Power Conditioners/Line Conditioners

comfortablycurt

concealer404 wrote: »

This. I have an H15, and i love it. I noticed all the same improvements that you outlined. HB27 and i were having a conversation about this last night as well. I'll bet that anyone with a decent set of ears would notice a definite improvement.

It truly is a great bargain at the prices they can be had for. I'm planning on eventually upgrading to an H15 for my main rig. I'm eventually setting up a decent 2 channel system for my computer, and I'll move the H10 to that rig once I do.

mmadden28 wrote: »

By the way, in case your interested, TigerDirect has the APC H10 for $99. Prob not free shipping though.

I snagged my H10 from Tiger Direct a while back when they had them on sale for $99. I think the total came to about $123, IIRC, after shipping costs were figured in.

mmadden28

I got a couple H15's for $99 shipped from TD not too long ago (March 09). Still a good price for the H10's though.

Freak When C

comfortablycurt wrote: »

It truly is a great bargain at the prices they can be had for. I'm planning on eventually upgrading to an H15 for my main rig. I'm eventually setting up a decent 2 channel system for my computer, and I'll move the H10 to that rig once I do.

I'm certainly going to look into these APC units. I'm not sure though about a couple things though which was one of the main reasons I resurrected this thread from the dead. Like Curt, I have an HT setup and plan on setting up a 2 channel system for my compute. Maybe some of you who have electrical knowledge or experience can shine some light on these issues:

1.) I have a definite ground loop issue with my HT gear. I have the components plugged into one Belkin power-strip. I also have a 2-channel Parasound preamp integrated into the mix with my HT gear. I remember reading somewhere that Parasound equipment is infamous for ground loop hum. But I use a cheater plug between the power-strip and the outlet right now and it eliminates it. However, that doesn't seem like a proper long-term solution. The line is not exactly a dedicated line, but we did isolate the three receptacles in that room from other areas of the house by removing them from the line they were on and running a separate line to the breaker box with a new breaker. Would something like the APC H10 resolve my ground loop hum? If not, what type of AC conditioner would help?

2.) The adjacent room is used as an office w/ several computers. We've done the same thing; isolate the three outlets by running a separate line. I have a new laser printer and when it starts or runs a print job the lights dim slightly and flicker a couple times. I was planning on using one of the computers as a music source but the issue with the lights dimming and flickering when the printer is in use concerns me. So same questions; would something like the APC H10 resolve the lights dimming and flickering when the laser printer is doing its thing? If not, what type of AC conditioner would help?

concealer404

1) The APC has a ground post on it. Might help.

2) It probably won't help the lights dimming. Keep in mind that it only stabilizes or "conditions" power going FROM the unit. I was still able to dim the lights in the entire house with my stereo setup at my old place, even with the APC hooked up. What WAS impressive was that the outgoing power didn't even budge from 120v going to the rig.

Freak When C

Thanks for the reply to my 2 questions. Anybody else care to comment on what type of AC unit I need to eliminate ground loop issues and light dimming/flickering?

And by the way, if the APC H10 or H15 won't resolve these issues, then why not just use the $20 power-strip variety?

treitz3

I believe what you are looking for is a power re-generator. PS Audio sells one, though they are not cheap.

http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/detail/p1000-power-plant-regenerator?cat=power-classics

A dedicated line is much, much cheaper and will most likely solve your issues.

sTiLlLeArNiNg

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2937362&CatId=232

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3956841&CatId=1324

maybe throw a UPS in for some volt regulation?

thought's?

roscoeiii

I also wanted to point out that if you have some hum coming from inside your device's chassis, this could be caused by DC on the line and can be helped by products such as the PS Audio Humbuster or Channel Islands XDC-2. I have an APC H15 which I also highly endorse (and has provided evidence again and again of how bad my apt's power is), but if you have hum from your chassis the Humbuster and XDC are what you will need. Both PS Audio and CI Audio offer 30 day trial periods to see if they correct your problem.

Skynut

comfortablycurt wrote: »

Most of them even have guarantee's on all connected equipment. If any of your components get damaged from a power surge while they're properly connected to the conditioner, the companies will replace them at their own cost.

Read the warranty details, many of them require ALL your components be plugged into their unit. If any of your equipment is not routed through their unit nothing is covered. This means if the cable box is not plugged into the unit they will not cover the t.v. even if it is. All units in the system that are connected together must be plugged into the power conditioner.

I use the Panamax for all of my low power stuff and PS Audio's for everything with amps. I do not expect anyone to cover my loss if something happens. (not that I wont try to be reimbursed)

They provide me with piece of mind and so far no issues with broken equipment however; I have had my reciever go into protect mode during power events...??? not sure what that means really but it has happened.


P.S. I grounded all my equipment to each other to help with ground issues.

Freak When C

concealer404 wrote: »

2) It probably won't help the lights dimming. Keep in mind that it only stabilizes or "conditions" power going FROM the unit. I was still able to dim the lights in the entire house with my stereo setup at my old place, even with the APC hooked up. What WAS impressive was that the outgoing power didn't even budge from 120v going to the rig.

I read HERE that the APC H10 does indeed help with power fluctuations / lights dimming.

comfortablycurt has stated that he has an APC H10, perhaps he can verify if his unit has the capability to keep the power flowing under heavy load.

CoolJazz

A laser printer draws not only a really heavy load but also throws some nasty stuff on the line. They should be on a feed by themselves ideally or at least have nothing else pulling appreciable current on the same circuit.

If it's really effecting a lot on other circuits, then you may have some high impedance connections. Electricians will tell you in commercial panels that all lugs should be checked for tightness every year! If the circuit the printer is on has a poor connection then voltage on it drops and current spikes way up and is more likely to show up on the other circuits.

Any filtering and protection type stuff is really only a band-aid over a chainsaw wound in that case.

CoolJazz

Lowell_M

Freak When C wrote: »

I read HERE that the APC H10 does indeed help with power fluctuations / lights dimming.

comfortablycurt has stated that he has an APC H10, perhaps he can verify if his unit has the capability to keep the power flowing under heavy load.

I also just bought an H10 a few weeks or so ago. The H10 is capable of maintaining voltage within 5% of 120V nominal and seems to do a nice job cleaning the noise off the line as well (my sound floor dropped off the face of the earth after using the H10).

This is in my 2-channel rig... So an ADCOM GFA-555 driving LSi15's in a reasonably large room. Under nearly rediculous listening levels, the H10 only shows 20% load on the front panel.

I have also noticed that my incoming power is apprently very messy. Most mornings, the incoming voltage meter shows 130-140V and the "Line Trim" light is lit up as well. It seems to be back down to nominal in the evenings, which is when I have time to actually measure incoming voltage with a meter and outgoing voltage from the H10. If I get a chance to measure at the same time the H10 says incoming voltage is high, I will post my findings.

Over all though, I've noticed a subtle "cleaning up" of the soundstage and a dramatically reduced noise floor which has helped dynamics in low level listening.

Freak When C

Freak When C wrote: »

comfortablycurt... perhaps he can verify if his unit has the capability to keep the power flowing under heavy load.

I had to laugh when I seen what I wrote and how it sounds if taken out of context.

mufsoman

I'm currently using a Monster PowerBar 1100 for my system. It seems Monster doesn't have a good reputation here and I know this is a somewhat basic model, but can anyone comment on if I will hear/see a difference with one of the higher quality/price devises that are being mentioned in this thread? What is good enough? Still a newbie and learning, so help to enlighten me. Thanks