Re: Power conditioners and filters


RR wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Will a cheap filter clean up an AC waveform (remove most if not all noise)
> or do I need a real power conditioner?

Depends what kind of noise it is. RF will be removed with a simple
filter.

> I've bought a diesel Generator Set for backup power, and today we actually
> had a 2 hour power failure. It was a great asset to have!
>
> I mainly use it for supplying our online (double conversion) UPS which power
> our computers.
>
> The main (larger) UPS goes into fault condition when I plug it into the
> GenSet.
>
> I've worked with the UPS manufacturer and still have no resolution for this
> problem. I do have a workaround, which worked fine today, but it's an
> annoyance (I have to remove all load from the UPS - switch off the
> computers - then apply the input power then apply the load once the UPS has
> switched the inverter on).
>
> I know what *is not* causing the problem. It's not the voltage, it's not
> the frequency, and it's not the floating earth.

Why is your earth floating?
>
> I now believe it is the noisy waveform that the GenSet supplies. It provides
> a reasonably steady 54Hz and 240V, but the waveform is quite noisy. In
> particular, at peak voltage there is a > 10-20% short-lived voltage drop.
..

These are caused by the capacitors in smps charging, you cant do much
about them without spending lots of money.

>
> The theory is that the UPS tries to match the frequency between the inverter
> and the the mains (GenSet). The noise looks like very erratic frequency and
> this confuses the UPS and it goes into fault.
>
> All I want is a cheap filter or conditioner that I can place between the
> GenSet and the UPS and have it remove enough of the noise so that the UPS
> doesn't go into fault condition.
>
> The UPS manufacturer has been very helpful, but the conditioners they supply
> cost 6 times the APC one mentioned above.
>
> tia,
> RR

.

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