AC Voltage Stabilizer

[sumotan]

Hi Guys

Need a little advice. Where Im at AC voltage id suppose to be 230v
Problem the highest that I've measure is 228.6 most of the time it
averages around 226 or so. Believe or not when voltage goes down
to around 220-221 like now, music sounds slow & fat. It's only a
difference of 5-8 volts & yet SQ is so much different.
Question what can I do to bring up the Voltage ? With a variac will
SQ be affected ? Im using a 100 watt AB amp, ML speakers with
a dac & an SD card player. With this set up, if a variac works,
what va ratings should I be looking for ?

Thks Guys

 

[rayma]

With this set up, if a variac works,
what va ratings should I be looking for ?

Anything over 200VA would be fine.
This should be ok. Welcome to NextWarehouse.com
2000W 230V Power Conditioner Automatic Voltage Regulation AVR AC Surge Protection 6 Outlets UNIPLUGINT Adapter (LR2000) | Tripp Lite

 

[KatieandDad]

Is that not what a computer UPS does ?

Basically it takes an input AC (line) or DC (Battery) and then uses an SMPS to produce the required output voltage which is stabilized.

 

[sumotan]

Thanks Rayma but what about SQ does the triplite
brings with it other draw backs ?

 

[rayma]

Is that not what a computer UPS does ?

With a UPS, there is always the battery problem.

 

[rayma]

what about SQ does the triplite
brings with it other draw backs ?

All these units work in similar ways, so try an inexpensive one and see.
Using a Variac for this situation is problematic at best, and risks damaging your equipment.

 

[KatieandDad]

You wont be using the battery part of it.

The concept is simple. Take 90-240V RMS AC Mains and feed that to a stabilized SMPS circuit that provides 240V RMS.

 

[DF96]

Or get an amp which can cope with a 4% variation in mains voltage? Are you sure you are not just reacting to all the house lights being a little dimmer?

 

[sumotan]

Hi DF96
No hallucination on my part, very very obvious.
Think its to do with the Hypex Smps 400 that Im
using. When AC is low measured DC output at
smps is only around 43v +- . My amps needs
average of 47v +- to really wake up. Best
performance is achieved at 50v +-

Thks

 

[DF96]

I find it hard to believe that a competent SMPS has such poor output voltage stability. The spec says it can operate from 200-240V in. Ah, just noticed that output voltage varies with input voltage; in fact the output voltage is slightly more variable than the input! Very strange. Maybe you need a better PSU?

 

[scottjoplin]

It's a SMPS with an output that varies equivalent to input? Oh, I was beaten to it!

 

[sumotan]

This smps is really good as you've notice output
varies with AC input . That I believe is where the
problem lies

 

[scottjoplin]

So it's not really good then

 

[mchambin]

A UPS is the way to go. The battery problem is when there are power outages, this is what wears them, and they are pricy.
Get an UPS that runs on 12volt, then any car battery will do. Only small ups run on 12v. Large ones are likely on 24v, some more.
The 12v battery car on a small UPS, I have used, no problem, you even have a fresh charged battery ready to jump start your car.

 

[sumotan]

And thats also the reason why Im looking into ways
to increase the AC voltage

 

[sumotan]

Theoretically ups is the way to go but SQ wise may not be ya

 

[scottjoplin]

Easier to use a SMPS that works properly

 

[mchambin]

SQ,SMPS I do not know what they are

 

[sumotan]

Sound quality Mchabim

 

[sumotan]

What are you saying Scott, I've played with a couple of smps and I dare
say that Hypex really knows what they're doing. Not easy to make a good
sounding smps ya.