Power Conditioners
The Importance of Power Conditioners
Quality Power Conditioners or voltage regulator reduce electrical
problems that can destroy your precious equipment in a flash. And while
AVMaxx's in-house service department can fix just about anything, it's
always better to safeguard against power-related damage.
First, you need enough surge protection to accommodate your total
current draw. If you aren't sure how many amps that is, let our AVMaxx-sters help you sort it out. Next, check out the arrangement
of the outlets. If you have to plug in several wall-wart power
supplies, then you'll need to account for the space. Front panel
displays can range from basic voltage overload indicators to full LCD
readouts, and a set of pull-out lights can be seriously handy in dark
control rooms.
Unlike standard power
strips, AVMaxx recommends even the most Cheap Power Conditioner for
basic power surges protection. Most models include electromagnetic
interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) filtering.
This removes noise from the line that can not only degrade your audio,
it can ruin your recordings or live performances. More sophisticated
noise filtering, such as Furman's Linear Filtering Technology (LiFT),
can reduce or eliminate AC line noise entirely.
AVMaxx has installed power conditioners into many professional recording
studios that had invested heavily in DJ gear where basic power strips
simply aren't enough. Their basic surge protectors use metal oxide
varistor (MOV) circuits that break down over time and can completely
fail to cut off high-voltage spikes. Professional power conditioners use
designs such as transient voltage suppression (TVS) and advanced series
mode (SM) systems to ensure better protection that won't degrade.
Most power conditioners don't stabilize line voltage, so you run live
sound or use vintage gear with lower voltage-range tolerances, then you
need a voltage regulator. Voltage regulators use a series of capacitors
and detection circuits to correct for voltage fluctuations that can
damage sensitive electronics. For even more critical studio
applications, consider a balanced power system. These systems correct
for both irregular voltage and DC offset between the positive and
negative voltages. Not only do they provide superb protection, the
cancel noise the same way balanced audio cables do.
Finally, if you're running a live rig with multiple power amps, then you
should probably get a power sequencer. These devices protect your gear
by automatically switching each of their circuits on at delayed
intervals. This ensures that there isn't too great a draw on your
service current all at once, which is the leading cause of power spikes
that result from an overbalance as the current attempts to stabilize.
AVMaxx recommends power sequencers to any engineer running multiple
power amplifiers, making them a staple of live sound systems.