Beepre kit availability? No reply to my email

[jjvornov]

A replacement is in the works.

Now that the weather is cooler, my BeePre is behaving itself. I held off buying one of the variacs I see all over the web that seem to have lots of reliability issues. But it would be nice to have a mod for the original that eliminated my summertime buzzing

[Paul Birkeland]

A buck/boost converter with a 120V:6.3VCT transformer setup to add half the 6.3V winding will remedy that issue.  I built one that went into a small Hammond box with an IEC in and IEC out that would step up the incoming AC voltage by either 3 or 6 volts.  This is enough to prevent regulator issues from the dirty/saggy mains voltage we seem to run into when everyone kicks on the aircon.

[Brent]

Interesting. Would one of Hammond 166?6 transformers work? If so, would any of them work, or would it need to be be one of the bigger ones like a 166N/Q/S6? I’m not sure what the 30VAC on the secondaries meant on your diagram.

Currently I have my BeePre plugged into an APC Line R 1200 voltage stabilizer set at the 127V position. It only switches taps when voltage drops below 120. My voltage is usually over 120 but drops below that often enough that I’d rather not use the BeerPre without a voltage lift. I get buzz somewhere between 115 and 116V, which is still evidently within spec for 120V mains. The APC is fine other than switching noises when the voltage sags and rises.

Feel free to move this post or PM if this is too off topic. 

Brent

[Paul Birkeland]

A 166K6 would be ideal.

[Brent]

Thanks!