Hello,
first of all i would like to make two statements
1) i am very ignorant on this subject
2) i feel the mains noise affects more digital equipment than analogue one. I listen only to digital sources so my interest.
I found this video on youtube:
Blue Circle Audio 6X Sillycone Optimum Effectiveness - YouTube
and this is the page on the Manufacturer site
http://www.bluecircle.com/page26.html
Very very impressive isn't it ?
I think that this device acts as a parallel filter or noise trap i do not know.
My question is ... where can i get a schematic for some filter/trap with similar effect ?
It is impressive and handy the fact the reduces also the noise from the power strip to which is connected.
Great product also the sniffer of course.
Thanks a lot and kind regards,
gino
first of all i would like to make two statements
1) i am very ignorant on this subject
2) i feel the mains noise affects more digital equipment than analogue one. I listen only to digital sources so my interest.
I found this video on youtube:
Blue Circle Audio 6X Sillycone Optimum Effectiveness - YouTube
and this is the page on the Manufacturer site
http://www.bluecircle.com/page26.html
Very very impressive isn't it ?
I think that this device acts as a parallel filter or noise trap i do not know.
My question is ... where can i get a schematic for some filter/trap with similar effect ?
It is impressive and handy the fact the reduces also the noise from the power strip to which is connected.
Great product also the sniffer of course.
Thanks a lot and kind regards,
gino
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If it works at all then it is using the (very small) impedance of the mains supply as the series element in a filter. In engineering terms this is plainly daft. In domestic convenience terms (and commercial terms) this might be sensible. The name and packaging suggested to me at first that this could be a hoax, poking fun at audio gizmos. However, in the world of audio gizmos, hoax and product are indistinguishable nowadays.
Hello and thanks for the reply
I wonder what kind of components is used inside.
The fact that the unit's effect could be sensible in a domestic context is what intrigues me.
Usually home mains are quite noise and this device seems to lower this noise quite effectively.
And also i like the fact that is placed in parallel on an off the shelf power strip (not a boutique one i mean).
Kind regards,
gino
Inside it probably has a capacitor, and possible a transient protector.
I meant 'sensible' in the sense that it is easy to use, requires no technical knowledge, and no modification to the existing system. Ideal for selling to non-technical people.
I meant 'sensible' in the sense that it is easy to use, requires no technical knowledge, and no modification to the existing system. Ideal for selling to non-technical people.
Hello and thanks for the reply.
I wonder where an actual schematic for something with a similar effect
can be found.
The fact that at least in the specific case the effect is beneficial is without question. The mains noise drops completely. Very impressive indeed.
And this is also reported from people who have tried it in their system.
Unfortunately i have no scope at hand to check how dirty is the voltage in my home.
My feeling is that a lot of negative comments on digital can be related to a bad quality of the mains. Analogue is less sensitive ... is more "robust" versus mains problems. I thinks.
The fact that this device can be connected in parallel allows also for an immediate test of its impact.
Great little things. But without a schematic i have no hopes to build one.
Thanks and regards,
gino
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You don't need a schematic - just draw a capacitor. Make sure the capacitor is rated for continuous mains service - X or Y rated.
Thanks a lot and i will try it for sure.
As i said i am very curious to listen and to see the effects on digital and TV screen.
But:
1) which value to use ?
2) paralleling more caps with different capacity could be more effective ?
As i said i am very curious to listen and to see the effects on digital and TV screen.
But:
1) which value to use ?
2) paralleling more caps with different capacity could be more effective ?
Mains Filters From Relec Electronics
have a look at some of these products and you'll get an idea what a mains filter comprises of.
have a look at some of these products and you'll get an idea what a mains filter comprises of.
Thanks a lot. I have found 100 nF as a reasonable value to try.
I will look for the kind of caps you mentioned.
I am very curious.
As i said someone talked about improvements even in the TV image, when the TV is connected to the same power strip where the filter is plugged.
Thanks again.
Kind regards
Thanks a lot for the valuable link.
But i would like to start simple. Just a cap between phase and neutral.
I see that filters have this cap and then other two caps between phase and ground and neutral and ground.
I think i have somewhere already a filter i could try to connect in parallel.
The caps inside should work same way i think.
Thanks and regards,
gino
Modern day LED and Plasma TVs have SMPS's generally these convert the mains to DC and chop it, so tend to filter a lot of the mush on the mains (and add a bit of their own).
I would have a look around the WEB as there are numerous mains filters and circuits available, and they are all pretty much the same.
Look up mains conditioners as well.
I would have a look around the WEB as there are numerous mains filters and circuits available, and they are all pretty much the same.
Look up mains conditioners as well.
Thanks again. I see. Better.
I wonder if SMPS are really so bad as someone says.
I know for sure that some very high level equipment uses SMPS.
Good to know.
Looking at the schematic on a mains filter i see normally a cap between the Phase and the Neutral.
I will start with this cap and see ... i see values from 1 to 0,1 uF. 🙄
I understand special caps are needed by the way.
Thanks again especially for make me rethink to SMPS. 🙂
I had prejudices based on ignorance. 😱
Kind regards,
gino 🙂
I am a SMPS fan, I do layouts for them regularly, quite often for very sensitive analogue/digital circuitry. The controller ICs are developing all the time, and new ways of cutting down the noise generated are being found, but careful layout and filtering makes good ones quiet.
The caps are for safety, line to neutral X type dielectric, M or N to earth Y type.
One of the biggest problems with mains noise is that irritating 50-60Hz🙂
The caps are for safety, line to neutral X type dielectric, M or N to earth Y type.
One of the biggest problems with mains noise is that irritating 50-60Hz🙂
Hello and thanks again
Do you think that SMPS can be good also for an integrated/power amp ?Because i see very few around and considering their advantages (less weight, better efficiency) i wonder why.
As i said i am much more interested in SMPS than for instance the various class D, A, AB and so on.
For instance i have an amp in the humble class AB and it sounds pretty good.
Nevertheleee I would like one day to convert to SMPS and old amp i have.
I value especially the less weight.
Could you recommend some vendors of SMPS suitable for hifi amps ?
Dual output around +/- 35VDC to give an idea.
As they are inside a filter i was supposing they are there to filter noise.
Anyway i see the most common recommendation to put a 0.1 uF cap between L and N.
I will try that. I would not do any harm, i hope.
Thanks a lot and regards,
gino 🙂
I'll have a look, don't usually buy them for projects I work on, they are designed and built specifically for the project.
Who has built a parallel mains filter yet?????
Gi Ginetto61,
thats luck !! I was just about creating the same post 🙂
Well a parallel mains filter consists of either a cap from AC to neutral.
OR /AND a cap from neutral to earth
sometimes I've seen AC to earth // neutral to earth too.
Read about it here
Recommended Audio System Tweaks: Part 1
My questions:
Who has expirience in parallel mains filters yet?
Who built one?
-Which cap value did you prefer? (230V / 110V)
-Although I might get "stoned" by the tecci's= Did you prefer a capacitor brand?
-Anything else to look at?
-What about charging an LED by noise energy like the "Noise Harvester"
REGARDS........
Gi Ginetto61,
thats luck !! I was just about creating the same post 🙂
Well a parallel mains filter consists of either a cap from AC to neutral.
OR /AND a cap from neutral to earth
sometimes I've seen AC to earth // neutral to earth too.
Read about it here
Recommended Audio System Tweaks: Part 1
My questions:
Who has expirience in parallel mains filters yet?
Who built one?
-Which cap value did you prefer? (230V / 110V)
-Although I might get "stoned" by the tecci's= Did you prefer a capacitor brand?
-Anything else to look at?
-What about charging an LED by noise energy like the "Noise Harvester"
REGARDS........
Out of curiosity I googled 'led noise harvester'. I wish I hadn't bothered! The PS audio site claims that each of their boxes absorbs about 8-10W of noise each day. That alone shows they don't understand physics, despite grandiose claims to the contrary. I think they meant 8-10 joules of noise. It seems that in the world of audio gizmos the more the ad copy talks the talk of physics the less the product walks the walk of physics.