UPSs - Page 2

Eric · 12th February 2001, 10:01 PM

My primary objective in purchasing a "line conditioner" was not to remove the AC noise (which is a worthy goal - and very expensive at the retail shop...) was surge/spike and under/overvoltage protection. I used to live in Tucson, AZ where the power supply could fluctuate from 98 to 125 volts pretty regularly. Also, there was high frequency of lightning strikes during the monsoon season and frequent brown outs during the summer months due to heavy air conditioning use.

The conditioner would shut down all of the connected equipment when it detected anything "strange" going on with the AC line. There would be random times when all of a sudden, the entire system would shut down, and then come back on a few seconds or minutes later. Don't know for sure what it was saving me from (sustained over/under voltage or a spike...) but I do know that it worked. I'm now living in central PA, and the power supply is very stable, almost a round-the-clock 120 volts. The conditioner hasn't shut my system down since I left AZ...

vdi_nenna · 12th February 2001, 10:58 PM

Eric,

I live in eastern PA. Which conditioner do you have??

Eric · 20th February 2001, 02:13 PM

Hey Vince, I have the Panamax Max1000+ (I think). I'm starting to forget model numbers of some of my equipment... Can't say that I hear a difference with/without the filter, but it does protect against surges and under/over voltage. You can probably find them new for about $225-$250. There is one thing to watch out for, however, this model cannot be used with a DBS - it will filter out those signals.

blmn · 22nd February 2001, 01:53 AM

Hi,

Promitheus is right. A pure sine wave UPS is very expensive and inefficient by its own nature. Personal computer's UPS works reasonably well for computers (not all the times). It has to be very well filtered for audio applications.

A switched mode power supply might be better with batteries and AC mains input possibilities, but again the noise and harmonics are difficult to deal with.

Regards

vdi_nenna · 22nd February 2001, 02:29 AM

I got plans to make an AC filter off of another DIY forum. I haven't looked at them yet, but everybody who's made it is happy with it and notices an improvement.

Thanks for the input!

Vince

Kooze · 5th June 2001, 02:43 AM

Hmmm

Personally I would recommend a UPS - but only an Online Sinewave one and you can pick them up cheaply as surplus items ( down here in Aus anyway ) .Online UPS's only use the mains to charge the batteries and run the equipment off the Inverter only . Considering the quality of the mains these days ( especially if your close to anything industrial ) the sound quality can dramatically improve with a clean isolated mains source - besides it's the closest you will come to batteries without the huge expense. I bought six UPS's two years ago and sold two to friends . One who uses it on his audio system (Homebuilt Leach , Speakers etc) and says there is a noticeable difference...
Mind you it is overkill ( he bought a 2400VA unit )...

Kooze

Thoth · 5th June 2001, 07:27 AM

Vince,

I had to build a combination triggered switch, surge suppressor and noise filter. Details can be found at
"http://www.games.accs.com/ER/wizards/thoth/power_240/". I hope this provides you with some ideas, and some safety suggestions.

Good luck, and be safe. Mains voltage/current is nothing to play with.

12th February 2001, 10:01 PM	#11
Eric diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Central PA, USA	Line Conditioner My primary objective in purchasing a "line conditioner" was not to remove the AC noise (which is a worthy goal - and very expensive at the retail shop...) was surge/spike and under/overvoltage protection. I used to live in Tucson, AZ where the power supply could fluctuate from 98 to 125 volts pretty regularly. Also, there was high frequency of lightning strikes during the monsoon season and frequent brown outs during the summer months due to heavy air conditioning use. The conditioner would shut down all of the connected equipment when it detected anything "strange" going on with the AC line. There would be random times when all of a sudden, the entire system would shut down, and then come back on a few seconds or minutes later. Don't know for sure what it was saving me from (sustained over/under voltage or a spike...) but I do know that it worked. I'm now living in central PA, and the power supply is very stable, almost a round-the-clock 120 volts. The conditioner hasn't shut my system down since I left AZ...

20th February 2001, 02:13 PM	#13
Eric diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Central PA, USA	Power Conditioner/Surge Protection Hey Vince, I have the Panamax Max1000+ (I think). I'm starting to forget model numbers of some of my equipment... Can't say that I hear a difference with/without the filter, but it does protect against surges and under/over voltage. You can probably find them new for about $225-$250. There is one thing to watch out for, however, this model cannot be used with a DBS - it will filter out those signals.

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12th February 2001, 10:58 PM	#12
vdi_nenna diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: PA, USA Blog Entries: 1	Eric, I live in eastern PA. Which conditioner do you have??

22nd February 2001, 01:53 AM	#14
blmn diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: .	Hi, Promitheus is right. A pure sine wave UPS is very expensive and inefficient by its own nature. Personal computer's UPS works reasonably well for computers (not all the times). It has to be very well filtered for audio applications. A switched mode power supply might be better with batteries and AC mains input possibilities, but again the noise and harmonics are difficult to deal with. Regards

22nd February 2001, 02:29 AM	#15
vdi_nenna diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: PA, USA Blog Entries: 1	I got plans to make an AC filter off of another DIY forum. I haven't looked at them yet, but everybody who's made it is happy with it and notices an improvement. Thanks for the input! Vince

5th June 2001, 02:43 AM	#16
Kooze diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney Australia	Hmmm Personally I would recommend a UPS - but only an Online Sinewave one and you can pick them up cheaply as surplus items ( down here in Aus anyway ) .Online UPS's only use the mains to charge the batteries and run the equipment off the Inverter only . Considering the quality of the mains these days ( especially if your close to anything industrial ) the sound quality can dramatically improve with a clean isolated mains source - besides it's the closest you will come to batteries without the huge expense. I bought six UPS's two years ago and sold two to friends . One who uses it on his audio system (Homebuilt Leach , Speakers etc) and says there is a noticeable difference... Mind you it is overkill ( he bought a 2400VA unit )... Kooze

5th June 2001, 07:27 AM	#17
Thoth diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2001	Vince, I had to build a combination triggered switch, surge suppressor and noise filter. Details can be found at "http://www.games.accs.com/ER/wizards/thoth/power_240/". I hope this provides you with some ideas, and some safety suggestions. Good luck, and be safe. Mains voltage/current is nothing to play with.