power conditioner project anyone ??

[SGregory]

Real solution to dirty power is proper design of Power Supplies and Filtration. Power in my area looks like a square wave at best and spikes everytime the wind blows.

CVT's work but as was said before they need to be loaded properly and you DON'T want them in your listening area unless youe like to to listen to your power.

[Marcelinho]

A good surge protection schematic and theorie
AC Power filter and phone line filter (homemade circuit breaker) | Your Electronics Open Source

[westom]

Originally Posted by Marcelinho

A good surge protection schematic and theorie

That solution is already inside electronic appliances. Is one of many reasons why electronics make transients only noise.

Another completely different anomaly is a surge. A surge will simply blow right through that 'protector' circuit. MOVs in that protector can see no voltage as a surge is creating thousands of volts inside the appliance. How can that be? Well, the statement is correct. If not understood, then basic electronic concepts must be learned.

So, what anomaly does that schematic solve? Listed were many anomalies. Which ones on that list (or others) does that circuit solve? A question that is answered with numbers. A recommendation without defining 'what' is solved is also how many promote scams.

What that schematic does was standard inside electronic appliances even before the first IBM PC existed. A transient at thousands of volts can also result in no voltage on the MOV RV2. Once understood, only then can a solution be recommended.

Chances are that $500 Monster product is marketing the same schematic. Why such a massive difference between parts cost and its retail price? Monster has a long history of marketing similar products with obscene profit margins. Because so many (if not most) of us judge quality by its price. Not by first learning the simple science. Or by ignoring manufacturer spec numbers.

[stellavox]

DIY Power "conditioners" and surge protectors have been covered extensively in certain Audioasylum threads (don't remember which).

Whatever you do PLEASE be careful and respect what line current and voltage can do to you.

Ferro-resonant transformers maintain constant voltage by modifying the 60hz sine waveshape. In effect they are CREATING distortion. I certainly don't advocate using them as any kind of solution to your "problem"

Charles

[westom]

Originally Posted by stellavox

Ferro-resonant transformers maintain constant voltage by modifying the 60hz sine waveshape.

A strawman is a mythical problem often invented to justify an expensive solution with obscene profits. Normal voltage for all electronics is when incandescent bulbs dim to 50% intensity. How often does your voltage drop that low? Then why does anyone need a ferro-resonant transformer? Why solve a problem that does not exist? Because so many are only educated by advertising, hearsay, fear, and retail salesmen.

Distorted waveform from a ferro-resonant transformer is also irrelevant to all electronics. What do electronics do to AC mains electricity? First makes that electricity even 'dirtier'. To make a cleanest and most stable, low voltage DC, its power supply first converts 120 volt AC mains power to radio wave spikes well exceeding 300 volts. Makes 'cleanest' or 'dirtiest' AC power into some of the 'dirtiest' inside a house. What do miracle boxes on AC mains do? Many are only profit centers.

Any solution that would 'clean' AC mains is completely undone by spikes and surges intentionally created inside electronics.

Ferro-resonant transformers, like most miracle boxes, are recommended when a consumer forgets to first define a problem. So many consumers all but want to be scammed. So Monster may sell a $10 circuit (cited by Marcelinho) inside an expensive looking box for almost $500. Monster knows the naive will use price, hearsay, wild speculation, and advertising to claim ‘quality’.

Generally, if Monster is selling an equivalent product, then all those products are probably scams.

First thing any informed consumer does - learn manufacturer spec numbers. No numbers here is a first indication that a recommendation may be bogus. We all should have learned that from history – ie Saddam’s WMDs. Does not matter how long or extensive any discussion is. Any recommendation that does not first define the problem and does not provide numbers is suspect.

It was in a first paragraph: Long before any solution is possible, first the problem must be defined. And with numbers.

[new2tubes]

Seems my thread has been hijacked. Was supposed to be for people who wanted to build a power conditioner (I thought that was evident by the thread title). Seems to have turned into an opinion-fest. Opinions are great, just not real useful to me.

Found good help on an electronics forum.

Done with this thread.

[DJNUBZ]

How about putting this forward as the " problem"

"How can I get a perfect 60hz sine wave at 120V to all my audio gear?" I think this would cover all above said anomalies in one go.

[westom]

Originally Posted by new2tubes

(I thought that was evident by the thread title).

No line conditioner solves all anomalies. "Long before any solution is possible, first the problem must be defined. And with numbers."

"Listed were anomalies that might be solved." But none were selected. How does one design something for a problem that does not exist and is not defined?

[oshifis]

Would it be possible to create a simple series LC resonant filter to pass 60 Hz and another parallel LC filter to shunt all harmonics (or a combination of both)? If it is possible, what would be the best place of such a circuit: the primary or the secondary of the mains transformer?

[westom]

Originally Posted by oshifis

Would it be possible to create a simple series LC resonant filter to pass 60 Hz and another parallel LC filter to shunt all harmonics ...

Size of a passive filter would be many tens of kilograms or larger. Massive. Extremely expensive. Would only address a few of the listed anomalies. And not do much of what is already done better inside most electronics.