Amps & UPS Devices

blakeh

What do you all think about plugging amps into a UPS? I am in the position to purchase an APC UPS unit (BX1500LCD) which is a 1500VA battery backup unit. I would be plugging my PS Audio P500 A/C Regenerator into one outlet, and the amps into two other outlets. Do you guys see any problem with that setup? I figure it's better to have the stereo running on battery backup if the power goes out than have it abruptly cut off.

Any issues with sound quality or is it common to plug things like amps into a battery backup?

ben62670

Most amps do better straight into the wall unless you can a afford a huge power regenerator. A UPS tends to make a lot of noise. IMHO they do not belong in audio. Also they are more prone to ground loop.

blakeh

Good points Ben. What do people generally do to protect their amps from a power surge? Just buy good insurance?

okiepolkie

You shouldn't really worry about a ups in your home audio system overall. The power supplies are actually built to withstand numerous power changes overall.

Projectors, hard disc based video and music servers, and some network audio pieces may benefit from a ups. Standard audio components wouldn't have much benefit, and as mentioned, may introduce more noise.

blakeh

Sounds like I should just plug them straight into the wall. I am moving into a new house and am able to have an electrician do some work for me before I move. Do you think everything in my 2-channel system could be put on one dedicated 20amp circuit, or should I put the amps on one 20amp circuit and the rest of the equipment on another?

ben62670

For the price of a dedicated circuit you can have an extra run real cheap. I prefer 12/3 for the runs if under 60 feet or so. A lot of what you get from a desiccated circuit is isolation from other things such as lights, and motors. My house the air handler is tied to the living room on the same circuit. Also many people don't under stand that if you don't have a dedicated circuit you have the home run tied to an outlet which is tied to a light that is tied to another outlet... All these connections weaken the path, and add noise. I used to be an electrician and have run many dedicated runs before. I will do mine when I figure out where my gear will rest.

mmadden28

blakeh wrote: »

Sounds like I should just plug them straight into the wall. I am moving into a new house and am able to have an electrician do some work for me before I move. Do you think everything in my 2-channel system could be put on one dedicated 20amp circuit, or should I put the amps on one 20amp circuit and the rest of the equipment on another?

Straight into the wall or into a non-current limiting power conditioner. A UPS is for backup power-do you really need your amp to stay up when the lights go out? At home, I'd use a UPS for the computer to allow for a sfae shutdown, the game console to allow you to save your game and the Projector/Rear Projection TV to allow for the lamp to cool down properly. Otherwise I don't see the need, I guess unless you have seriously bad power and have lots of brown-outs and such???.

I have my Amp directly into a dedicated 20A outlet and the rest on a Power conditioner into another dedicated outlet.

My original circuit was found to be sharing the same line as a dimmable light, a ceiling fan, the entire family room and a few other outlets elsewhere IIRC.

IIRC, DarqueKnight, in his Powerline analysis series of discussion threads, confirmed that digital equipment induced noise into the AC.

Here is a recent thread on UPS's and Power conditioners.

Face

Here's what I use: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1025304&postcount=17

No problems with noise, etc... Belkin also has a cheaper/smaller version that works well with small components, but commonly have transformer hum.

mmadden28

Face, why did you choose a power conditioner with a UPS over one without?

steveinaz

I plug my amp directly to the wall outlet.

Face

1. The unit is in my HT rig with a DLP.

2. I have frequent brown outs and occasional drop outs in the summer during peak hours.

Most of the year my amp is plugged into the wall. Only during the summer do I plug my amp into the UPS's "high current" outlets.

heiney9

I think Blake's main concern is "flicker" situation where power is interupted for a few seconds and then comes back on. Not a great situation for tube gear. This way one could manually shut everything down if the power stays off or the gear is unaffected if you have a "flicker" situation.

I personally am not sure how the "computer" grade UPS units would fair in a high end stereo rig.

H9

mmadden28

Makes sense with brown-outs and 'flicker'.

So are there special power continuity concerns with tube gear? Should I be (UPS) concerned about my tube pre? Or is it really just with tube amps?
Do tubes have the same cool down and wait requirements like PJ and DLP bulbs?

george daniel

Wall

nadams

My GFA-545 hates it when my ups switches to battery. Occasionally when the furnace blower kicks on, it triggers the UPS to switch over for a few seconds. When this happens, my amp will cut out. It's still on, and there's still some sound coming out of the speakers, but it drops WAY back. I'm not convinced it's a grounding issue, as this amp has a non-grounded plug... Still, I'm considering plugging it directly into the outlet and just being proactive in unplugging it when thunderstorms come through.

If I do that, though, I'm worried that I'll get a "snap" when the blower kicks on...

mmadden28

nadams wrote: »

My GFA-545 hates it when my ups switches to battery. Occasionally when the furnace blower kicks on, it triggers the UPS to switch over for a few seconds. When this happens, my amp will cut out. It's still on, and there's still some sound coming out of the speakers, but it drops WAY back. I'm not convinced it's a grounding issue, as this amp has a non-grounded plug... Still, I'm considering plugging it directly into the outlet and just being proactive in unplugging it when thunderstorms come through.

If I do that, though, I'm worried that I'll get a "snap" when the blower kicks on...

Is your gear on a dedicated circuit?
With my original shared 15A circuit, when I would turn my setup on the lights would dim a bit. Now with a ded. ckt. they don't dim anymore. Just wondering if that might fix that or if the furnace kicking in is pulling everything down at the mains.

Face

My furnace, washing machine, and central A/C all pull everything down...even with a 200amp service.

nadams

mmadden28 wrote: »

Is your gear on a dedicated circuit?
With my original shared 15A circuit, when I would turn my setup on the lights would dim a bit. Now with a ded. ckt. they don't dim anymore. Just wondering if that might fix that or if the furnace kicking in is pulling everything down at the mains.

My living room is one it's own circuit. I rewired it when I bought the place. The only thing other than audio gear in the room is a single light .

I only have 100amp service, so any high start draw device causes voltage dips.

bobt

The good thing about a UPS system..like from APC....your equipment will NOT be Zapped. If you live in a real bad power area..may be a good thing. Problem is you have to keep on top of the battery. If the computer stays up...so should your amp...it may go a little low(altho it's not supposed to)
But probably better then just a Furman, type spike thing. When it switches to battery...not going to blow you amp..may make it not sound so great.. but better then blowing it up.