Panamax MAX 5300 User Manual

MAX® 5300

299MAX5300

Owner’s Manual

150 Mitchell Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94903 • www.panamax.com

MAX® 5300 Owner’s Manual

Congratulations on your selection of
the MAX® 5300 as the AC power
source for your audio/video system!
Over 25 years of power protection
experience and more than 10 years of
Audio/Video noise filtration engineer­ing experience were utilized in the

development of this model. The MAX®
5300 has been specifically engineered
to enhance the performance and life
expectancy of Audio/Video entertain­ment gear. The combination of
sophisticated noise filtration circuitry
and the world’s finest surge protection

has resulted in an Audio/Video power
center that meets the power quality
needs for each piece of equipment in
your entertainment system. The
styling of the MAX® 5300 comple­ments even the most sophisticated
Audio/Video showcase.

PANAMAX, the Panamax logo and MAX are registered US trademarks of Panamax.

Protect or Disconnect, SurgeGate Plus and SignalPerfect are trademarks of PANAMAX.

SIDACtor is a registered US trademark of Teccor Electronics, Inc. TiVo is a trademark of TiVo, Inc.

© 2001 PANAMAX CORP. All Rights Reserved.

MODEL # M5300

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Before You Begin.........................................................1

I n t r o d u c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Connection Diagram....................................................3

Feature Overview.........................................................4

Feature Details

Vo l t m e t e r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Convenience Outlet................................................5

Diagnostic Lights...................................................6

Sequential Startup/Shutdown................................6

Filtered Outlet Banks 1 & 2.....................................7

High-Current Outlet Bank.......................................8

Voltage Sense Trigger............................................8

Circuit Breaker.......................................................9

Coaxial Line Protection..........................................9

Telephone Line Protection......................................9

AC Surge Protection............................................10

SurgeGate Plus™ Protection................................10

Technical Specifications.............................................11

Contacting Panamax..................................................11

Frequently Asked Questions.......................................12

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Items included with the MAX® 5300:

1 - MAX®5300

1 - RJ-11 Telephone Cable

Please verify that you have received all these items. If not, contact Panamax.

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4 - Coax Cables for

Satellite TV, Cable TV
and/or Antennas

1 - IEC 320, 120V/15A

detachable 10 ft. power cord

1

INTRODUCTION

Your Audio/Video components are constantly
being bombarded by electromagnetic interfer­ence (EMI) and radio frequency interference
(RFI) through their power cords. This contam­inated power can affect A/V equipment and will
degrade the overall performance of your entire
system. Common symptoms of contaminated
power include pops, hisses, hums, visual arti­facts, etc. Most power filtering devices will
remove some of this interference but don’t pro­vide a real solution to the problem.

The MAX® 5300 Sophisticated Filtration

System is a Real Solution!

Outlet Banks 1 & 2:

The primary filtration system features two
banks of independently filtered outlets (4 per
bank) for A/V equipment. These outlet banks
utilize “Balanced Double L” filter circuits
which are far superior to any other design in
filtering out all forms of electromagnetic and
radio frequency interference in both common
and normal modes. Cross-contamination
between your components is also eliminated
with this design. Bank 1 is Always-On, pro­viding continuous power for those compo­nents that have programmable memory set­tings. Bank 2 can be set to either Always-On
or switched with a shutdown delay.

High-Current Outlet Bank:

The unique power requirements of current
hungry components such as amplifiers and
powered subwoofers are also addressed.
These components can rapidly draw large
amounts of current to replenish their power
supply capacitors after thunderous bass notes.
Line conditioners that utilize coils (inductors)
in series with the AC power line can “choke”
off this large inrush current, thereby reducing
the amplifiers’ ability to operate at peak per­formance levels, resulting in a flat, dead
sound. The MAX® 5300 high-current outlets
are fed by noise filtration circuitry that does
not utilize coils and provides full, unimpeded
power for your amplifiers and powered sub­woofers.

Other Features Enhance the
Functionality:

Although the MAX® 5300 functionality revolves
around noise filtration and power protection,
many other exciting features enhance the overall
entertainment experience, including:

•

A backlit analog voltmeter indicates the AC
line voltage coming into your system.

•

A combination ON/OFF/Dimmer switch
controls the meter lighting.

As you read through the rest of this manual,
you’ll discover many more unique features.
As audiophiles, we care about the quality of
your listening and/or viewing experience.
Our goal is to:

• Provide clean pure power

• Protect your investment

• Enhance the pleasure you get from you’re
A/V system

Thank you for choosing Panamax for your
power quality needs. Please finish reading
the instructions, install your MAX® 5300 and
enjoy the full potential of your entertainment
system.

•

An always-on, convenience outlet on the
front panel for temporary AC connections.

•

Sequential start-up and shut-down of your
system using an A/V receiver (or other
component) and the 12VDC trigger input.

150 Mitchell Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94903 • www.panamax.com2

CONNECTION DIAGRAM

Multi-level noise filter and power controller

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3

FEATURE OVERVIEW

Switched Outlets Pushbutton:

1 of 2 Triggers that can activate a
turn-on or shutdown sequence for
Outlet Bank 2 and High-Current outlets.

15A Circuit Breaker:

Opens in the event that
equipment plugged into
the MAX® 5300 draws too
much current. When the
white button of the breaker
is visible, the breaker has
opened. Reduce the load
and push to reset.

Filtered Outlet Bank 1:

Four Always-On, Balanced
Double L filtered outlets for
audio/video components that
require constant power to
maintain programmed settings.

LED Indicators:

Status indicator lights
for Switched Outlets,
DC Voltage Trigger,
Ground OK,
Line Fault
and Unsafe Voltage

Filtered Outlet Bank 2:

Four switched, Balanced
Double L filtered outlets for
audio/video components that
do not require constant power.

Meter Light Dimmer:

Controls brightness
of the Voltmeter
backlighting.

High Current Outlet Bank:

Two delayed outlets designed for
high-current components such as
amplifiers and powered subwoofers.
The current available to connected
equipment is not limited by the
noise filtration components.

Voltmeter:

Backlit analog meter
measures incoming
voltage source from
0-150 VAC.

Satellite Coax Jacks:

Two pairs of gold plated
F-Connectors optimized
for Satellite TV signal
line protection.

Convenience Outlet:

Provides a quick convenient
way to plug in components
such as camcorders and
video game systems.

Cable TV Coax Jacks:

Two pairs of gold plated
F-Connectors optimized for
Cable TV and non-ampli­fied Rooftop Antenna signal
line protection.

IEC Main Power
Receptacle:

Detachable power
cord connects to
this receptacle.

Ground Lug:

Provides a
common
grounding point
for equipment
with separate
ground leads.

Voltage Sense
Trigger Input:

1/8 inch Mini-Plug jack.
Connect to a remote trigger
device that provides 12VDC to
trigger a startup/shutdown
sequence. This is the second
trigger that will activate the
MAX® 5300 turn-on or shut ­down sequence. (See switched
outlets pushbutton on front
panel).

Voltage Sense
Trigger Output:

1/8 inch Mini-Plug jack.
Connecting a 12VDC trig­ger to the Voltage Sense
Circuit will allow the same
signal to pass through the
Voltage Sense Output to
control the startup/shut­down of an additional
device.

High Current
Outlets Turn-On
Switch:

3-position slide switch.
Allows adjustment of
the Turn-On delay for
the two High-Current
Outlets. Choose
between 0, 10 and 30
seconds.

4 150 Mitchell Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94903 • www.panamax.com

Outlet Bank 2 Turn­Off Switch:

3-position slide switch.
Allows adjustment of the
Turn-Off delay for Outlet
Bank 2. Choose
between Always-On,
10 and 30 seconds.

Telephone Jacks:

In/Out connections
for telephone line or
pay-per-view line
protection.

FEATURE DETAILS

Voltmeter

The analog Voltmeter is backlit to provide the ability to view the reading in a dark room. LEDs (light emitting diodes) are
used as the light source in order to provide durability and long life. The “Meter Light” dimmer controls the brightness level,
or turns the lighting off altogether.

The Voltmeter monitors the incoming voltage from the wall receptacle and provides a visual representation of the available
power. The voltmeter is always on and indicates the incoming line voltage even during an unsafe voltage condition. Readings
above 150VAC will not be accurate due to the meter’s damping characteristics.

Convenience Outlet

A single outlet on the front panel of the MAX® 5300 provides an easy to reach power source for electronic equipment typi­cally used on a part time basis. Such equipment includes anything from video game systems to camcorders.

The convenience outlet not only provides superior surge suppression, but also taps into one of the Balanced Double L Filter
Circuits to provide clean power for your sensitive electronic equipment. This outlet is an Always-On outlet and will contin­ually supply a steady source of power for your connected equipment. It is important to remember that power will be

disconnected only in the event of an unsafe voltage condition.

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FEATURE DETAILS

Diagnostic Lights

The MAX® 5300 is loaded with special features to save your connected equipment from many different forms of dangerous
power disturbances. Five diagnostic lights on the front panel inform you in the event of a power disturbance or when a spe-

cial feature is activated. The indicators are:

Switched Outlets: Green LED. This light indicates the status of the “Switched Outlets” pushbutton on the front panel

and corresponds with the switch position. When the button is in the “ON” position, the light is ON. When the button is in
the “OFF” position, the light is OFF. “Switched Outlets” refers to Outlet Bank 2 and the High-Current Outlets. See their
respective sections for switching options.

DC Voltage Trigger:

5300. The light is ON when the DC voltage trigger is activated and OFF when the DC voltage trigger is not receiving a signal.
This light will also be ON if nothing is plugged into the DC voltage trigger input jack. This indicates that the DC voltage trigger
is being bypassed.

Green LED. This light indicates status of the DC voltage trigger on the back panel of the MAX

®

Ground OK: Green LED. When this light is ON, it indicates that the wall outlet is properly wired. When the light is OFF,

it indicates that the wall outlet has reversed line and neutral wires, or that there is no ground present.

Line Fault: Red LED. When this light is ON, it is indicating that the wall outlet has a reversed line and neutral wire, or

there is no ground present. This light will remain OFF if the wall outlet is properly wired.

Unsafe Voltage: Red LED. Under normal voltage conditions, this light stays OFF. When this light is FLASHING slow-

ly (once per second), it indicates an undervoltage (<90 VAC) or overvoltage (>132VAC) condition. When the light is flash­ing quickly (4 times per second), it indicates a 10 second recovery period from an under/overvoltage condition. This light
will flash quickly when the MAX® 5300 is first plugged into the wall outlet.

Sequential Startup/Shutdown

Complex audio/video systems may be susceptible to voltage transients generated internally at start-up/shutdown if all of the
equipment is powered on or off at the same time. This can cause speaker “thumps” which are not only annoying but can
also damage the speakers. The MAX® 5300 is designed to eliminate these transients by providing a “start-up” delay for the
High-Current outlets and a “shutdown” delay for Outlet Bank 2. This allows the components plugged into the switched out­lets to power-up and stabilize before any amplifiers and powered sub-woofers are turned on. This sequence is reversed dur­ing shutdown. The amplifiers and powered sub-woofers turn off, their power supplies drain, then the equipment plugged
into Outlet Bank 2 is turned off.

Information on setting the delay times is included in the Outlet Bank 2 and High Current Outlet Bank sections that follow.

6 150 Mitchell Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94903 • www.panamax.com

FEATURE DETAILS

Filtered Outlet Banks 1 & 2:

Eight Outlets (two banks / four outlets per bank) are fed through separate "Balanced, Double L" noise filtration circuits. These
circuits are designed to eliminate AC contamination that is detrimental to the performance of audio or video components like
stereo receivers, VCRs or televisions. The two dedicated filters are carefully engineered to provide power filtration and inter­component "noise isolation" for both "common mode" (line/neutral-to-ground) and "normal-mode" (line-to-neutral)
EMI/RFI. This means that high-frequency interference will be drastically reduced not only from the incoming power but also
from equipment plugged into the other outlet bank, regardless of what "mode" it occurs in. Even equipment with unground­ed, 2-blade plugs, receives clean power.

Outlet Bank 1 remains ON continually to provide a constant power source for programmable audio/video components. A

1

1

1

2

personal video recorder (such as TiVo™) and VCR are two examples of components that require a constant supply of power.
A TiVo™ video recorder relies on continual power to monitor the cable signal and retain its programmed information. A VCR
should be connected to one of these always-on, filtered outlets to maintain correct clock time and programmed recording
information.

Outlet Bank 2 contains four switched outlets that will turn your connected equipment ON or OFF with one of two MAX®
5300 triggers (Switched Outlets push-button or Voltage Sense Trigger). A 3-position slide switch (Outlet Bank 2 Turn-Off
Switch) located on the rear panel controls the timing for Outlet Bank 2. Together, these outlets can be set as Always-On or
with a turn-off delay of either 10 or 30 seconds to prevent speaker "thump". This switch provides the option of having a total
of eight always-on outlets (Outlet Banks 1 & 2). See the Sequential Startup/Shutdown section for more information.

When set to one of the delay positions (10 or 30 seconds), Outlet Bank 2 outlets will remain as Switched outlets, controlled
by the Switched Outlets push-button and/or the DC Voltage Sense Trigger. In this situation, Outlet Bank 2 outlets will not
power down until after the selected time has elapsed.

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7

FEATURE DETAILS

High-Current Outlet Bank

The two high-current outlets allow amplifiers and powered subwoofers to work to their full potential. When the movie
thunders with a terrific explosion or when the music reaches a climactic crescendo, an amplifier has to rapidly draw large
amounts of current to replenish its power supply capacitors. Traditional line conditioners impede this current draw, in
effect, starving an amplifier and resulting in a flat, dead sound. The High-Current Outlet Bank provides clean, filtered

power to amplifiers but has no current limiting components to impede performance.

The high-current outlets are designed with a turn-on delay option of 0, 10 or 30 seconds. The 3-position, Delayed Outlet
Turn-On Switch on the back of the MAX® 5300 is used to select the desired time delay. When a delay is selected, the
high-current outlets will turn-on after Outlet Bank 2 and turn-off before Outlet Bank 2 (if they’re not set to Always-On).
With a delay, the connected equipment will not power up simultaneously, thus preventing loudspeaker noises such as

“thumping”. See the

Voltage Sense Trigger

This feature provides an ON/OFF trigger for the MAX® 5300 using a 12VDC remote control signal. Many components

such as pre-amplifiers and receivers have a 12VDC trigger built in, and will transmit a constant power signal when turned
on and in use. This power signal will initiate the startup or shutdown sequence of the MAX® 5300’s switched outlets. An

AC Adapter of the appropriate voltage, plugged into a switched outlet, may also be used if a 12V trigger is not built in.

Sequential Startup/Shutdown section for more information.

The MAX® 5300 voltage sense trigger input uses a standard 1/8” mini-plug jack. This jack has an electrically isolated
switch built in. If nothing is inserted into the input jack, the voltage sense is bypassed and the MAX® 5300 Switched

Outlets button on the front panel has sole control of the startup/shutdown sequence. If a plug is inserted into the input

jack, the voltage sense becomes the startup/shutdown trigger.

panel must be left in the “ON” position if you are using the DC trigger.

The circuitry for the voltage sense trigger also controls the DC Voltage Trigger diagnostic LED on the front panel. When a

1/8” mini-plug is connected to the voltage sense input jack and a DC voltage signal is present, the LED will light to indi­cate that the voltage sense circuit is ON and the MAX® 5300’s switched outlets are ON. When the diagnostic light is not

lit, the source component is turned off and there is no DC signal.

The MAX® 5300 also has the ability to pass through the DC signal from the voltage sense trigger to another slave device.

Please note: The Voltage Sense Trigger Output will not operate unless the Voltage Sense Trigger Input is connected to a

source.

Please note: The Switched Outlets pushbutton on the front

8 150 Mitchell Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94903 • www.panamax.com

FEATURE DETAILS

Circuit Breaker

A circuit breaker is located on the back panel of the MAX®5300. The circuit breaker will trip only if the total current draw
exceeds the maximum current rating (15A). This means that collectively, all outlets must draw more than 15 Amps before
the circuit breaker will trip.

SignalPerfect™Coaxial Line Protection

All coaxial cable sheaths from outdoors must be grounded to the building grounding electrode system
where they enter the building (per applicable NEC/CEC code). A driven ground rod is not adequate.

Panamax’s exclusive SignalPerfect™ Technology provides application-specific protection for your satellite and cable TV
equipment. Two lines of protection are provided for each type. The satellite connections are for coaxial cables connected to
a DBS (single or dual LNB) satellite dish. The antenna connection is for a non-amplified rooftop antenna or cable TV line.
The Additional TV connection protects the equipment plugged into the MAX® 5300 from “backdoor” surges in situations
where the video signal runs to another room for a downline TV.

Cable TV (Including HDTV) – TV tuners operate at approximately 10 millivolts (0.01 V) and utilize the frequency spec­trum of 50Mhz to 950Mhz. The clamping level of the MAX® 5300’s cable TV protection circuitry is 700 millivolts (0.7 volts).
That’s less than 1 volt above normal operating levels. The circuitry is shielded to prevent interference and has been opti­mized to have less than 1dB of signal loss throughout the entire 50Mhz to 950Mhz range.

Satellite - Satellite dish LNB’s can require up to 24 volts to operate and utilize the frequency range of 950Mhz to 2.2Ghz.
The clamping level of the MAX® 5300’s satellite protection circuitry is 27 volts - just 3 volts above the maximum operating
voltage. The circuitry is shielded to prevent interference and has been optimized to have less than 1dB of signal loss

throughout the entire 950Mhz to 2.05Ghz range and less than 2.4db up to 2.2Ghz.

SignalPerfect™ Telephone Line Protection

Satellite TV receivers require a telephone line connection for Pay-Per-View services. The MAX® 5300 also provides surge
protection for this line. One pair of RJ-11/45 compatible telephone jacks is provided for this. The circuitry utilizes auto­resetting PTCRs and solid-state SIDACtors™ for reliability and unsurpassed protection. The clamping level of the MAX®
5 3 0 0 ’s telephone protector is 260 volts. This will allow typical ring voltage (90-130VAC) and operating battery voltage
(-48DC) to pass through the circuit and still protect the modem in your satellite receiver from damage.

Please note: The protection circuitry will not work if the phone lines are reversed. The incoming phone cable must be
connected to the "LINE" jack and the cable to the audio/video equipment must be connected to the "EQUIP" jack.

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9

FEATURE DETAILS

The MAX® 5300 provides protection against common problems on the AC power line. This includes spikes/surges and
sustained overvoltages or undervoltages. Panamax’s exclusive Protect or Disconnect™ circuitry is designed to protect
against spikes/surges while the SurgeGate Plus™ circuitry is for sustained over/under voltage protection.

Protect or Disconnect™ AC Surge Protection

When the MAX® 5300 is subjected to a high voltage surge, its voltage output is limited to a safe level and the high levels
of surge current are diverted away from the connected equipment.

• When subjected to a 6,000V (open circuit voltage) / 500A (short circuit current) surge, the MAX® 5300 limits

1. Voltage reaches an unsafe level.

2. If surge is greater than MAX®

5300 capacity, it disconnects.

SurgeGate Plus™ Protection

its voltage output to less than 330V peak, UL’s lowest rating. The MAX® 5300 will withstand, without
damage, multiple 12,000A surges, far exceeding the UL maximum requirement of only 3,000 Ampere surges.

• If the magnitude of the surge is greater than the capacity of the surge protection components, the MAX® 5300’s
Protect or Disconnect™ Circuitry will disconnect your equipment in order to protect it. The MAX® 5300

will need to be repaired or replaced by Panamax if this occurs.

1. Voltage reaches an unsafe high
level and the SurgeGate Plus™

disconnects.

2. Voltage reaches a safe level and
SurgeGate Plus™ automatically

reconnects.

3. Voltage reaches an unsafe low level

and SurgeGate Plus™ disconnects.

4. Voltage reaches a safe level and
SurgeGate Plus™ automatically

reconnects.

The MAX® 5300 constantly monitors the AC line voltage for unsafe voltage conditions such as prolonged overvoltages
and undervoltages (brownouts). These unsafe conditions pose a very dangerous threat to all electronic equipment within
the home. If the MAX® 5300 senses an unsafe power condition, it will automatically disconnect your equipment from
the power to protect equipment from damage. Once the voltage returns to a safe level, the MAX® 5300 will automatically
reconnect the power.

If the line voltage exceeds the overvoltage threshold (132VAC) or falls below the undervoltage threshold (90VAC), the
MAX® 5300 will perform the following tasks until line voltage returns to a safe level:

1. Disconnects power to all connected equipment.

2. Unsafe Voltage LED is activated and will blink once per second during the unsafe voltage condition.

The MAX® 5300 requires line voltage to return to within the safe operating range for 10 seconds before returning to normal
operating mode. This is referred to as “Over/Undervoltage Recovery”. The safe operating range is considered 5V above the
under-voltage threshold (~95V) and 5V below the overvoltage threshold (~127V). Once this safe operating range is reached,
the MAX® 5300 will perform the following functions:

1. Unsafe Voltage LED will blink 4 times per second for Over/Undervoltage Recovery.

2. Power is restored to all connected equipment after the 10-second delay. The normal start-up sequence as
determined by the “High-Current Outlets Turn-On Switch” and “Outlet Bank 2 Turn-Off Switch” will be followed.

10

150 Mitchell Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94903 • www.panamax.com

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

GENERAL

Dimensions.......................................................17.25” W x 12” D x 3.5” H

Weight.............................................................................................16 lbs.

AC CIRCUIT

NOISE FILTRATION:

Filtered Outlet Banks........................................................55 dB (100 KHz - 1 MHz)

High-Current Outlets.......................................................50 dB (100 KHz - 1 MHz)

SURGE PROTECTION:

UL 1449 Surge Suppression Rating................................................................330V

Protection Modes....................................................................... L - N, L - G, N - G

Initial Clamping Level..........................................................200V Peak, 141V Rms

Response Time...............................................................................................<1ns

Joule Rating........................................................................................1790 Joules

Peak Impulse Current...............................................................................65,000A

Catastrophic Surge Circuit ..............................................................................YES

AC:

Line Voltage...............................................................................................120VAC

Max Current Rating......................................................................15A (1800 Watts)

Thermal Fuse...................................................................................................YES

Over/Under Voltage Protection.........................................................................YES

O v e r-voltage shutoff threshold................................................................132V

Under-voltage shutoff threshold................................................................90V

DC TRIGGER

Connection......................................................................................1/8" mini-plug

Voltage and Polarity.............................................................12VDC, bi-directional

Current Requirement.....................................................................................30mA

SATELLITE CIRCUIT

Clamping Level................................................................................................27V

Attenuation..............................................................<1 dB from 950MHz - 2.05GHz

<2.4 dB up to 2.2GHz

S h i e l d e d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Y E S

Connections......................................................................Gold plated, Female “F”

ANT/CATV CIRCUIT

Clamping Level...............................................................................................0.7V

Attenuation................................................................<1 dB from 50MHz -950MHz

S h i e l d e d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Y E S

Connections......................................................................Gold plated, Female “F”

TELEPHONE CIRCUIT

Clamping Level..............................................................................................260V

Capacitance......................................................................................30pf (approx.)

Suppression Modes...........................................................Metallic & Longitudinal

Wires Protected....................................................................2 wire/ 1 pr. (pins 4,5)

F u s e l e s s / A u t o - R e s e t t i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Y E S

C o n n e c t i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R J - 1 1 / 4 5

Design and specifications subject to change without notice due to product improvement.

CONTACTING PANAMAX

For product and warranty information, dealer information, and other general information contact
Customer Relations at:

• Email: [e-mail]

• www.panamax.com

• Fax [phone]

• 800-472-5555 or 415-499-3900, 7:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. PST

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11

FAQs

My MAX® 5300 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 warranty requirements.

Outlet Bank 2 is not switching ON or
OFF with the MAX® 5300. How can I fix
this?

These outlets may be set as either switched or
Always-On outlets. The 3-position, Turn-Off
Delay switch on the back panel controls this.
Change the setting of this switch from Always­On to a delayed setting. This will allow the
Outlet Bank 2 to become switched outlets.

The MAX® 5300 is ON but the Voltmeter
is not lit up. What is the problem?

Check the Meter Light Dimmer control to see if
the lighting is turned ON or OFF. If the control
knob is turned OFF, turn it ON and continue
turning until you have reached the desired light
level. If the control knob is turned ON and
there is no light, turn the knob to maximum. If
you still have no light, call Panamax Customer
Service for help.

There was a lightning strike in my
neighborhood and now my MAX® 5300
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® 5300
will need to be repaired or replaced. Please
refer to the preceding section on “Contacting
Panamax” or the warranty documentation for
more information.

What is the difference between a Surge
and Spike?

A spike is a high-energy pulse of electricity that
lasts for short periods of time (a few millisec­onds, 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
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 acci­dents 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 fre­quency signals emitted through the air and
induced into AC power lines. Audio/Video
equipment will pick up these signals and gen­erate enough noise to degrade picture and
sound quality.

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