensive lamps are protected from damage. The UPS can learn two IR commands. The learned commands will be transmitted on both output jacks so you have ability to control two different pieces of equipment or use a two-step macro for one component.

Power Control Software (Version 2.2): The Power Control software is designed for use with Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista. It works in conjunction with the UPS to provide full protection of home theater equipment including digital video recorders, home theater PCs, and video projectors/lamps. This program may be used temporarily during the initial system setup or used to manage your home theater computer.

• UPS Initial Setup: An installer can use a notebook computer to set the variables within the Home Cinema Power Control software. Once the setup is completed, the notebook computer can be disconnected and all the settings are stored in the UPS.
• UPS Manager: The UPS can provide continued power to the computer to maintain recording capabilities when it is used as a digital video recorder. It is also capable of saving open documents and shutting down the computer during extended power failures. This requires a permanent RS232 or USB connection and having the Power Control software running in the background.
• UPS Schedule: There is also a Scheduled feature that can automatically save and close open files and then shutdown the computer and UPS at a user specified date and time as well a re-start the computer at a user specified date and time. Use of this feature is optional and is not required for the power failure shutdown to occur.

Note: The UPS will provide surge suppression, automatic voltage regulation, and battery backup without this software. Automatic shutdown of a computer requires the used of this software.

Front Panel Display: The MB1500 features front-panel LEDs and a LCD display to indicate the following:

• Bank 1: LED illuminates blue when the two Bank 1 (critical) outlets are on
• Bank 2: LED illuminates blue when the two Bank 2 (critical) outlets are on
• Bank 3: LED illuminates blue when the two Bank 3 (non-critical) outlets are on
• Bank 4: LED illuminates blue when the two Bank 4 (non-critical) outlets are on
• Line Fault Indicator: LED illuminates red to warn the user that a wiring problem such as a bad/missing ground or reversed wiring exists within the AC receptacle.
• Status Display: Blue backlit LCD indicates current status, menu items, or settings.

Rear Panel Connections: All of the MB1500's connections are found on the unit's rear-panel:

• Non-Critical Load Outlets: Four battery powered, AVM protected outlets for connected equipment ensures temporary uninterrupted operation of connected equipment during a power failure. These outlets will shut off when the batteries drain to a designated level to reserve remaining battery charge for the critical load outlets
• Critical Load Outlets: Four battery powered, AVM protected outlets for critical-load equipment ensures temporary uninterrupted operation of connected equipment during a power failure.
• Circuit Breakers: Two resettable circuit breakers provide optimal overload protection.
• RS232 Serial Communication Port: The serial port allows connection and communication between the UPS and a home automation system or computer; this allows the installer to program a number of variables, including the Critical Load Battery Threshold; a 70" DB 9-pin serial cable is included.
• IR Output Jacks: Two standard 3.5mm mono mini-jack ports for connection to IR flashers (sold separately).
• USB Port: The MB1500 can also be connected to a computer using the USB (type-B) port.

Battery: The MB1500 UPS uses a sealed, maintenance-free, lead-acid battery which requires 4 hours charging time (6-8 hour charge recommended before initial use). Consumer replacement not recommended, contact Panamax customer service at 800-472-5555 for battery replacement information.

BlueBOLT Compatible: The Panamax MB1500 is BlueBOLT compatible (with BlueBOLT-CV1 interface card, sold separately), which provides remote access to reboot components, power equipment on/off, and monitor power quality from anywhere in the world.

Rack Mountable: The MB1500 comes supplied with two mounting brackets and hardware which allow you to rack mount the unit.

Warranty Information:

• 3 Year Product Warranty: Panamax warrants to the purchaser of this Panamax audio/video component style uninterruptible power supply, for a period of three (3) years from the date of purchase, that the unit shall be free of defects in design, material, or workmanship, and Panamax will repair or replace any defective unit.
• 2 Year Battery Warranty: Panamax warrants to the purchaser of this uninterruptible power supply, for a period of two (2) years from the date of purchase, that the batteries shall be free of defects in design, material, or workmanship, and Panamax will replace any defective battery.