| Author |
Topic: Power conditioners vs surge protectors |
Harold Dye
From:
Cullman, Alabama, USA
|
Posted 4 Aug 2011 1:49 pm |
|
| Does anyone know what the practical difference in using a power conditioner(such as a Furman) vs using a surge protector strip as is used for computers? The power conditioner is mounted in a rack and effects etc are plugged into it, but they are upside down. The problem I have with that is some of the effects have heavy wall warts that tend to work loose when mounted upside down..i.e. a Hilton VP wallwart that is huge. A surge protector or supressor lays flat and the items plugged into it are on top or right side up and should not work loose. Will a surge protector that has a joules rating about 1000 be sufficient to protect the effects, VP and amp if plugged into it as well as the power conditioner? Also do power conditioners do something a strip surge protecter does not do? Ken Fox or some of you electronics guys please chime in. |
|
|
 |
Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
|
Posted 4 Aug 2011 1:59 pm
|
|
There are some wall wart eliminators for sale at retail that allow you to put the wall wart on the floor of the rack and run the plain a/c plug to the conditioner.
I took mine and ran a cable tie around it to make sure it stayed connected and attached it to the rack floor. |
|
|
|
Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
|
Posted 4 Aug 2011 3:42 pm
|
|
| During the summer, I use to play outside gigs where a power generator was used. Some of these power generators give unstable output voltage to the stage amps. What would be better in this case? A power conditioner or surger protector or maybe both? |
|
|
|
Ronald Sikes
From:
Corsicana, Tx
|
Posted 4 Aug 2011 6:42 pm
|
|
Like Bo said . You can use a cable tie . Len mentioned outdoor gigs where you have to run off a generator . One of my biggest scares was when we were playing outside at a festival and the generator failed . My amp and digital equipment did some crazy things before shutting down . Luckily it didn't do any damage . After doing some research and talking to the Reps. at Furman they explained to me the only sure way to protect your equipment 100 % is with a voltage regulator . I use a Furman AR1215 . It not only will shut down during a spike or surge in power but it also corrects it and keeps the power at a constant voltage . They're a little pricey but to me its like buying insurance to protect your equipment . Most of us have a lot invested .
http://www.furmansound.com/product.php?id=AR-1215
http://www.amazon.com/Furman-AR-1215-Standard-Regulator-Conditioner/dp/B000YZ46E2
_________________
Show Pro #26 & #83,BJS bars,Stereo Steel,Tommy Huff cabs loaded with JBL D130's, Wampler pedals,NV112,NV400, Steelers Choice Seats |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 5 Aug 2011 6:26 am
|
|
Ronald,
I bit the bullet some time ago and bought the same unit that you have. I forget where I obtained it but don't believe I paid as much for it as they are asking on Amazon. |
|
|
|
Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
|
|
|
|
Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
|
Posted 5 Aug 2011 7:42 am
|
|
A good power conditioner is a constant voltage regulating (also know as a CVS) transformer. Basically it is a transformer that runs constantly in saturation. They get hot for that reason.
They are also heavy, and somewhat expensive. But, they are designed to output a constant voltage regardless of the input voltage (with their spec range) and impede the pass thru of sags, spikes and noise. Look for names like SOLA or TOPAZ.
The power strip power conditioners typically are simply receptacle strips with several different types of surge arresters across the line. These include MOVs, gas tube, and spark gap devices, each having different time/voltage characteristics. They do not compensate for power sags or swells, they merely crowbar noise spikes. Also, over time, the MOV's can get "used up".
You can also buy "line tap switching" power conditioners that will accommodate power line voltage sags and swells, but their immunity to noise may not be as great as the CVS (constant voltage stabilized) transformer mentioned at the beginning.
A quick look at the Grainger catalog shows a 250 VA CVS transformer unit costs about $800. That would be good for about a 2 amp current draw. A 1 KVA unit is more preferred, but probably cost prohibitive unless you come across one on the cheap.
Expensive solution. One could look on ebay for a used unit in the 1KVA range and then wire it up accordingly.
I've been working on and with this stuff for over 30 years. Use this info to know when someone is feeding you BS.
_________________
Lawyers are done: Emmons SD-10, 3 Dekleys including a D10, NV400, and lots of effects units to cover my clams... |
|
|
|
Harold Dye
From:
Cullman, Alabama, USA
|
Posted 5 Aug 2011 10:14 am
|
|
| Ray thank you very much for your input. That is very good info. I have an inexpensive rack power conditioner sold by Guitar Center. From your comments I suspect the one I have is little more than a rack mount strip, however it does seem to hold down the noise,and is far better than plugging directly into the wall. The specs say spike protection up to 72,000 amps, 400V clamping voltage, circuit braker at overload at 15amps, filters up to 40 db of EMI/RFI noise, 1080 joules. All this sounds good to me, but I am electronically challanged. |
|
|
|
Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
|
Posted 5 Aug 2011 11:35 am
|
|
I have used an 800VA saturation transformer - the kind Ray M. wrote about - for nearly 30 years to protect sensitive electronic equipment. It always works - output stable and clean power - come varying mains voltage, surges, lightning-spikes, and noise - unlike all the many "conditioners" I have tested of which all are either thrown away as useless or have blown up.
The saturation transformer was pricey, is heavy, and the audible noise varies and can be irritatingly loud when there's a lot of electric noise thrown at it over the mains. Still the only solution I would recommend. |
|
|
|
