CEDIA News: Vendors Bring The Power To Denver

By John Laposky On Sep 4 2008 - 6:00am

Power-management and surge-protection products debuts abound at CEDIA Expo here this week.

Panamax is debuting the new MIW-XT power-management extender system, designed to extend noise-free, safe power from Furman power management components to remote displays, ceiling-mounted video projectors or powered sub-woofers in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

The extender mounts behind a component and offers a thin profile that allows displays to hang less than 1 inch from the wall.

EMI/RFI noise filtration is built into outlet receptacles for improved audio and video quality. The suggested retail is $149.

Also new from Panamax is the MIW-Surge for high-end displays and components. The surge-protection system has a thin profile and mounts behind components to allow a display to hang less than 1 inch from the wall.

The system accommodates optional MIW signal line modules, including the MIW-5RCA, MIW-VGA, MIW-SVideo and MIW-Data.

The suggested retail is $69.95.

Both systems feature a Decora adapter to accommodate a variety of A/V connections, and a pass-through insert with adjustable depths for a one or two-port Keystone adapter or rubber grommet.

Panamax is in booth 618.

HD-Products (booth 371) will show the latest edition of its PowerBridge in-wall power solution for HDTV, an all-in-one kit for retro installations.

The kit consists of a recessed A/C receptacle that is installed behind a flat-panel TV wired with Romex directly to the inlet plug-in system, which can be connected to a surge protection or power conditioning console.

The kits are available with color wall plates in white, almond, ivory and black. The suggested retail is $99.95.

Atlanta-based Innovolt is showcasing in booth 466 its line of surge protection devices that utilizes patent- pending current and voltage surge suppressor (CVSSTM) technology — which protects electronic equipment against potentially damaging power disturbances such as voltage surges, current surges and under/over-voltage.

According to the company, most surge protectors available on the market are made with transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) technology and are designed to only protect against short duration voltage surges caused by lightning strikes, a phenomenon that represents less than one percent of all measured power disturbances.

Innovolt's CVSS products offer advanced diagnostics and energy-monitoring functions, made possible through the use of microprocessors. The diagnostic functions can provide an energy consumption profile, giving users an automated tool for monitoring and minimizing energy costs.

Suresh Sharma, president and CEO, said, "Surge-protection technology has not changed in more 20 years even as digital and video electronics have been revolutionized. In our mind this represents a significant market gap that Innovolt is directly addressing."

APC is premiering in booth 953 the AV G5 rack power filter featuring surge protection and noise filtration.

The unit has eight surge-protected outlets on the back of the unit, six for digital devices and two for high-current connections. Each outlet aids in noise filtering through isolated noise-filter banks. The unit also includes a convenience outlet on the front for installers. In addition, it has an LCD, delayed turn on/off (four banks), and included ears and feet for rack or shelf installation.

Available immediately the G5 has an suggested retail of $199 and comes standard with APC's lifetime equipment-protection policy, which covers properly connected equipment up to $500,000. It will be on display in booth 953.

APC is also debuting its in-wall power filter and connection kit designed for custom installations.

The kit ships with input and output receptacle boxes, an 8-foot output power cord, and a 2-foot input power cord for a TV or projector. The kit must be installed with a Romex run between the inlet box, located near the head end where the power conditioning equipment is located, and the outlet box, located directly behind the display. Component-specific noise filtering circuits ensure that audio and video signals are free of interference.

Available immediately, the kit has a suggested retail of $149.

APC will also show a line of A/V surge protectors ranging in price from $39.99 to $89.99.