Apc h15

[holt]

2 days ago I got an APC H15 power conditioner to replace the old power strip I had previously been using for all components except my amps, which are plugged directly into the outlets. Everything is fine and I've noticed a difference sonically and visually, ....BUT.... the "wiring is okay" light doesn't come on.

Of course I read the manual and the possible causes with the the recommendation to hire an electrician, but I'm kind of in disbelief. My house was built in 1991 and the electrical has been checked before. I switched outlets to see if I had an outlet with reversed polarity, but it was the same on a different outlet on the same circuit. I would assume if I had an overloaded neutral I would be getting tripped circuits, which has never happened on my 20 amp circuits (I guess it still could be the case, I don't know....). That would mean a missing ground. The power in my neighborhood is all underground and I'm wondering if that may play into this..

Anyway, to keep from rambling, has anyone had this encounter and what did you find was the cause? I will call an electrician if needed, but I'm just wondering what others found to be the cause. Thanks!

[acmf74]

I have the same issue.

I will be installing an outlet directly to my fuse box to see if this remedies the situation.

[holt]

I have the same issue.

I will be installing an outlet directly to my fuse box to see if this remedies the situation.

Boy, I hope that isn't the fix for this problem for me.... Where my system is set up, I have a vaulted ceiling and a long run to my panel, it would cost a lot to run a dedicated circuit.

acmf74, did you have an electician look at your wiring?

[heiney9]

I believe it could also mean reversed polarity at the plug. Go to the hardware store and buy a circuit tester or call an electrician

H9

[holt]

I believe it could also mean reversed polarity at the plug. Go to the hardware store and buy a circuit tester or call an electrician

H9

That is why I tried it on another outlet... Could be both are reversed. I guess the next thing is to get a circuit tester and then hire an electrician. ....Kind of tempted to just leave well enough alone since I've had no problems, but now that I'm aware, it will just bug the hell out of me.

[heiney9]

It wouldn't be uncommon for more than one outlet to have reversed polarity. My brother had a similar issue in an older house. I can't remember how it affects the audio gear plugged into it. Maybe do a google search to see how it affects your gear. But still not for sure what it the issue is.

H9

[acmf74]

Boy, I hope that isn't the fix for this problem for me.... Where my system is set up, I have a vaulted ceiling and a long run to my panel, it would cost a lot to run a dedicated circuit.

acmf74, did you have an electician look at your wiring?

Luckily my HT is a few feet away from my fuse box.

I even went to the extent of getting a hospital grade outlet (thanks to my wonderful sister-in-law) and heavy gauge outlet wire. :)

I will have a electrician run the wire for me...

[holt]

You are lucky.... I don't have that kind of access to where my system is. I'll get a meter and check to see if reverse polarity is a problem, and if it is, fix it myself. But for the life of me, I can't imagine why an electrician would have been that careless when wiring the plugs in my house if it is reverse polarity.

[heiney9]

You are lucky.... I don't have that kind of access to where my system is. I'll get a meter and check to see if reverse polarity is a problem, and if it is, fix it myself. But for the life of me, I can't imagine why an electrician would have been that careless when wiring the plugs in my house if it is reverse polarity.

Are you the first owner? If not, perhaps a previous owner did.

[tonyb]

May also be a grounding problem to cause the lite to not come on. Unless the unit has a seperate lite for ground ok that is. Is the amp plugged into the APC unit? If so, plug it into another outlet directly.

[holt]

You got a point. My house was a rental before I bought it and fixed it up. A lot of what I did was re-doing the botched, cheap fix the prior owner did on things to cut costs.

I've done some reading on reverse polarity. I've read that it will not damage electrical gadgets because they basically don't care whether the white is hot or not, but it can leave you open for a nasty shock if a wire becomes loose.

You can look at the outlet and see if its wired correctly and if not, fix it. But if it does look wired correctly that still doesn't mean you don't have a reverse polarity up the stream, and that's where I would need an electrician.

[holt]

May also be a grounding problem to cause the lite to not come on. Unless the unit has a seperate lite for ground ok that is. Is the amp plugged into the APC unit? If so, plug it into another outlet directly.

The amps are plugged independently from the APC. I was wondering though if it could be a ground problem at that box. First thing I'll do is remove the outlet covers and see if the plugs are wired correctly, if they are, I'll call an electrician from there as I don't like electricity after its knocked me off ladders a few times when I was young and dumb (dumber than now).