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Author Topic: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?  (Read 17189 times)

Viitalahde

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Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« on: February 02, 2010, 06:43:29 AM »

On my move to the countryside, I'm going to have to look into some degree of mains regulation/conditioning.

What I'm seeking for should keep the mains pretty constant, take out the spikes and the noise and to have reasonable immunity to dropouts of 1-2 seconds.

I'm thinking of having at least the signal chain behind this (the DAWs behind a regular USP), so the current draw isn't going to be completely outrageous.

Furmans etc are probably out of the question, so what are the options?
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Jaakko Viitalähde
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jdg

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2010, 11:12:29 AM »

in the building im in, the power is terrible, voltage sags and spikes all the time.

i've tried some voltage regulators (off brand, not the "monster one") and it didn't seem to react fast enough.

im think a very large battery/online UPS for the whole bloody lot might work?
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john mcCaig
-Mothery Earworks Clarifold Audipure

bblackwood

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2010, 11:33:25 AM »

All electrical here first Furman AR series voltage regulators, followed by APC Smart UPS's. Seems to work great, a voltage meter I have hanging off the UPS shows a constant 120 VAC all the time, regardless of what's happening.
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Brad Blackwood
euphonic masters

resolectric

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2010, 12:00:27 PM »

Viitalahde wrote on Tue, 02 February 2010 11:43

...

Furmans etc are probably out of the question, so what are the options?


Since you're in Europe the Italian brand PROEL shouldn't be hard to find. I have some of their circuits and they've proven reliable over the years.

There's also the portuguese brand "Acustica" that builds a heavy weight, very solid, 5KVA Automatic Voltage Regulator.
Its price on the website is 236 Euro. I don't know about shipping costs but you can look around or contact them directly.

I have one, similar to this one but an older model, rack mountable, and it's been working flawlessly everyday for the past six years. I believe it has saved my studio several times.
Connected before it i have a Furman PM ProE to function as a Spike protection.
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Andrew Hamilton

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2010, 12:13:53 PM »

Bought a second-hand AR-Pro for cheap (from someone over at Glenn's place) and then had Furman refurbish it, themselves.   The used price, plus Furman's bench fee, a new triac, and some other components (as well as all that shipping) was still cheaper than retail...   Has been running well in this 100 year old ? building in an industrial neighborhood.  The console's balanced (IT-20) runs off that, as do some APS UPS's for the computers.  Power is what you're working with.  Don't skimp on juice.   The countryside sounds like a great plan, in terms of acoustic isolation.  ...and for star gazing (when the spoiled rock stars are away);   If I use the wall outlet during the day, I read only 113 V, but at night it's a full 120.  If I use the AR-PRO in front of the IT-20, the volts are at 119, during the day, and 120 all night.  






Andrew
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bigaudioblowhard

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2010, 12:36:46 PM »

Furman VR here, saved my ass on many occasions. I've watched the lights dip to brown and not a glitch in the audio. And helps lower the noise floor. Recommend.

bab

Waltz Mastering

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2010, 12:53:14 PM »

Separate circuits here dedicated only for the audio... nothing else. Also use a couple monster 2500's showing 120 and slightly above.

cass anawaty

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2010, 02:26:03 PM »

Dedicated circuit + Furman AR-1215 + Monster Pro7000 balanced + Furman UPS.

You can eat off my power.   Razz
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Cass Anawaty, Chief Engineer
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Greg Reierson

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2010, 03:41:56 PM »

Consider a ferro resonant transformer for line sags.


GR
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Gold

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2010, 03:46:05 PM »

These are more serious.

http://www.liebert.com/product_pages/MainCategory.aspx?id=2

I'll bet Siemens makes good ones too.
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Paul Gold
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burp182

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2010, 04:57:02 PM »

As a little bit of a side note, the folks at Equi=Tech said when I put my wall unit in (the single best investment I made in my room, bar none) that UPS units don't play well with balanced power units. They recommended the UPS units go on the standard wall plugs and be large enough capacity to deal with the sags and peaks. Since you run on the batteries all the time and recharge from the plug, they smooth things out on their own. It's worked out well for me.
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minister

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2010, 10:27:50 PM »

bblackwood wrote on Tue, 02 February 2010 10:33

...a voltage meter I have hanging off the UPS shows a constant 120 VAC all the time, regardless of what's happening.
Even if it isn't 120 VAC?.....................

bblackwood wrote on Tue, 02 February 2010 10:33

All electrical here first Furman AR series voltage regulators, followed by APC Smart UPS's.
I do this too in one room.  But I was told that the Smart UPS should be voltage regulation enough.  Is it? I am in an older building. I have another room I am considering another Furman AR.

Also, are your amps on any Voltage Regulators?  Or is that asking for trouble?



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tom hambleton C.A.S.
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bblackwood

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2010, 11:24:56 PM »

minister wrote on Tue, 02 February 2010 21:27

bblackwood wrote on Tue, 02 February 2010 10:33

...a voltage meter I have hanging off the UPS shows a constant 120 VAC all the time, regardless of what's happening.
Even if it isn't 120 VAC?

*smacks forehead*

Quote:

bblackwood wrote on Tue, 02 February 2010 10:33

All electrical here first Furman AR series voltage regulators, followed by APC Smart UPS's.
I do this too in one room.  But I was told that the Smart UPS should be voltage regulation enough.  Is it? I am in an older building. I have another room I am considering another Furman AR.

Probably overkill, but I had the Furmans before I had the UPS's and consider the UPS's a necessity, so...

Quote:

Also, are your amps on any Voltage Regulators?  Or is that asking for trouble

No, amp and subs are the only thing plugged straight into the wall (dedicated home run ground circuit).
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Brad Blackwood
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crna59

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2010, 11:27:09 PM »

Equi=tech wall unit here too. I'm glad I did it.


Regards,
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minister

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Re: Mains regulation, what's the good stuff?
« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2010, 11:33:12 PM »

Thanks Brad.

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tom hambleton C.A.S.
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