IT-Reference 7 - Owner's Manual F e at u r e s 7 amp capacity is ideal for upgrading an existing power conditioner or conditioning a remotely located video product Discrete Symmetrical Balanced Power cancels hum-inducing noise and video bars by breaking ground loops Linear Filtering Technology (LiFT) for unequaled audio and video clarity Series Multi-Stage Protection Plus (SMP+) provides maximum AC surge suppression and Extreme Voltage Shutdown (EVS) 3 cable / satellite F-connector pairs for transient voltage surge suppression -- IT-Reference 7 - Owner's Manual IntroductIon For over 31 years, Furman has pioneered the development of AC power products for the most demanding audio, video, and broadcast professionals. Though the need for pristine AC power is nothing new, the IT-Reference 7's technology and its unique implementation are revolutionary and without peer. The extreme AC demands encountered in the professional audio/video arena have required technological developments far in excess of typical home theater/audiophile power products. In studios, live sound, and broadcast facilities, breakdown is unacceptable. Equipment failure or poor performance is costly. The same is true of today's home theater. Our solution based technology, extensive engineering expertise, and robust build quality have answered the challenge of today's corrupted power lines, and led to the creation of the IT-Reference 7. Today's AC lines are plagued with ever increasing noise. When AC noise couples into your system's critical components, it masks low level signals and cripples performance. This low level content is critical because it relays the crucial harmonics and ambience in audio, and depth and clarity in video. With the IT-Reference 7's exclusive Discrete Symmetrical Power, video screens, projectors, CD-DVD players, pre-amplifiers, and scalers are fed either linearly-filtered ultra-lownoise power, as well as discrete symmetrically balanced power. This dramatically reduces AC noise, ensuring peak operation of your critical components. For the first time, you will see and hear your theater or audio system as it should be ­ uncompromised. Further, our Discrete Symmetrical Power features total isolation from other components connected to other AC power sources. This positively breaks noise-inducing ground loops, hum bars, and power supply backwash between critical interconnected equipment, all without compromising electrical safety. This enables a plasma, LCD screen, or video projector to function without AC ground contamination from an audio processor or power amplifiers. When employing the IT-Reference 7 you will immediately notice far clearer, stunningly focused sound and visual images from your system. Video presentation will be crisp and colors true with greater gray and black scale definition, as well as noticeably improved depth and clarity. Sonic transients will be startlingly fast, mid and high frequencies will bloom with sweet, non-glaring ease while imaging improves dramatically. All the while remaining true to your system's inherent virtues. I n s ta l l at I o n Before unpacking your unit, inspect the carton for any obvious severe damage to the box and internal protective materials. If internal damage is likely, contact the carrier who delivered the unit before proceeding with unpacking. If, after unpacking, shipping damage is evident, contact the carrier. Save all shipping and packing materials. You may need them if you should ever have to return the unit to the factory for servicing. The box should contain the IT-Reference 7 unit, detachable AC cord, rack mount kit, owner's manual, and warranty registration card. If anything is missing, please contact Furman Customer Service. Fill out and return your warranty registration card or register the product online at www.FurmanSound.com. Registration is recommended because it can be used to establish whether the unit is within the warranty period should your original ownership documents be lost, and it assists us in informing -3- IT-Reference 7 - Owner's Manual you about upgrades or other vital information. Registering the product also upgrades your warranty from one year to five years. The IT-Reference 7 requires that a safety ground be present for proper operation. Any attempt to operate the IT-Reference 7 without a safety ground is considered improper operation and will invalidate the warranty. PoWer source The power source to which the IT-Reference 7 is connected should be adequate for use at 7 Amps. Typical household outlets will have a current capacity of at least 10 - 15 amps. Placement The IT-Reference 7 is manufactured with four rubber feet for placement on any table, cabinet, shelf, or floor. These rubber feet may be easily removed with a standard Philips screw driver when rack mounting adjacent to other components. Because of the IT-Reference 7's internal shielding, placement or proximity to other components is not critical, and the ITReference 7 does not produce any appreciable heat under standard use. The IT- Reference 7 may also be rack mounted in a standard 19" rack by attaching the rack ears. These rack ears (contained within the plastic rack kit package) mount flush with the back portion of the ITReference 7's front panel. They are attached to the chassis by removing the () countersunk screws on each forward-side of the chassis top cover. Each rack ear is installed with (3) panhead Philips screws contained within the ITReference 7 rack mounting kit. The third screw used for each rack ear is for the center hole, located towards the rear and aids in stabilizing the unit when rack mounted. s a F e t y I n F o r m at I o n and WarnIngs Please read and observe all of the safety and operating instructions before the IT-Reference 7 is operated. Retain these instructions for future reference. Do not disassemble or modify in any way. No user-serviceable parts inside Keep away from moisture and avoid excessive humidity Do not allow liquids or foreign objects to enter the unit Household lighting equipment may not be connected to the IT-Reference 7 because their sockets are not designed for use with symmetrical power and may present a shock hazard. We recommend that only audio, video and computer processing equipment be connected to the IT-Reference 7. The IT-Reference 7 should be serviced by qualified service personnel when: The power supply cord or plug has been frayed or cut. Objects have fallen or liquid has spilled into the unit. The IT-Reference 7 has been exposed to rain or other moisture. The IT-Reference 7 does not appear to operate normally, or exhibits a marked change in performance. The IT-Reference 7 has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged. connectIon ac cable routIng Once the IT-Reference 7 is placed, its AC cord's female end must be plugged into the male IEC -- IT-Reference 7 - Owner's Manual connector located on the left hand side of the rear panel (when facing the rear panel). Next the male Edison plug must be connected to an appropriate socket (see current rating recommendation above). connectIng comPonents to the symmetrIcal PoWer banks The IT-Reference 7's four "Symmetrically Balanced Power Outlets" should be employed for critical video components such as DVD players, projectors, Plasma, or LCD video screens. These outlets are not recommended for most receivers, power amplifiers or powered subwoofers, due to potential current compression when employing an isolation transformer to supply AC power. See your authorized Furman dealer or Furman Customer Service when attempting to use the IT-Reference 7 to defeat a ground loop. There are typically many options that will work. For example, if a subwoofer is added to a system, and hum results, it may be possible to eliminate the buzz by using the IT-Reference 7 on one of the pre-amplifiers, satellite receivers or processors that feed the subwoofer its signal. soFt start - contInuous use and break-In tIme When power is first applied to the IT-Reference 7, (the front panel breaker- power toggle must be switched to the "on" position) the Soft Start feature is activated. There is an audible "clack" when the IT-Reference is first turned on or off. This sound is produced by the Soft Start circuit's 30 Amp relay engaging or disengaging. There is virtually nothing in the IT-Reference 7's construction, design, or componentry to wear over the life time of the product, and there is no power draw from your electric service meter aside from the LED power indicator, relay, and GFCI protection circuit. For this reason the ITReference 7 may be left with its power engaged permanently at a cost of pennies per month. This is an added benefit, as many audio/videophiles find performance improves significantly when leaving low-powered components permanently charged (turned on). In fact, this is true of the ITReference 7. Though it will function flawlessly right from its shipping carton, the performance of its circuit parts will improve after approximately two weeks of continuous use or "break-in." ground Fault InterruPter (gFcI) The IT- Reference 7's four "Discrete Symmetrical Filtered AC outlets" incorporate a symmetrically balanced AC power output, whereby both the neutral and positive leads of the AC cable run at 60 Volts AC in opposing polarity, referenced to ground (0 Volts AC). This is but one of the ITReference 7's advantages over other AC-filter/ protection designs. Even though virtually all domestically produced electronic equipment are designed to detect electrical shorts and other potentially dangerous equipment problems in the line lead referenced to its Neutral, this is inadequate when power is "balanced." With the IT-Reference 7's symmetrical outlets, both neutral and positive legs contain 60 VAC relative to their Ground tab. This is not a problem or safety hazard, unless there is a defect in either the IT- Reference 7's transformer, or the power supply of a connected component. In this instance, we need to assure that safety is always maintained. The solution is our GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter). The Furman GFCI detects any imbalance in the current flowing in the two hot legs. The missing current is presumed to be flowing through the ground conductor (the round pin on an AC outlet). Ground current often indicates a dangerous partial or full short circuit. If an imbalance is detected, the GFCI will trip the outlets internal breaker, and the Duplex AC outlet will no longer supply AC power of any sort. To restore operation, correct the fault, press the reset tab located between the two black balanced AC -5- IT-Reference 7 - Owner's Manual outlets. 5 mA of current is enough to cause the GFCI to trip; to troubleshoot this type of problem, start with nothing connected to the IT-Reference 7's balanced power outlets. Then, add each piece of equipment until the GFCI trips. Contact the manufacturer of the suspect unit for possible solutions. even though AC power is present at the unit's outputs. If this happens, some level of protection from voltage surges will remain, but the unit's clamping voltage rating will be compromised. The unit must be returned to Furman Sound, or an authorized Furman's Service center for repair. dImmIng the ProtectIon ok Front Panel IndIcator Some installations will require placement of this power conditioner within sight of your video screen. When the rooms lights are fully dimmed for video viewing this can be an annoyance, so we have included a dim switch on the rear of the unit. This will not disable the indicator; it simply reduces its brightness. NOTE: If the mains power is above the high cutoff voltage and has caused the unit to remove power from its outlets, it cannot restore power without the operator manually turning the unit off, then on again. Avoid turning the unit back on without first checking the source of the problem and changing the AC source if necessary. I n d I c at o r l e d s extreme Voltage shutdoWn IndIcator: This LED is normally off. It monitors AC wiring faults ­ for example, accidental connection to an open neutral from a 08 or 0VAC feed (this is a common occurrence if the AC outlet source is not a dedicated line, but instead has been wired with a daisy-chained neutral from a homes breaker box). The Series Multi-stage Protection (SMP) circuit senses voltages that are so high that operation would be impossible and shuts the power down before damage can occur. Upon initially applying power to these units, the Extreme Voltage indicator LED will light if the input voltage is above the extreme voltage cutoff, and power will not be applied to the unit's outlets. If the unit has been operating with an acceptable input voltage and subsequently that voltage exceeds 137V, it will shut off power to the outlet and the Extreme Voltage LED will light. ProtectIon ok IndIcator ­ Front Panel blue led PoWer IndIcator Although the Furman SMP circuit assures virtually maintenance free protec ...