[Lost81]

Would you and/or Josh tell us what specific caps are in your OneAC?...

Hi Occam,

I will take a look later and report back.
The OneAC in my possession is not as large as JoshK's though.


Cheers,
-Lost81

[ludavico]

"Remember if you bypass the switch, you are bypassing more than just a switch. Those switches are breakers, which is a safety feature." -Josh

OK.  Good idea.  

So do you think I should do the 2x0.47uF 600V caps  inside the ONEAC?  Is this a waste of time?

BTW,  is Jersey City on Roosevelt Island?  

John

[JoshK]

I am not sure about the caps but it might help...I'd have to know a tiny bit more on how and where you want to use them.

I bought a house in JC and moved from RI where I was renting.  RI is a great area but you can't buy.

[Kevin P]

We have a new filter board that includes DC Filtering, a single Risch RFI filter, Varistors for surge protection and a spot for a thermistor to provide some sort of "slow start" method if you are using a big fat transformer on the power supply.   Board dimensions are 4" x 2.25" and we designed the board so that we could drop it in an amplifier chassis or slide it into one of our JR Power filter boxes.   I'll also sell just the board and components for the DIYers who want a neat and tidy solution.

http://www.diycable.com/main/images/dcfilter.jpg" border="0" />

A single Cardas RCA shown in the picture for scale.   Semi-populated board on the left is missing the parts for the DC filter (on order at Digikey & Mouser) and the thermistor will be application specific due to the need to match a particular part with the correct amplifier current flow.

[randytsuch]

A zsleeve is basically an RF Choke right?  In which case it gets rid of a lot of high frequency crap, i.e. 100Khz on up but it AFAIK it is the stuff in the audio band that is really detremental and an RF Choke and many other filters are pretty ineffective on the crap in the audio band.

I am not sure it is a RF choke.  I am also not sure about not worrying about RF, I would like to filter EVERYTHING that is not 60 HZ, but I also think there are other things to worry about.

I think the zsleeve must act as an inductor, and would form part of a low pass filter.  See this for some theory on CLC low pass filters.
http://my.integritynet.com.au/purdic/lcfilters.htm
There is a lot more info out there on this type of filter, but this is what I could find quickly with google.

The capacitor part of the filter is not a big deal, I would use x or y rated film caps here, but will try an auricap at some point.

To me, problem is finding an inductor that does not end up choking off the dynamics of your system.  I am wondering if the zsleeve might fit the bill here.

Randy

[JoshK]

We have a new filter board that includes DC Filtering, a single Risch RFI filter, Varistors for surge protection and a spot for a thermistor to provide some sort of "slow start" method if you are using a big fat transformer on the power supply.   Board dimensions are 4" x 2.25" and we designed the board so that we could drop it in an amplifier chassis or slide it into one of our JR Power filter boxes.   I'll also sell just the board and components for the DIYers who want a neat and tidy solution.

<img ...

Thanks Kevin for the info.  That looks like a great solution for our purposes.  How much do they go for?

[JoshK]

Randy,

Your right big inductors can choke the dynamics in your system.  I haven't found this to be the case for my source components and I don't use one on the amps.   Power filtering for the amps is a whole 'nother ball of wax.  

I agree that RF filtering is necessary too, just saying that for that there is easy, cheap and effective treatments it seems.  So if all the Zsleeve was doing was RF filtering I think I'll find a cheaper solution.  But like you said there is probably more to it.   I'll read up some more.

[Kevin P]

Good question.... I just got the boards earlier this week and havn't had time to work up pricing.

Shooting from the hip:

PCB Board without components:   $15

Harris Varistors 220V w/140J energy absorb:  $1.85 ea (2 needed)

Mallory 158X line rated caps 250V rated:  $1.00 ea (four needed)

JW Miller 5524 Inductors 50uH 15A rated $7.50 ea (2 needed)

DC Filter Section


Panasonic 2200uF 16V FM Series  $1.00 ea  (2 needed)

Zener Diodes don't have model number in front of me $2 ea  (2 needed)


Let's see.... total price for DC Filter, Risch filter & surge protecion would be $43.70 for the entire shooting match.  I'll probably throw in some mounting stand-offs and call it $45 retail and any of the parts could be deleted for undesired functions.

[ludavico]

Josh, I was thinking of putting the  0.47uF 600V caps across the hot and neutral contacts on the AC coming into the ONEAC (i.e. the caps would be inside the enclosure).

I guess I will try it out and see if I can hear any diff.

I am in Houston now (I lived on the Upper West Side- 124th & B-way for years); and the AC is bad beyond description.  I am afraid the ONEAC is going to be like digging a ditch with a teaspoon...which is why I am trying to go extra spicy on the poboy.  

 John

PS - I am dying to ask you about your RM40s.  In another thread perhaps?

[ludavico]

Kevin: Awesome!  I have two TEAC A-L700P, how do suggest I deploy your new condtioner (i.e. one inside each amp)?  Is that too much?

John

[mcgsxr]

Ludavico - if this power thing works out for your application, would you give me a shout and walk me through it?

Thanks,

[Occam]

John,

As JoshK wisely said -

 DO NOT INSTALL NON X2 RATED CAPS WITHIN YOUR WALL!!!"

I'm speaking here as the facilitor of the LAB forum. In addition to concerns over your well being, I'm also concerned as to the liability of Audiociircles. Your question is a good one, and my intent is not to chastise.....

As you plan to use the OneAC, you've already have an external place to install your Auricaps. (I've not used the Auricaps for powerconditioning, but I've no reason to doubt their efficacy in that role, I use those purpose specified Wima MP3X2 caps, which are near impossible to source in small quantities)  When you install an Auricap(s) on the powercord side of the OneAc, connect to the Hot after the fuse(breaker), so that if the Auricap fails to a dead short, the OneAc's fuse will blow. [I just saw JoshK's follow on comment about the switch being also a breaker, this is a very good thing! These generally provide substantially less resistance than a combination of a switch and fuse]
Realize that this Auricap will provide powerconditioning to not only to the components powered by the OneAc, but to all components plugged into that same AC mains circuit (like your poweramps). That cap is parallel to the whole circuit.

As to caps mounted on the output side of internal tranformer connected to the outlets -
The individual caps mounted on the outlets will not isolate the outlets from each other, they are in paralell. For isolation between outlets, you will need an additional inductive component to isolate the transformers output (where you should have a cap, also), and the outlets where you can place an additional cap....
Nevertheless, the outlets do provide a convenient place to mount caps.

As an aside, Kevin P's line filters are a well implemented and priced and offer a nice alternative to scratch built, They're not potentially as effective as a full blown isolation transformer for  low current draw components, but offer the option of using separate filter mechanisms appropriate for the component and isolation as well. [EDIT: and you wont run into the potential situaltion that the Bargain Ebay IsolationTransformer/Conditioner  might buzz like a SOB, and you can't fix it....and in any event, you'll need to mod the thing to extract the best performance, anyway.. Kevin's can come assembled and specifically customized, at a very reasonable cost, no diy required]

[Kevin P]

As an aside, Kevin P's line filters are a well implemented and priced and offer a nice alternative to scratch built, They're not potentially as effective as a full blown isolation transformer for low current draw components, but offer the option of using separate filter mechanisms appropriate for the component and isolation as well.

I don't recommend anything but line rated caps simply because having a slightly better filter isn't worth someone killing themselves nor their family.

I've been asked about isolation transformers and my response is that I have concerns about providing a solution that is only good for about 50W or so....  what happens when people start plugging in higher current draw components?   The transformer overheats and eventually fails (hopefully with just an open).   I'd feel safer if people used solutions that may cost a little more but are in line with UL & electrical codes and I never want to provide an outlet that cannot handle a full 15A current draw safely.

[Occam]

Kevin,

As you're a businessman with the associated legal (and moral) responsibilities, I certainly agree with your insistance on X2 rated caps. But as facilitator on this board, I'm well aware that folks are going to go ahead and use them anyway. Hence my insistance that they not be buried in a wall, and that they be mounted after a fuse.... To do otherwise on my part would be like insisting on abstinence rather than using a condom  

With regards to your comments on the current limitations of isolation transformers, I've always caveated my comments with the acknowledgement of the current limitations. Likewise, the deletious potential of transformer saturation also applies equally to your own use (as your site acknowledges) of inductors in your own filters. Hence, your own option of powering larger current draw components with a purely capacitive filter, leaving out the inductor. Nor do I see powering a greater than 50watt draw with an isolation transformer as necessarily problematic. A 1200va unit does not have the same constraints as a 100va unit..... Size does matter  

Have you evaluated the Wima MP3 X2 caps? I know that you use the Jon Risch reccomended Mallorys, but, IMO, find the Wimas prefferable. I've only found them at Mouser in minimum order quanties of 100+, and would love to find a retail source. (I always bypass these with a .1uf 15mm LS value MP3, if I'm using >0.1uf)

Regards,
Paul

[JoshK]

FYI

.47uF Wima caps

Min order of 41, if a few of us get together we could probably come up with an order of 41.

[Occam]

Josh,

Lordy, how do they come up with these minimum order quanties????
Prior to dragging anyone into a group buy on my say-so, I'll send you my sole unused 0.1uf 15mm lead spaced  MP3X2 so we can get another opinion, I always use this value, as IMO it is the 'bomb' used either as a bypass with a larger MP3X2, or standalone.
Then we can make it on your say-so.
____________

Paul

[BradJudy]

Good stuff here.  I have dabbled a bit, but not much, in DIY - mainly paint-by-number type of stuff though.    

It sounds like it would be a good combination to use an isolation transformer on low power equipment (sources, etc.) and something like the JR filter on higher power equipment (amps, etc.).  The lower power equipment might even benefit from using both?

I may have to tinker around with power stuff after the holiday season.

[ludavico]

Mark: absolutely.  I will give you a shout when I am up and running.

OCCAM - Copy that.  Thanks.  I am pretty conservative (and out-of-my depth beyond very simple electronic procedures);  so I am going to research a mod before I try it.

Hence my questions.

Of course, I might just be in luck with Kevin's new conditioners.      


John

[ludavico]

Holy Smokes...I just received the ONEAC CP1105 (4.6a) and thought I would try it right out of the box.

I plugged one digital source into it, and shazaam....heard the difference right away.  

Wow, didn't expect that for $20.  

Didn't expect the thing to weigh a ton neither.

Nice one, Mark.    

Cheers,
John

[pjchappy]

Where's a good place to get those OneACs?  E-bay?  

Josh, don't you have 2 different models of OneACs?  If so, what's the difference?

p