Author Topic: Power conditioning/regulating (Read 132 times)

gare · « **on:** August 05, 2005, 03:30:33 PM »

I didn't want to hijack Daves last thread on power cords.
I know this is a subject I could learn alot more about, and think it would be beneficial to others on the list.
Whats the difference,whats the advantages ?
I use an older Furman PL-8, but prehaps it's time to upgrade.
Prehaps Kevins or some others from the other thread will jump in and help with explanations etc..
Thx
Gary

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2005, 04:23:34 PM »

Gary; I've been reading the owner's manual for the Monster Pro 2500. The unit sales for $200US. The following is from page 20:

What is the importance of component-to-component filtering?

With the Monster PowerCenter, AC power must first go through a segment of noise filters that isolate your equipment from noise on the AC power line. Most manufacturers? battle against line noise stops there. The next crucial step of noise filtering must occur between components. Our patented component-to-component noise filtering is one of the PowerCenter?s incredibly innovative features because it protects components from degrading each other?s performance via their own special type of interference. The PowerCenter outlets are all directly connected, so the noise that?s generated by a particularly noisy component (digital components like samplers are infamous for this) will attempt to get onto other components. It will not, however, because it must go through a specialized filter to get to an adjacent outlet, and noise is eliminated for the best possible performance.

What is the importance of separate filtering for analog and digital?

The nature of the analog and digital signals are very different. Each application generates a different kind of noise and is sensitive to different types of noise. Digital components generate a wide band of clock frequency-related interference. Audio components generate a narrow band of interference. Monster?s patented analog and digital filters are optimized for each application, for maximum noise filtering.

lbpesq · « **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2005, 04:55:45 PM »

You guys are gonna cost me some money. Just when I thought I had my set-up complete, you get me wondering about power! So, being a neophyte who never noticed a problem before, let me ask this: Is a power regulator and/or conditioner really necessary? Is such a unit more needed in some situations than others? What type of situations? Since it seems a conditioner is much more reasonably priced than a regulator, does it make sense to get a conditioner? Is a conditioner the same thing as a power filter? What does MOV mean? I need some learnin', please, somebody, educate me!

Thanks,

Bill, tgo

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** August 05, 2005, 05:30:02 PM »

MOV Metal Oxide Varistor

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2005, 05:50:26 PM »

I think it depends on your definition of necessary . I have a power conditioner in my rack primarily for the following reasons:

1 - I have a bunch of stuff that needs to be plugged in somewhere.

2 - There is some level of comfort attained by the fact that it is a surge protector.

3 - It's rack mountable and thus more readily achieves reasons one and two.

That fact that it filters line noise is probably a big bonus. If you've played in lots of clubs you've no doubt noticed that the wiring in most of these places looks a little scary. I don't really know how much it cleans up noise in these places because I've never bothered to do an A/B test; it's just always on.

Basic power conditioners are not expensive.

The isolating conditioners are much more expensive. The additional bonus here is that there are filters that keep noise from each of the components that are plugged into the conditioner from affecting each other. I don't have one of these and can't speak to their effectiveness.

Regulators provide a constant voltage to your components. I don't have one of these either. In some of the scary places I've played I can see where it would have given my a greater level of comfort. Regulators can be a bit expensive as well.

lbpesq · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2005, 07:18:18 PM »

Dave:

Thanks for the info.

So MOV = Metal Oxide Varistor. Duh why didn't I think of that, it's so obvious! It means a dyslexsic person paying a social call on part of a large beast of burden that's a big fan of AC/DC, right?

Bill, tgo

keith_h · « **Reply #6 on:** August 06, 2005, 06:32:46 AM »

Bill,
Additional some info on what an MOV does:

MOV stands for Metal Oxide Varistor. A MOV is used to reduce the effects of voltage transients. A varistor will divert a surge current and protect equipment from damage under many conditions. Varistors do not degrade over time however they do degrade when subjected to repeated transients. A varistor absorbs and dissipates the transient into its environment in the form of heat. If the transient is large enough that the varistor can not dissipate the heat, it will go into thermal runaway and damage to the MOV will occur. Over time if the MOV is subjected to frequent transients it will degrade.

Keith