PS Audio Power Plant P300 User manual

PS Audio International, Inc.
4826 Sterling Dr.
Boulder, CO 80301 USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.psaudio.com
Warranty and Service
Inside the U.S. and Canada
PS Audio’s warranty is 3 years parts and
labor, from the date of original purchase.
This means that we warranty the product
itself regardless of ownership, new or used.
Outside the U.S. and Canada
PS Audio has authorized distribution in
many countries of the world. In each
country, the authorized importing retailer or
distributor has accepted the responsibility
for warranty of products
sold by that retailer or
distributor. Warranty ser-
vice should normally be
obtained from the import-
ing retailer or distributor
from whom you purchased
the product. In the unlikely
event of service required
beyond the capability of
the importer, PS Audio will
fulfill the conditions of the
warranty. Such product
must be returned at the
owner’s expense to the PS Audio factory.
Contact your PS Audio distributor or the
PS Audio customer service department for
more information.
Service issues
Should your unit ever require service or if
you have any technical questions about the
Power Plant, you must either contact your
dealer (PS Audio if purchased direct) or your
PS Audio distributor. No equipment will be
received at our service facilities without an
attached RA number.
If purchased through an
authorized PS Audio dealer
or distributor, the RA num-
ber must be obtained by
the dealer or distributor. If
the product was purchased
from PS Audio direct, this
can easily be obtained by
contacting PS Audio at:
E-mail -
[email protected]
Phone - 720.406.8946
Fax - 720.406.8967
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Table of Contents
2. Warning
2. Safety Instructions
2. Overview
3. Quick Start Guide
3. Rear Panel Layout
4. Front Panel Controls
4. Isolated Ground Post
4. Power Plant Operation
5. MultiWave II+™ Waveforms
6. Servo System
6. Troubleshooting Guide
7. Specifications
8. Warranty and Service
What’s In the Box
• One PS Audio Power Plant P300
• One 2m power cable
• One operating manual
• One 5amp slow blow spare fuse
IMPORTANT:
Be sure to save all packing materials
included with the Power Plant P500 as this
will be required if you ever need to ship the
unit for service or modification.
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2
Warning
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
expose the unit to rain or moisture. To avoid
electrical shock, do not open the enclosure.
Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.
To prevent electric shock, use a 3 prong,
grounded type power cable.
Any change or modifications not expressly
approved in the manual could void your
warranty.
Safety Instructions
Any turntable or equipment with AC
synchronous motors, such as some cooling
fans should not be used with MultiWave II+.
This equipment must be used with 60Hz
SineWave mode.
We recommend the use of the SineWave
[sin] or TubeWave [tub] with any type of
tube based audio products.
Read the operating instructions provided
with the P300.
Retain the operating instructions for later
use and reference
Unplug the P300 from the wall outlet before
changing the fuse or performing any clean-
ing or service.
Do not operate the P300 near water. Avoid
placement near a water reservoir or exces-
sive moisture.
When replacement parts are required, be
sure they are specified by the manufacturer
to have the same characteristics as the
original part. Unauthorized substitutions
may result in fire, electric shock, or other
hazards.
Do not operate with faulty or frayed power
cables.
Do not operate the P300 with the LED load
indicator when illuminated RED or YELLOW
for extended amounts of time.
Overview
The Power Plant P300 is a power
regenerator capable of delivering the highest
level of AC performance to all audio and
video components.
The PS Audio Power Plant P300 is
designed to operate as a stand-alone power
management device, or as part of a larger
power management system. The P300 is
capable of producing, clean and safe power
for a small 2 channel audio system or small
home theater system.
The P300 is capable of delivering up to
300 watts of peak power, depending on
the load.
• Up to 300 watts peak power delivery
• Next generation MultiWave II+ technology
featuring TubeWave.
• Regenerated AC delivered through 4
Power Port outlets.
• Front panel displays waveform setting,
output voltage and wattage.
• Reduction of AC line noise by more than
70dB.
• High voltage surge suppression devices
for surge and spike protection.
• Lowers AC impedance.
My turntable or fan based equipment is
not operating normally
Any turntable or equipment with AC
synchronous fans should not be used with
MultiWave II+. These products must be
used with 60Hz SINE mode.
The P300 shut down, the display is blank
and the fuses are not blown
If airflow is inadequate or room temperature
is very warm and the P300 is run near 100%
capacity for very long periods of time this
type of shut-down may occur. If this occurs
the load should be lessened on the P300 or
else improve the airflow around the P300.
My P300 is making a strange noise
The cooling fan in the P300 may produce
a slight whirring noise is normal when the
P300 is at operating temperature. The
If the fan is making a ticking noise, then
the fan connection wire may have shifted
in transit and is contacting the blades of the
fan. Remove the bottom plate of the P300
(10 philips type screws) and check to be
sure the wire is not contacting the fan.
My fan is not operating, or the fan is
always operating
The fan of the P300 will turn on when the
unit is at operating temperatures. It takes
about 30 minutes for the P300 to reach full
operating temprature.
If the P300 is placed in a warm environ-
ment or if gear is constantly connected, the
P300 may not drop below normal operating
temerature. In this case the fan will operate
continusly.
How do I reset the settings to factory
default?
To revert to the default factory settings.
Simply switch the P300 off at the back
panel. The default settings are: Sin mode,
60hz, 117v (export - 220v, Japan - 100v).
Specifications
Output:
Power - 300 Watts
Voltage - 95-240 Vts
Frequency - 50-120 Hz
(depending on model)
Current - 2 Amps
Peak - 3 Amps
Distortion (THD) - 0.1%
Input:
AC input range - 90-250Volts
(depending on model)
Frequency input - 50/60 Hz
Input capacity - 750 VA
Power consumption - 15 Watts
(with no load)
General:
Width - 9 in
Height - 5.5 in
Depth - 19 in
Weight - 30 lbs
Cooling system - forced
convection
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The partial square wave setting improves
the power supply’s ability to charge the
capacitors in equipment by extending the
length of time available to "top off" the
capacitors' voltage. Use this setting to
enhance the performance of both source
and power equipment.
[P-2] MultiWave2
MultiWave2 is a 60Hz sine wave that
incorporates a pseudorandom collection
of frequencies which are dithered from 55-
65Hz.
Using this slightly random frequency
deviation is similar to adding dither on a
digital audio source. Power supply dithering
can lower the perceived noise floor and help
remove apparent glare on the audio signal.
[P-3] MultiWave3
MultiWave3 is a combination of P-1 with
a slight degree of 3rd harmonic addition
(P-1).
Try this setting and see how the audio
sounds and the video looks. All systems
can respond differently to each MultiWave
pattern.
[P-4] MultiWave4
MultiWave4 is full combination of P-1 and P-
2. It generates a pseudorandom collection of
frequencies, however instead of generating
sine waves it generates the same waveform
as P-1.
Again, try these settings on your system to
see which one has the highest perceived
benefit in terms of performance.
Servo System
The Power Plant provides a virtual servo
system to continually correct for any DC off-
set. This will reduce hum from problematic
or sensitive transformers as the Power Plant
produces pure AC waveforms indefinitely
without the need for calibration.
Troubleshooting Guide
The Power Plant P300 sets a new mark for
performance and protection. It has been
designed to bring forth the absolute best
from the connected equipment. In addition
to the audio and video improvements, the
P300 will also provide long-term product
reliability and the piece of mind that
connected equipment is safe from electrical
disturbances.
In the event of abnormal operation with
the P300, please refer to the following
suggestions:
Unit will not turn on
1. Check the obvious. Is it plugged in and
is the AC wall outlet live? This can easily
be tested by using a functional lamp. Plug
the lamp into the wall outlet and see if the
light works. If not, the P300 may be plugged
into a switched outlet, or perhaps the circuit
breaker feeding the outlet has tripped and
needs resetting.
2. After plugging the unit into the wall,
the P300 will only become activated after
flipping the rear switch and pressing the
front panel power button. Be sure that the
unit is both plugged into the wall and turned
on by the both power buttons.
3. Check the Main Fuse. The chances of
the Power Plant’s main fuse being blown
are very remote. However, if the Main
Fuse is blown, the P300 will be completely
inoperable. To check the fuse, locate the
section of the back panel between the IEC
socket and the mail power switch. See page
3 for more detail.
Unplug the unit from the wall, remove the
fuse and check its conductivity. If necessary,
replace the fuse and try powering up
the P300. If the main fuse is blown and
a replacement fuse does not solve the
problem, please contact your dealer for
additional service.
The P300 seems to be working, but the
display is blank
The P300 may be in the display blanking
mode. Press the Mode button on the front
panel and the display should turn back on.
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Quick Start Guide
1. Place the P300 in a rack or on a shelf in
the audio/video system. If placed on carpet
it is necessary to use isolation or accessory
feet to elevate it above the carpet 1 inch, as
it is essential for proper ventilation. Failure
to do so could compromise the power
regeneration capabilities of the P300.
2. Connect the power cable(s) of the audio/
video equipment to the P300. There are two
electrically isolated duplex receptacles on
the P300, which are oriented horizontally.
3. Plug the P300 into a power source.
Use the supplied AC power cable, or an
aftermarket power cable. We would strongly
urge the use of an xStream Power Cable.
4. Turn on the P300 by switching the rear
panel rocker switch and then, pressing the
power button located on the far left side of
the front panel.
5. If desired, select a MultiWave II+ setting
using the front panel controls. See the
MultiWave II+ section of the manual for
more information on MultiWave II+
Default settings
The P300 comes from the factory with
standard default settings that should work
well for most situations. The type of power
delivery can be configured to achieve the
optimal performance for any system.
Rear Panel Layout
1. Coaxial pass-through
The P300 comes equipped with a coaxial
pass-through for providing protection to a
cable TV coaxial lead. It can also reduce
ground loop problems associated with the
cable TV coaxial lead.
2. Main Power Switch
The P300 has two power switches. The
rear panel switch is the main power switch.
Turning on the rear panel switch will put the
unit into standby mode.
To fully activate the unit press the soft power
switch on the front panel.
3. AC Power Inlet
15 Amp IEC standard male socket.
4. Main Fuse
The main fuse is a 5 Amp slow blow. The
fuse holder can be removed by inserting a
flat device into the notch in the fuse holder
and pulling straight out (like a drawer).
5. Isolated Ground Post
The P300 allows for an isolated ground line
to be used instead of the ground from the
wall outlet. See the Isolated Ground Post
section for more information.
6. Power Ports™
Two PS Audio Power Ports™ provide
the best possible connection to power
equipment.
There are two Power Port duplexes
(oriented horizontally). They are
wired in paralled to provide a degree
of eletrical isolation between the top
and bottom set of outlets.
Underside ventilation slots (not
show)
The ventilation slots provide exhaust
for the P300's thermally controlled
cooling fan. Leave at least 1 inch of
clearance underneath the unit at all
times.
The cooling fan may be audible during
soft musical passages or in quiet
listening environents.

Isolated Ground Post
Using an isolated ground wire provides
greater flexability with system grounding
options. Before attaching the isolated ground
wire to the grounding post on the P300 the
internal ground wire must be disconnected.
Place the P300 on its upsidedown so the
underside is exposed. Remove the bottom
cover of the P300 and set it to the side. Be
cautious of the wires which are connected
to the bottom cover. Locate the green cable
which runs from the rear outlets to the main
cirucit board. Disconnect the 2 halves of the
white in-line connecter on the green cable.
The P300's circuitry will still be grounded via
the input power cable. This operation will
only disconnect the ground to the rear panel
Power Ports.
Replace the bottom cover and screws. Now
attach the isolated ground wire to the post.
All products powered by the power plant
will use this ground instead of the ground
supplied in the wall outlet.
Front Panel Controls
There are four buttons on the front panel of
the Power Plant P300.
1. Power
2. Mode
3. Frequency Down
4. Frequency Up
Power On/Off
The power button will activate the front panel
display and provide power to the outlets.
Mode
The Mode button cycles through the
available display modes.
Frequency
The Frequency Up and Frequency Down
buttons cycle through the available options
within each display mode.
Power Plant Operation
There are five available display modes on
the front panel of the Power Plant. The
Mode button will cycle through the following
five modes:
1. Waveform setting
2. Frequency generated (sin mode only)
3. Voltage produced
4. Wattage produced
5. Display blanking mode
6. Clean Sweep
Waveform setting
This mode will display the name of the
waveform presently being generated.
For more information about each of the
MultiWave settings, see the MultiWave II+
Waveforms section of the manual.
Frequency generated
The frequency setting will only be displayed
if the Waveform menu is set to Sin.
This mode will display the frequency the
Power Plant is generating. The frequency
can be adjusted in 1 hertz increments from
50Hz to 120Hz by using the Up and Down
buttons. The default setting is 60Hz.
New with MultiWave II+ is the ability to fine
tune the frequency which is particularly
useful with turntables.
Frequency Fine Tuning
1) After selecting the desired frequency,
press the Mode Button. This will take you to
the frequency fine tuning menu.
2) You can go up or down in 0.125Hz steps
up to a full +/- 1hz of range. The display will
read -8 to 0 to 8. Each step is 0.125Hz.
3) If you change the main frequency, the fine
tuning value will be cleared.
Voltage produced
This mode will display the output voltage of
the Power Plant. Note: the voltage figure
will be flashing. The output voltage can
be adjusted in 1 volt increments by using
the Frequency Up and Down buttons. The
range varies depending on the Power Plant
model:
• 100 volt model ranges from 95 - 105 v.
Default setting is 100 volts.
• 115 volt model ranges from 100 - 120 v.
Default setting is 117 volts.
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• 230 volt model ranges from 220 - 240 v.
Default setting is 220 volts.
(adjustments in 2 volt increments)
As long as the voltage to the Power Plant
does not deviate more than 10% below
normal it will continue to output the voltage
displayed on the front panel.
Wattage produced
This mode will display, in real-time, the
approximate wattage the Power Plant is
generating. Complex loads may not register
accurately on the Power Plant's meter. For
true power consumption figures consult the
owners manual of the connected product.
Under normal operation a green LED will
illuminate. A yellow LED will indicate a
heavy load and is not recommeded for
continous operation. A red LED indicates an
overload or fault mode.
Display Blanking
This mode allows discrete operation by
blanking the display. The PS logo will
continue to illuminate in blue to indicate that
the unit is operational.
Clean Sweep
Clean Sweep is a revolutionary new feature
of the Power Plant that, in effect, cleans
and demagnetizes the power supplies and
power cables of all connected equipment.
We recommend running this feature before
every serious listening session. There is a
60 second Clean Sweep mode, which is to
be used for initial cleaning before listening.
There is a Quick Sweep mode that will clean
for 5 seconds and is designed for use as a
touch up cleaning action when needed.
1) Press the Mode Button until the word Cln
appears on the display.
2) For a full system cleaning process (60
seconds), press the frequency down button.
3) For a quick clean (5 seconds), press the
frequency up button.
4) The cleaning process is complete once
the countdown stops and the world Cln is
displayed on the display.
Notice of MultiWave II+ operation:
Any turntable or equipment with AC
synchronous motors, such as some cooling
fans should not be used with MultiWave
patterns. This type of equipment must be
used with 60Hz sin mode.
We recommend the use of the SineWave
[sin], or TubeWave™ [tub] with any type of
tube based audio products.
MultiWave II+ Waveforms
[sin] SineWave
In the sine wave mode the Power Plant will
generate a perfect sine wave (50-120Hz).
[tub] TubeWave
TubeWave is specifically designed to opti-
mize the performance of tube based audio
products.
TubeWave uses the same pseudorandom
generation of frequencies as MultiWave2
waveform, however it utilizes more “tube-
friendly” frequencies.
[P-1] MultiWave1
MultiWave1 is a single 60Hz sine wave
with a minute amount of 3rd Harmonic
sine waves mixed together to form a
single partial square MultiWave. This is an
improved version of PS2 from the original
MultiWave™ series.
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