AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Power Conditioning => Topic started by: RPM123 on 7 Jul 2017, 03:14 pm
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From the Wells Audio website on their "Looking Glass" power conditioner. :lol:
"At the heart of our conditioners we use a circuit developed by John Curl and Jack Bybee as it's main filtering technology. This circuit employs a series of filtering caps and also contains a "gas module" that breaks the circuit when it senses an overcurrent condition. Once the condition has passed the gas within the module reforms and once again becomes conductive allowing the conditioner to once again function normally. The specially designed outlets have phosphor bronze contacts (the best sounding material for audio contacts), all wiring is sourced directly from the wire manufacturer and is proprietary. Wire insulation is teflon."
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http://www.wellsaudio.com/power-conditioners/
Who claims that phosphor bronze is "the best sounding" ? It has terrible conductivity. Oh look, "a series of filtering caps" which is pretty much all conditioners, and I hardly see any in there to begin with. No mention of other component but I'll assume there are that simply aren't listed. The outlets are all daisy chained, which is disappointing as I'd expect there to at least have multiple banks if not individually filtered outlets at this price point.
The gas module is the only really interesting bit, but if it's acting in capacity as a resetting fuse, I'm not sure I want something like that in the direct line of my power flow. *shrug*
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There must be 20 to 50 or more wire connections from the power company transformer to your hi-fi component and back. I don't see how adding a few very good connections can improve or even change anything. Remember how links in a chain work and the last 6 feet, first 6 feet thing doesn't apply to connections.
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Does not look good.
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Way over priced nonsence.
Geeeze!
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Once the conditioner has passed the gas...
Instead of "Looking Glass" power conditioner, maybe they should call it "Flatulent" power conditioner! :D
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No mention of the receptacle quality in their description. They look exactly like the $6 industrial grade ones sold at Home Depot.
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I find Pass Seymour heavy duty receptacles to be pretty good for the under $3 they cost.
They grip well for many years.
I have used them near always..
I would have no problem at all using a conditioner which had them installed.
And in fact I replaced some rather crappy Monster 7000 ones with Pass Seymour.
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No, my power conditioner does not do that.
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My power conditioner makes the meanest latte, clips my toe nails and cleans my toilet but I can't about because it's patent pending.
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Looks very much like Bob Crump's Bybee sucker filter. Large oil cap bypassed with a film cap. I suspect there are Bybee devices as well. The safety device is a replacement for MOV style devices.
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I find Pass Seymour heavy duty receptacles to be pretty good for the under $3 they cost.
They grip well for many years.
I have used them near always..
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Yep, top shelf Pass & Seymour receptacles are all you need, but I think that they cost well more than $3.
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Yep, top shelf Pass & Seymour receptacles are all you need, but I think that they cost well more than $3.
15A (8200) or 20A (8300) Hospital Grade generally sell in the range of ~ $8 - $10/ea and ~ $6/ea in 10-packs.
I did come across an Amazon listing for an unusually low price offer of $27.58 for a 10-pack of P&S 8300-HW, which would get you down to ~ $3/ea for hospital grade.
https://www.amazon.com/8300-HW-Heavy-Hospital-Grade-Recep/dp/B017UYT2ZM/ref=sr_1_6?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1499523523&sr=1-6&keywords=Pass+%26+Seymour+hospital+10+pack
Steve
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The recepticles are fine, they are isolated ground which can be very good if needed and used right. I don't see the use. Due to, as far as I can see, the design would be incompatible with SMPS devices for ideal/proper function.
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Isolated Ground receptacles are only useful in systems that have metal conduit/tubing (either rigid or flexible) and building that have metal framing. They serve no function in systems that use Romex® or plastic conduit.
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The linked Hospital Grade receptacles do not have an isolated ground. Isolated ground models are available which have a triangle symbol on the face of the outlet for IG identification and also have "IG" as part of the model number.
Some older residential construction and maybe some newer commercial-inspired residential construction may have metallic conduit and boxes. In that case, if there is 3-conductor wiring* (2-conductor + ground wire), isolated ground receptacles may be preferable to avoid ground loops.
* Not a common scenario, but I know homeowners with older metallic conduit, boxes and 2-wire feed that have replaced a circuit's wiring by pulling a new 3-wire feed through the conduit, and used an IG receptacle.
Steve
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For the non esoteric outlets Pass & Seymor 5362 industrial are all ya need.
charles
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http://www.wellsaudio.com/power-conditioners/
Who claims that phosphor bronze is "the best sounding" ? It has terrible conductivity. Oh look, "a series of filtering caps" which is pretty much all conditioners, and I hardly see any in there to begin with. No mention of other component but I'll assume there are that simply aren't listed. The outlets are all daisy chained, which is disappointing as I'd expect there to at least have multiple banks if not individually filtered outlets at this price point.
The gas module is the only really interesting bit, but if it's acting in capacity as a resetting fuse, I'm not sure I want something like that in the direct line of my power flow. *shrug*
Furutech does. Have you tried Furutech Rhodium over phosphor bronze. Actually Furutech all copper sounds bright in direct comparison. Go figure. Maybe the sound is not about conductivity. Material mixes play an important role in sound.
charles
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Isolated Ground receptacles are only useful in systems that have metal conduit/tubing (either rigid or flexible) and building that have metal framing. They serve no function in systems that use Romex® or plastic conduit.
Incorrect. If you have something that blocks ground loops they are entirley necessary.
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I'm familiar with the names John Curl and Jack Bybee but what the heck is a "gas module" that breaks the circuit when it senses an overcurrent condition"?
I Googled "gas module circuit breaker" and came up with almost nothin'.
The breaker doesn't even resemble the PASS M0, the only gas circuit breaker I could find:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=165216)
The breaker does resemble the Rancho RS9000XL series nitrogen gas charged shocks I have on my Jeep (without the boot), it's probably pretty smooth when the music gets rough.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=165217)
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That's because it's all marketing BS and the OP fell for it. :shake:
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No gas modules in mine, which is a good thing.
The marketing could go the other way "the absence of auto resettible gas module fuses...been replaced by fuses with unobtanium metal and aerospace glass which provides a better high/low/mid (your choice) end response".
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Quote from: Speedskater on Yesterday at 10:56 am
Isolated Ground receptacles are only useful in systems that have metal conduit/tubing (either rigid or flexible) and building that have metal framing. They serve no function in systems that use Romex® or plastic conduit.
Incorrect. If you have something that blocks ground loops they are entirley necessary.
I don't understand?
How are you connecting Isolated Ground receptacles in a Romex® or plastic conduit system?
In a metal conduit system, I.G. receptacles prevent noise, interference & leakage currents from other circuits from using your audio interconnects as a path back to their voltage source. But that's not a problem in plastic systems.
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Ah, I see what you meant now. Sure, with plastic boxes (the wall) they have no purpose. But we are talking about power conditioners.
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Ah, I see what you meant now. Sure, with plastic boxes (the wall) they have no purpose. But we are talking about power conditioners.
But at that point in time, we were discussing hospital grade dual receptacles. Don't know how or why there would be I.G. receptacles in a power conditioner. Don't think that NEC & UL would be happy with that.
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Again, in power conditioners it's necessary if you have ground loop preventing provisions. It also doesn't mean the enclosure is not grounded.
NEC & UL approval is unrealistic for audiophile products in general unless the scale is very large. Companies will due their best to use them as guidelines to make a safe product but won't get approval. There's nothing unsafe about a grounded enclosure with isolated sockets that go back to the same grounding incoming leg.
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From the Wells Audio website on their "Looking Glass" power conditioner. :lol:
"At the heart of our conditioners we use a circuit developed by John Curl and Jack Bybee as it's main filtering technology. This circuit employs a series of filtering caps and also contains a "gas module" that breaks the circuit when it senses an overcurrent condition. Once the condition has passed the gas within the module reforms and once again becomes conductive allowing the conditioner to once again function normally. The specially designed outlets have phosphor bronze contacts (the best sounding material for audio contacts), all wiring is sourced directly from the wire manufacturer and is proprietary. Wire insulation is teflon."
My power conditioner talks to me every morning makes me Breakfast . and reminds me that it does not Fart Gas !
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Looking at the OP's original post and realizing he used an LOL smiley. I think he gets that there is a certain quantity of marketing BS in the ad copy. My bad.
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Again, in power conditioners it's necessary if you have ground loop preventing provisions. It also doesn't mean the enclosure is not grounded.
NEC & UL approval is unrealistic for audiophile products in general unless the scale is very large. Companies will due their best to use them as guidelines to make a safe product but won't get approval. There's nothing unsafe about a grounded enclosure with isolated sockets that go back to the same grounding incoming leg.
Now I'm lost again.
Is/are the power conditioner's:
Chassis connected to wall outlet's Safety Ground?
The P.C's receptacles connected to wall outlet's Safety Ground?
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Every power conditioner should have safety ground connected on it's input. Every socket should have ground as well. The problem is you can't have a path through the chassis, bypassing your ground loop prevention provisions, so the ground is isolated from the backstrap.
BTW almost all European sockets are isolated since they simply don't have a rear backstrap of metal or anything to speak of, so it's only the US where people have anything to really talk about. It's just a circumstance of our receptacle form that it cost more to separate the ground and hence it gets designated for when necessary.