Furman Sound PS-8RE Remote Switching Units with R Suffix Only, Maintained Mode, Momentary Mode

Remote Switching (Units with “R” Suffix Only*)

Model PS-8R and PS-8RE differ from the corresponding models without the “R” suffix in the addition of a barrier terminal strip on the rear panel that allows a switch to be connected to turn the unit on and off at a distance, and also in the START ON-OFF SEQUENCE pushbutton on the front panel.

In the most basic configuration, only two Class 1 wires and an SPST switch are needed to initiate an ON or OFF sequence. The switch may be either a momentary or maintained-contact type. If a third wire is used, an LED may also be installed at the remote end to indicate that the power is on.

Maintained vs. Momentary Contact Switching

Maintained switches, such as most toggle switches and push-on/push-off button switches (including the Furman RS-1), stay open until thrown, then stay closed until thrown again. Momentary switches, usually pushbutton types like the Furman RS-2, are normally open and stay closed only as long as the button is pressed. An on-off switch of either kind may be used to actuate the PS-8’s remote operation.

Maintained switches are generally most convenient when there is only one remote location. When more than one switch location is required, momentary switches allow the sequence to be started from any location.

PS-8R units come factory-set for maintained operation. They may be easily converted to momentary operation by moving a jumper plug on the PS-8R’s circuit board. To do this:

1.Disconnect the unit from AC power.

2.Remove the four screws that secure the top cover.

3.In the rear left corner of the circuit board, there is an area labeled “REMOTE CONTROL.” There are two pairs of terminals in this area, one labeled “MAINTAINED” and the other “MOMENTARY.” There is a small black jumper linking the MAINTAINED terminals. Slide it up and off, and replace itsecurely over the MOMENTARY terminals.

4.Reattach the top cover.

Maintained Mode

A simple connection of the REM IN terminal to the +12V terminal initiates an OFF sequence. Disconnecting it initiates an ON sequence. If the cable run is long, it is recommended that the REM IN wire be tied to the PS-8R’s GND terminal during ON op- eration rather than leaving it floating. This will require the use of a third conductor and a double-throw switch.

The STATUS terminal is an output that may be used to illuminate an LED at the remote location to indicate that power is available at the PowerPort’s outlets. If it is high (+5V), the unit is ON (or at least in the process of sequencing ON); if low, the unit is OFF (or sequencing OFF). Simply connect the indicator LED between STATUS and ground (do not use a series resistor). If the LED does not light when the switch is in the ON position, check the polarity and reverse the LED leads (if it is wrong). If a Furman RS-1 is the controlling switch, contact Furman’s Tech Support de- partment for the proper wiring diagrams.

In Maintained Mode, DO NOT USE the “START ON-OFF SE- QUENCE” switch on the front panel. If you do, you may activate an unintended partial turn-off sequence.

Momentary Mode

In Momentary Mode, the PS-8R has "memory" — it only needs a momentary signal from the remote switch to change its state from ON to OFF.

When first plugged in (or after power is lost and reapplied for any reason) the "memory" state is OFF. This means the unit will be OFF even if the front panel on/off rocker switch is on. It will stay off until sequenced on by a momentary connection of the REM IN terminal to +12V. The sequence starts on the rising edge of the signal.

The front panel START ON-OFF SEQUENCE switch is in par- allel with, and functionally equivalent to, one or more remote mo- mentary switches connected to the barrier strip in the rear.

The “memory” is independent of the front panel on/off rocker switch. This means that even if the unit is sequenced OFF by the rocker switch on the front panel, when the rocker switch is turned back on the unit will sequence back on — it will not be necessary to push the START ON-OFF SEQUENCE button again. The unit “remembers” its state until the incoming power is lost, which would then default back to OFF.

The front panel rocker is not the primary means of control in momentary mode, and should normally be left ON. It may be a useful secondary means of control in the rare case of having several PS-8R’s in parallel, if there is some reason to shut down one unit without affecting the others.

Because it is a maintained-contact switch, the RS-1 is not an appropriate remote switch for the PS-8R when it is in momentary mode. The momentary-contact RS-2 would be the correct choice.

Multiple Units

You can use more than one PS-8R to handle loads that ex- ceed 15 amps. The power input for each PS-8R should come from a separate 15 amp AC circuit. To control PS-8R’s remotely with one or more remote switches, connect the REM IN +12V (and optionally GND) terminals of all units together. Be sure that the mode (momentary or maintained) of all units is set the same. Con- nect a single maintained switch or one or more momentary switches to the nearest PS-8R, as discussed above. If you are unsure whether your building wiring can accommodate multiple fully-loaded PS-8’s or PS-8R’s, consult a qualified electrician.

If multiple PS-8R’s are controlled by one or more momentary remote switches, they will all change state (from on to off or vice versa) on each rising edge of the voltage on the REM IN terminal. Any remote switch AND any of the grey pushbuttons on any unit’s front panel will toggle all the units.The rocker switch on each unit’s front panel will turn off any individual unit that is currently on, with- out affecting the other units.

The STATUS lines work the same in either mode. Each reflects the true state of the outlets of its unit, and is affected by both the “memorized” state and by the front panel rocker switch. A separate LED must be used to indicate the status of each PS-8R.

To take care of the case of having several PS-8R’s in parallel that somehow get out of sync such that every time a remote button is pushed, some units turn on and others turn off, there is a special feature of the remote signal line:

Holding the REM line high for at least 4 seconds (whether by an actual remote switch or by any unit's front panel switch) will force all units to the OFF state, which will put them back in sync. This is the only way to re-sync units other than disconnecting AC power to all the units. Remember — operating the front panel rocker switch does NOT affect the stored state of the unit, even though it does temporarily turn the outputs off.

This section covers the case of multiple units in parallel (all sequences initiate simultaneously). See “AC Relay Accessory PS-REL” on the following page for a discussion of wiring multiple units in series.

*Momentary mode switching is not available in PS-8R’s with serial numbers below H12757.