The top conditioner model, GigaWatt PC-4 is equipped in a special, technologically advanced hydraulic-magnetic switch from the company Carling. This costly unit is manufactured in USA on special order and to specifications from GigaWatt.
This component has the role of the main power switch and a current flow control element in the conditioner. It opens the circuit only in the moment of surpassing the safe amount of current flowing through the conditioner. The switch, used in the PC-4, is free from the flaws typical to fuses and thermal protections, being the consequence of their simple construction. Those commonly used elements have, besides low price and obvious protective capabilities, have one weak point, which disqualifies them from usage in audio systems – they limit power supplied to the protected circuit. This flaw is a consequence of the small cross-section of those elements, what can be avoided using the hydraulic-magnetic switch used in the PC-4.
This component guarantees switching and supplying full declared power to the supplied devices. In addition it can deliver high constant current (25A), with peak values much higher (70A), what allows to supply power hungry devices like power amplifiers.
The used switch comes from the most advanced product line of the Carling company, while some accessory manufacturers use similar switches from a low-budget, economy series, or simple “house grade” over current switches, with a random parameters tolerance and unreliable function.