power conditioner project anyone ??

[new2tubes]

Anyone interested in teaming up on a 120 volt / 15 amp power conditioner / surge supressor project?

I am interested in building a top notch power conditioner. We have horribly dirty power where I live which is prone to smoke electronics. I will be building some nice solid state and tube amps in the next year and would like to have clean power in place before I start them.

I just acquired 6 beautiful capacitors. 4300uf, 400 vdc electrolytics. I thought they may be useful in this project. (I see they are $150 each in Newark so I would like to use them for something !) I also have a couple different MOV based surge supressors of various styles which may or may not be useful.

If anyone has a nice schematic of what I am looking for or something that could easily be modified, that would be great. If someone has extra parts to put towards this project, I would happily trade some of these capacitors towards parts that I could use.

Thanks, Brian

[stellavox]

I have had a lot of success running as much of my system as possible (at least the front end stuff) on balanced power. Found a 1KVa toroidal transformer (in a nice enclosure) used for some hospital application, and was able to rewire it for 115 input and 115 center tapped output, so I could ground the secondary center tap and feed "balanced 115" out. Seemed to reduce the "grunge" considerably.

Whatever you do, PLEASE be VERY CAREFUL from an electrical safety perspective and fuse the final product LOCALLY. May want to look up the applicable electrical codes.

Charles

[mickeymoose]

Maybee this: Ferroresonant Transformer - CVT

[indianajo]

Sola constant voltage transformers are great. The protect against lightning, too. Used ones have worn out electrolytic caps, used in reshaping the output. Junk+new caps = bliss. Way higher MBTF than those toy Uninterruptable PowerSupplies's the company tried to put on the printers. However they don't work against actual dropout. I've got several removed from factory at tearout day, but haven't invested in caps yet. 15 A version is pretty expensive and heavy, buying what you want in watts is a better deal. You won't need a metal oxide surge supressor with one of these.

[Speedskater]

We used some ferroresonant transformers (or constant voltage transformer) at test stands on the factory floor. I wouldn't want one in the house, they run hot with lots of mechanical buzz. They also have a sweet spot load wise. We had to add power resistors on one stand to make the transformer happy.

[westom]

Originally Posted by new2tubes

Anyone interested in teaming up on a 120 volt / 15 amp power conditioner / surge supressor project?

Long before any solution is possible, first the problem must be defined. And with numbers. For example, which anomaly do you want to cure? Power factor, noise spikes, floating ground, harmonics, reversed polarity, ground loops, EMI/EMC/RFI, high voltage, low voltage, high current transients, or longitudinal or common mode spikes - to name only a few.

Meanwhile, 1970 international design standards defined 120 volt electronics withstand 600 volt transients without damage. Today's electronics are even more robust. Sometimes a solution attached adjacent to electronics can bypass (compromise) superior protection already provided by a PSU.

Ideal power for all electronics is when AC voltage drops so low that incandescent bulbs dim to 50% intensity. Protection from that anomaly means finding and fixing (without delay) a wiring problem that is also a motorized appliance and a human safety threat. Another example of defining a problem before designing a solution.

But again, first define the anomaly, quantitatively, before curing it.

[new2tubes]

I was thinking something more like this:

Home Theater Reference HTPS 7000 MKII PowerSource with Dual Balanced Pure Power™ and Clean Power™ Stage 5

[westom]

Originally Posted by new2tubes

I was thinking something more like this:

Originally Posted by new2tubes

It's an expensive looking box from Monster. But what does it do? If it does what you want, then it says so with numbers. What does it do? Plenty of expensive looking words. None say anything quantitative.

Listed were anomalies that might be solved. Which one does that Monster address? Its sales brochure does not say. To answer technical questions means manufacturer specifications. Which electrical anomaly must be cured by how much? That sales brochure does not discuss any electrical anomaly. Has many expensive words that have no electrical significance. What anomaly do you need to solve?

[Speedskater]

Seldom do I agree with West Tom, but in this case I agree 100 %.

[new2tubes]

Thanks for everyone's input and suggestions. I ahve a rough idea of what I want to build. Maybe all wont see the point in building it, but I want to build one. If for nothing else than just to build it and use up a bunch of parts that I have lying around. So with that said, if anyone would like to join in on this project, post here or PM me.

Thanks, Brian