[Kencohen]

I don't understand very much about electricity but I do understand that a good power conditioner can benefit the quality of sound from my system.

Bryston power conditioners have 5, 15 and 20 amp ratings. What is the significance of these numbers. Since conditioners with higher amp ratings cost a lot more, why would I buy one of them instead of one with a 5 amp rating? Thanks in advance for your advice.

[tim92gts]

Personally i sized the conditioners to handle maximum power use of the system so have a 16 Amp on each 14B and a 10 Amp on the sources. (all 240 Volt)

In real use with music as opposed to a test sine wave the amps rarely use more than half full power so total demand would hardly ever exceed 3kW
but a large part of my need was for effective surge protection. ( very long rural line prone to lightning strikes)

You could conceivably measure power use for your system to get some idea of demand.

Be careful though, i have a wind turbine inverter as part of my power supply and with no wind, no power use, just the conditioners on standby my tails to the
room show 4kVA! Some strange oscillation i guess but it was rather disconcerting until i saw negligible draw on the main meter.

HTH
Tim

[James Tanner]

I don't understand very much about electricity but I do understand that a good power conditioner can benefit the quality of sound from my system.

Bryston power conditioners have 5, 15 and 20 amp ratings. What is the significance of these numbers. Since conditioners with higher amp ratings cost a lot more, why would I buy one of them instead of one with a 5 amp rating? Thanks in advance for your advice.

Hi Ken

Add up the maximum amperage the system can draw - should be in the specs - generally I recommend a 15 amp unit if you have a larger amplifier and most homes in the US and Canada have 15 amp service to a specific wall plug(s).

james

[drummermitchell]

Wasn't there a rule where you would add up the maximum total amperage and then divide by 2/3.
I remember in our old house I had separate dedicated  lines and had a hydra 6 for my components and 4xhydra 2's for amps(5) and subs.
I auditioned a 15a Torus and damned if I could here anything different of the two.
It wasn't until I picked up a 20a Torus and split up some of the amps,relieving the 15a from which I believe was to much for her.
Then it was Holy crap WTF,everything was huge,stage,authoritative bottom ect,closer to a live event type of sound,effortlessness.
Was a huge shock at to what I was hearing as if the system grw an extra set of B_ _ _S,instead of feather weight we have in the ring with Tyson and you can't geyt away from him .
Add up all your amps(max power) and components to see where your at,then get ready for a hell of a ride.
I use a 240v for my components with 4Bsst and projector and the a 60a for 28's and 7Bsst on the front.
If Bryston(Torus)comes out with something noticeably better I'd be all over it.
The Torus is not I think I hear a difference,you have no choice as it's in your face type of change and it's soooo good for the music.
These are staying put in my system and the protection is #1  as I had two F113's die because they weren't plugged into the Torus and the other two that weren't were fine.
So superb protection and and a huge compliment for your music.

[Kencohen]

Hi Ken

Add up the maximum amperage the system can draw - should be in the specs - generally I recommend a 15 amp unit if you have a larger amplifier and most homes in the US and Canada have 15 amp service to a specific wall plug(s).

james

Thanks James. I have a Bryston B135 on order "currently" (sorry). I've looked at all the information on the Bryston site but haven't found the amperage number. Also, is it safe to assume that the amperage number for each component will be based on a reasonable listening level and not on the clipping point?

Also, suppose I buy a 15 amp power conditioner and the current through it from four connected components somehow exceeds that limit. Is the result that the power conditioner will in effect do what circuit breakers do in my house (open so that all current flow through that circuit stops) if their amperage is somehow exceeded? Or would this result only occur if the power conditioner is also a surge protector?