Power Conditioner Design

[Diyengineer]

Hello all,

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this topic but it didn’t seem to fit anywhere else.

I notice a pretty decent difference in performance and quietness while listening to my stereo in the morning or late at night versus listening during the middle of the day or evening hours. I’m hoping some sort of power conditioning might improve this.

I’ve been searching around and doing some research on power conditioning and balanced power supplies. I’ve seen a few different designs both balanced and unbalanced. I’m not sure which route to go or best practices for power conditioning. Also, is it worth building a balanced supply?

Would anyone be willing to weigh in on what they’ve done or post some schematics?

Any help would be great.

Thanks!

 

[AVWERK]

It’s mostly due to a better signal to noise ratio ( quieter surrounding) and your being relaxed in those hours than it is to the computer switching supplies that are on basically on all the time ( yes they polute the lines) or on off busy amperage pulls ( also contributing )


I hear the same thing and always thought it was due to most electronics being off, but if I had to wager a bet , would tip my hat to the better signal/noise after a talk with Richard Vandersteen on the subject.

Nothing wrong with decent no current limiting conditioner though.

Regards
David

 

[nigelwright7557]

There is much lower ambient noise at night.
I stay up most nights writing software while its quiet and the phone doesn't ring.
I sometimes get so into it I am jumping into bed at 8am !

 

[infinia]

Solar inverters (the nastiest ones still have safety approvals) are popping like wild mushrooms.
Questions about IEC inlet filters, again...
filter hash /noise on AC mains most solutions have a least one or more ferrite CM (common mode) choke.
You can buy those ferrite loaded line cord clamps or better DIY using high Mu toroidal cores w/ multi-turns. Probably the easiest way power cord ferrite core - Google Search

 

[Simon1972]

I would think a Fofelix, sjostrom audios latest dc blocker and the balanced traffic of your choice would see of almost anything.

I've heard the last two used to be at effect recently in two systems.

 

[analog_sa]

I’m hoping some sort of power conditioning might improve this.

Or, you may end up hating the way the conditioner makes your system sound irrespective of the time of day 🙂

There is simply no way to know what a particular conditioner will do to your system. Lots of luck needed.

 

[Ken Newton]

Hello all,

I notice a pretty decent difference in performance and quietness while listening to my stereo in the morning or late at night versus listening during the middle of the day or evening hours. I’m hoping some sort of power conditioning might improve this.

I too, have noticed this effect. While there certainly is noise on the power mains, which is variable during the day and night hours, I still wonder how much of this phenomena might be psychological. I wonder to what degree my system seems to sound better at night simply because there is less ambient noise within my home then, and fewer attention distractions in general at night.

 

[Diyengineer]

While some may definitely might be from the increased ambient noise during the day. I notice a change in the type of noise my system makes and is pretty much the same result each day.

In the morning and at night there is a very slight hiss that can be heard when placing my ear within about 6” from the speaker. During the day that hiss turns to a slight buzz when about the same distance. Not a big deal at all, the system sounds great, but always looking to make improvements.

I’m just in between projects and always like to be building something. I figured a power conditioner might be a fun next project.

Thanks

 

[Badge]

Enid Lumley was the first writer I am aware of who felt the power was cleaner at night. She wrote for Absolute Sound Magazine back in the 1980's. I recommend you look here for the thread on the Felix AC noise filter. It is a passive approach to AC noise reduction.

 

[Speedskater]

Solar inverters (the nastiest ones still have safety approvals) are popping like wild mushrooms.....................

In the Ham radio operators groups, solar inverters are a common source of RFI interference.