cheap power conditioning?

reikso2h · « **on:** 20 Sep 2009, 08:56 pm »

Any recommendations on a cheap power conditioner?
thanks

doug s. · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 12:11 am »

isolation transformers on ebay. they can be had for pennies on the dollar. hard to do w/amps, tho, as they need to be wery big, which means heavy, and the big ones usually hum a bit, which can be bothersome. you want to make sure that the amperage rating of the iso tranny is at least as large as what you are plugging into it. for your front end, these will reduce the noise floor. i would recommend at least one for dac, one for transport, (or only one if you have a single-box cdp), and one for preamp and all other analog sources. (if you have h-t, isolate anything digital w/its own transformer.) short of serious money, for things like balanced power conditioners, these are the way to go on the cheap, imo.

danny ritchie has found something relatively cheap for a commercial product; see this thread:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=68006.0

and, this liebert ups based power supply also looks good, if found on ebay; otherwise big money (it's talked about in this thread):
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=70904.0

hth,

doug s.

Doublej · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 01:25 am »

Quote from: doug s. on 21 Sep 2009, 12:11 am

isolation transformers on ebay. they can be had for pennies on the dollar. hard to do w/amps, tho, as they need to be wery big, which means heavy, and the big ones usually hum a bit, which can be bothersome. you want to make sure that the amperage rating of the iso tranny is at least as large as what you are plugging into it. for your front end, these will reduce the noise floor. i would recommend at least one for dac, one for transport, (or only one if you have a single-box cdp), and one for preamp and all other analog sources. (if you have h-t, isolate anything digital w/its own transformer.) short of serious money, for things like balanced power conditioners, these are the way to go on the cheap, imo.

danny ritchie has found something relatively cheap for a commercial product; see this thread:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=68006.0

and, this liebert ups based power supply also looks good, if found on ebay; otherwise big money (it's talked about in this thread):
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=70904.0

hth,

doug s.

doug,

Do you mean something like a Tripp IS250 which has a street price of around $100?

http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtModelID=226

doug s. · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 05:31 am »

Quote from: Doublej on 21 Sep 2009, 01:25 am

doug,

Do you mean something like a Tripp IS250 which has a street price of around $100?

http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtModelID=226

JohnR · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 09:59 am »

I'm not convinced that a power conditioner really has a place in cheap and cheerful hifi systems. Has anyone tried them out in such a system? (see the guidelines if need be)

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 10:05 am »

I've got a PowerVar, and a OneAC, both cost about $20 each and will support smaller pieces of equipment.

Bob

JohnR · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 10:22 am »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 21 Sep 2009, 10:05 am

$20

Can't argue with that!!

mcgsxr · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 01:43 pm »

I use a Tripplite on my PC for the main system. It is located away from the balance of the audio gear, and not on a dedicated power line. Cost me $30 off eBay years ago, well worth continuing to use!

BobM · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 02:12 pm »

If you can solder you can also make a PC cheaply and easily. There are several to choose from

- basic X or Y caps across the line, like the Hydra conditioners http://www.10audio.com/diy_power_conditioner.htm

- Jon Risch choked conditioners: http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/surge.htm

- Felix PC's (just search the Lab on AC)

Each has it's own pluses and minuses, but all are inexpensive and effective.

If you can't solder or are afraid to try there's always the inexpensive Audio Prism Quiet Line filters.

Enjoy,
Bob

doug s. · « **Reply #9 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 02:19 pm »

Quote from: JohnR on 21 Sep 2009, 09:59 am

I'm not convinced that a power conditioner really has a place in cheap and cheerful hifi systems. Has anyone tried them out in such a system? (see the guidelines if need be)

john,

look at some of the suggestions in my prewious post - there's lots that sell for <$30, and one of the auctions was for fourteen 500va transformers, which sold for $100! even when shipping is included, that's still <$11 each. these are cheap and worthwhile in systems, cheap or expensive, imo.

doug s.

Niteshade · « **Reply #10 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 04:06 pm »

Some inexpensive ideas:

1. Make sure all contacts in breaker box, or fuse box are CLEAN
2. Replace bad wall sockets and/or check wires that lead to them.
3. Check ground rod connection that goes to breaker box- make sure it's clean
4. (For power company to do): Make sure snap-in KWH meter's contacts are clean

You guessed it- it's all about clean contacts.

My grandfather's house had a fuse box. One day I heard it buzzing! Well- I tuned off the mains and cleaned ALL the contacts. No more buzzing after that.

Note: Don't do this stuff unless you know how.

BobM · « **Reply #11 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 04:15 pm »

Quote from: Niteshade on 21 Sep 2009, 04:06 pm

Note: Don't do this stuff unless you know how.

Fuse and breaker boxes are dangerous places. Don't go there! Especially don't try and turn off your mains if you haven't ever done so. Those 20 year old switches that have been sitting unused don't necessarily reset once you throw them off, and can certainly create a surge when turned back on.

Niteshade · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 04:35 pm »

As stated, don't touch your home's electrical system unless you know how.

FYI: I feel is it better to eliminate the source or probable source of a problem before trying conditioners or anything like that.

1. Knowing your household electrical plugs/service/breakers, etc... are in good condition is a good thing
2. Poor contacts can produce allot of nasty noise

If a breaker is so old that it isn't functioning properly, it's time for a new one. This is cause for alarm and breakers can buzz and produce noise, just like the old fuse panel I mentioned.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 04:44 pm »

I just drag the garden hose into the house and spray down my breaker box.
I do this bi-annually to help keep the grime cleaned off.
Sometimes, I'll have my son use the steel handled toilet brush to scrub the contacts while I'm hosing it down.
Afterwards, I'll douse the panel with an entire can of WD-40. That does a great job of displacing the water and keeping it dry.

You results may very of course.

Bob
===================================================

EDIT: My conscience (actually it was the conscious of a fellow AC member) got the better of me. My attempt at adding one more to the Darwin Award nominees was in poor taste. I should not take advantage of the lesser mentally capable than myself by encouraging them to shoot a thick, high volume stream of water into a large metal box filled with lots of pissed off electrons.
My apologies to the spouse of anyone who actually tried my idea. But someday you'll come to learn I've rescued you from your poor choice in parters. It would be best to search the classified ads for a lonely audiophile. Again, you'll thank me.

Cheers.
Bob

roscoeiii · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 04:58 pm »

This may be moving outside the budget of this forum, but I've had great luck with an APC H 15 power conditioner that can occassionally be found for around $100. I believe I got mine on Amazon. The silver version is often significantly cheaper than the black. Maybe they are discontinuing the color? Current best price I could find is $180, but I've seen them for much cheaper on multiple occasions. Been very pleased with mine, and the display lets me know exactly how bad the power swings are in my building.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 06:16 pm »

Please see my edited post above.
Have a wonderful day.

Bob

thunderbrick · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 07:31 pm »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 21 Sep 2009, 04:44 pm

I just drag the garden hose into the house and spray down my breaker box.
I do this bi-annually to help keep the grime cleaned off.
Sometimes, I'll have my son use the steel handled toilet brush to scrub the contacts while I'm hosing it down.
Afterwards, I'll douse the panel with an entire can of WD-40. That does a great job of displacing the water and keeping it dry.

You results may very of course.

Bob
===================================================
EDIT: My conscience (actually it was the conscious of a fellow AC member) got the better of me. My attempt at adding one more to the Darwin Award nominees was in poor taste. I should not take advantage of the lesser mentally capable than myself by encouraging them to shoot a thick, high volume stream of water into a large metal box filled with lots of pissed off electrons.
My apologies to the spouse of anyone who actually tried my idea. But someday you'll come to learn I've rescued you from your poor choice in parters. It would be best to search the classified ads for a lonely audiophile. Again, you'll thank me.

Cheers.
Bob

Whaddaya mean, lesser mentally capable than yourself? Somebody want to break it to Brother Bob for me? I just don't have the heart.

Other than that I thought both parts of the post were funny as hell. If someone DOES use the toilet brush, get the email of the widow so we can divvy up the guy's gear.

Who says we aren't funny around here?

Occam · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 08:01 pm »

Never underestimate the lack of understanding and/or experience in others. A few years ago, I taught a senior lab project course for undergraduate EE majors, a requirement for graduation, at a real doctoral degree granting institution. I was somewhat dismayed to find some of my students (who were actually quite bright and were wizards with Matlab) had never used a soldering iron.
I showed them how to clean and tin a soldering tip, flow a joint, etc...and cautioned them to be careful and not touch the tip lest they get a rather severe burn. I really hadn't thought it was necessary to also caution them not to touch the metallic barrel. I was wrong....

The first thing after finding the burn(s) were not overly severe, and reminding myself not to laugh, was the thought - 'Are these kids going to sue me?'
The next thought was that although as a child of the Sputnik era I've been using a soldering iron since the age of 7, it really wasn't fair of me to make assumptions as to what these students knew and did not know.

FWIW,
Paul

jhm731 · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 09:35 pm »

"Are you Kaplan Cabled yet?"

No.

I prefer "Cheap and Cheerful HiFi."

Occam · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 Sep 2009, 10:01 pm »

JHM,

Good for you.

Regards,
Paul