Folks:
I am considering building a balanced power conditioner and am looking for a suitable transformer. I live in the US. A quick search for "balanced isolation transformer" uncovered a 1kw transformer from Toroid of Maryland, a respected vendor. Their model BT1000X retails for $371 (https://toroid.com/product/balanced-transformer-w-o-enclosure-1000va-bt1000x/). I also checked with Antek, from whom most of my toroids are purchased, and I was wondering if their similarly-sized model AN-104115 (https://www.antekinc.com/an-104115-1000va-115v-transformer/) would also be suitable; notably, its price is one-third the price of the Toroid unit. Does it make a difference that Antek's AN series are not shielded?
If I've misunderstood the wiring of the outputs on the Antek toroid (i.e., 60V secondaries are needed), would Antek's AN-10458 (https://www.antekinc.com/an-10458-1000va-58v-transformer/) be appropriate?
Thanks in advance for your counsel.
Regards,
Scott
I am considering building a balanced power conditioner and am looking for a suitable transformer. I live in the US. A quick search for "balanced isolation transformer" uncovered a 1kw transformer from Toroid of Maryland, a respected vendor. Their model BT1000X retails for $371 (https://toroid.com/product/balanced-transformer-w-o-enclosure-1000va-bt1000x/). I also checked with Antek, from whom most of my toroids are purchased, and I was wondering if their similarly-sized model AN-104115 (https://www.antekinc.com/an-104115-1000va-115v-transformer/) would also be suitable; notably, its price is one-third the price of the Toroid unit. Does it make a difference that Antek's AN series are not shielded?
If I've misunderstood the wiring of the outputs on the Antek toroid (i.e., 60V secondaries are needed), would Antek's AN-10458 (https://www.antekinc.com/an-10458-1000va-58v-transformer/) be appropriate?
Thanks in advance for your counsel.
Regards,
Scott
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Have you looked at Equitech? https://equitech.com/
Equitech may exceed your budget but having pioneered balanced power there's a lot of information they can offer: https://equitech.com/lifting-the-grounding-enigma/
You do want 60-0-60V at the output.
You can get that with the 104115 by series-connecting the primaries and running the primary at 120V. That limits your options.
The 10458 looks to be a better choice: You can series-connect the primaries and run it from 240V (or 120V with a parallel primary connection).
Recording control room monitor power amps are often powered from a 240V line in the US to reduce losses in the feed. If that's an option you might consider running your power amps on 240V ahead of the power conditioner and run lower current loads from a lower VA balanced power conditioner. The 240V supplying the power amps can also be used to feed the isolation transformer.
The electrostatic shield of the BT1000X is advantageous to reduce common mode noise on the incoming line. Whether an E-shield is any benefit to you in your situation I couldn't say.
Equitech may exceed your budget but having pioneered balanced power there's a lot of information they can offer: https://equitech.com/lifting-the-grounding-enigma/
You do want 60-0-60V at the output.
You can get that with the 104115 by series-connecting the primaries and running the primary at 120V. That limits your options.
The 10458 looks to be a better choice: You can series-connect the primaries and run it from 240V (or 120V with a parallel primary connection).
Recording control room monitor power amps are often powered from a 240V line in the US to reduce losses in the feed. If that's an option you might consider running your power amps on 240V ahead of the power conditioner and run lower current loads from a lower VA balanced power conditioner. The 240V supplying the power amps can also be used to feed the isolation transformer.
The electrostatic shield of the BT1000X is advantageous to reduce common mode noise on the incoming line. Whether an E-shield is any benefit to you in your situation I couldn't say.
If you can afford the Equitech products, do for it. Ordinary people (not the 1 or 2%) probably cannot do so as a prudent financial matter.
The Antek transformer is definitely NOT suitable for use as a balanced power source. As I understand it, in order to provide balanced power, a transformer MUST have the secondary winding of equal length and ideally bifilar wound (or in another winding configuration that guarantees symmetry for each leg of the secondary winding. The primary winding also needs to be would to provide magnetic symmetry. The Anteks do not do this: this is not a knock on Antek as they do not describe or mzarket their transformers as suitable for providing balanced power. They are perfectly fine for ordinary PS service.
You should also look at Plitron's spun-off company, Torus Power, which also manufactures balanced power systems like Equitech. Unfortunately, Plitron no longer sells the balanced toroid isolation transformers. They are more affordable than Equitek but also less capable. Nothing like lots of magnetic materials and copper winding, which are expensive.....
The Antek transformer is definitely NOT suitable for use as a balanced power source. As I understand it, in order to provide balanced power, a transformer MUST have the secondary winding of equal length and ideally bifilar wound (or in another winding configuration that guarantees symmetry for each leg of the secondary winding. The primary winding also needs to be would to provide magnetic symmetry. The Anteks do not do this: this is not a knock on Antek as they do not describe or mzarket their transformers as suitable for providing balanced power. They are perfectly fine for ordinary PS service.
You should also look at Plitron's spun-off company, Torus Power, which also manufactures balanced power systems like Equitech. Unfortunately, Plitron no longer sells the balanced toroid isolation transformers. They are more affordable than Equitek but also less capable. Nothing like lots of magnetic materials and copper winding, which are expensive.....