DIY power conditioner? How to fix dirty AC in shared electrical environment

[ewingfox]

Working on finding a solution to a dirty power issue. At this location, there are voltage fluctuations +-10v, mid 1960's house wiring, FM radio audible through all speakers (even through SS gear), interference audible from cell phone calls, landline calls... And weather.

Have unplugged EVERYTHING in this house, and the issue persists, and is not limited to one circuit.  With over 10+ families sharing the same common transformer, we have a problem, Houston.

If I can install a dedicated circuit from the main panel and install hospital grade outlets, etc... Is there an option outside of spending 2-3k on power conditioners?  Has anyone here built a Line filter/isolation transformer unit themselves that works well?  I have reviewed other threads here where users have rewired their entire house to clean up power, but I am fairly convinced that the issue lies with a neighbor's house.  Having my friend relocate isn't an option, and buying the neighborhood out is also out of the question.

Can we dedicate a thread to a conversation about power filtering?  Perhaps a new group project could come out of this!  I'll happily be the guinea pig for this - my friend is non-technical and is at the end of his rope.

If I failed to go far enough back in the forum, and this has already been solved - just let me know and I'll RTFM!

My personal thought would be a pair of line filters based around Corcom 3EC1 suggested by Paul Joppa, in line with a few hospital grade isolation transformers, and probably a slow start circuit.  If there is a better way, gurus please educate me!

[ewingfox]

-and to answer the first question everyone will ask - no, a DC only system is out if the question.  I'm playing with a DC only system only at my place, but more to come on that in a few weeks as I get the amps knocked together

[johnsonad]

There are a lot of threads out there on many forums covering this topic. Here's my two cents.

I'm active duty Navy and move every three or so years.  In the last 10 years I've went from 100v 50Hz power to 128v 60Hz and currently 115v 60Hz.  As I rent and don't own where I'm living the best solution I've come up with is a PS Audio Premier Power Plant.  I've had this in my system for the last 10 years or so and it is the single best purchase I've made in audio.  It provides consistent regenerated 120v power that I never have to worry about.  When in Japan, I used a 20 amp step up transformer from 100v-117v in front of it and it didn't blink.  Stateside it handles daily voltage fluctuation with zero hiccups.  I've got every piece of audio gear I run plugged into it and with BH tube gear using a 120v primary winding, I never have to worry about too much or two little voltage.  Additionally, it has a pretty advance surge protector built in and PS Audio backs it every step of the way.  Their engineers personally helped my through the Japanese power conversion questions and I've read of them helping customize power solutions for individuals.  I sound like a fan boy and am of this product.  Again, just my two cents.

Aaron

[mcandmar]

A mains filter and isolation transformer should get you there.

No need to spend big money as i picked up a Belkin PF-60 mains filter for £100 on eBay which all my gear is fed from.  The isolation transformer was another bargain i found on eBay for £30, its a 1KVA toroid with x2 120v windings so i have it setup as a balanced 240v output to feed my speaker amps and preamps. Whole setup probably cost me £200.

[ewingfox]

Aaron -

First of all, thank you for your service!  Your previous posts about your power setup, and your time living with challenging power conditions lead me over the past few days to review and consider the PS regeneration units!  If a home option won't work, the strength of your recommendation will likely send us there for sure. A ET "fanboy" turned me on to these crazy bastards up in the NW building $99 tube preamps back in 1999, so be a champion for what works!!!

mcandmar -  did you chop up those units to build a home brew box, or are the photos the commercial units?

I have already added a Pyle voltage stabilizer with sequential power on/off for his small setup (some self powered 5" Presonus units and a standalone DAC for use with his computer).  This did little to lower the noise floor, but has stabilized the voltage somewhat.

I'll look into adding those two additional units, I assume upstream?

Finally, anyone have any luck building a single homemade unit?

[mcandmar]

mcandmar -  did you chop up those units to build a home brew box, or are the photos the commercial units?

Finally, anyone have any luck building a single homemade unit?

The PureAV is a commercial unit, the isolation transformer unit i built myself.  I did have my own DIY filter box but i dismantled it when i bought the PureAV as its a much better unit.

[ewingfox]

Mcandmar-

Consider me a complete and total newbie in all things - any chance you could assist with the layout and parts list for the isolation transformer setup?  Not clear on what a "wingding" is!

I'll look into the Belkin PF-60 - the pricing is reasonable and if it doesn't do the job when paired with the ISO, I can buy if back from my buddy and use it at my place where the power is much cleaner!!

[braubeat]

I have not tried this personally but it sounds like it should work. Buy a small used gas generator and remove the gas engine and replace it with an electric motor. That would be about as pure and dedicated as you can get. Shouldn't cost too much either.

Michael

[caffeinator]

You might also find some interesting and potentially helpful info by researching Balanced Power.  There are many off the shelf units on the market (some may be among the products mentioned above in this thread) but it is also not beyond DIY-ing.  See the linked thread for a discussion here on the topic; lots more is JAGA (just a google away).

http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=3443.0

[Deluk]

I've not had this problem and am not technically adept enough to address it, but to me, all of the replies are geared to giving you clean, stable voltage. This is fine, but am I wrong in thinking that this won't help you with the FM, cell phone and other interference?

[ewingfox]

Thanks everyone!

 i am looking into a balanced power setup for his main listening room (under construction at the mo) and I'll attack the isolation transformer setup this week.  I know a guy who knows a guy with a stack of 'em.

I am hoping most of the noise is coming in over ac - to your point Deluk - anything that is actually riding in on RCA's and through the rest of the signal path, well - that is just a return to best practice - shorten cables, keep things neat, use floor offsets, shielding, etc, etc.

One remaining question -  other than being an annoying font, what is a whingding?

Thanks in advance,

Ewing

[mcandmar]

A wingding is the same as a winding, only spelt wrong.  I would like to know what auto-correct thinks it is...

[ewingfox]

Caffeinator -

Thank you for sending me over to the balanced power thread - reading through it, I wonder how much of the benefit from balanced power comes through the fact that there are transformers in the mix - essentially isolating the power.  I have added some line filtering and voltage stabilization already with a 1U Pyle conditioner (purchased more for the sequential soft start than anything, as the speakers in his office are self powered and are a pain to turn on manually.)

I think next steps is probably to build a isolation transformer setup, or try one of the commercial units - I can always deploy it elsewhere if it turns out to be half-measures, and will likely employ a soft start.  Many people forget that even if there is no load connected, inrush current on large transformers can actually damage a ton of gear upstream - I once saw an electrician down (my) datacenter by powering up a 400VA transformer, then before allowing it to stabilize, energize the next one in the line.  Even though there was no load on either, it caused a massive sag and not only popped the upstream UPS, it also damaged quite a bit of gear.

I'll do more googling - but in BH forums I trust, so expect me to dupe-check things here before I make any bold moves



E

[ewingfox]

mcandmar -

wow - Apparently i misread your initial post lol -

I completely understand what you are talking about - thank you for the dope slap.  I won't admit how long I spent researching "power conditioning" and "wingdings"

Thank you everyone for your expertise and patience!

[caffeinator]

Hi ewingfox,

I think the idea behind balanced power is that by splitting the transformer secondary and returning each of its halves to ground, a lot of AC-borne noise is thus split, opposed, and cancelled.  The transformers used for balanced power are often isolation transformers if they aren't purpose-built for balanced power.  This makes me wonder if an isolation transformer would add more to a balanced power setup.

The other parts of a typical balanced power setup - a power line filter, for example, and maybe a ferrite ring or tube - can also help with a variety of power line noise.

Good luck!