Mains conditioning power-handling question

smjxm09 · 09-07-2006, 06:06

I am going to obtain a mains conditioning unit for my Plasma, and AV equipment. I don’t want to get a unit that can’t handle the power but nor do I want one that is too big. Can anyone tell be how many Watts the following units can handle.
5A/500VA
5A/250VA
5A/125VA

Lurch · 09-07-2006, 13:15

1VA is roughly equivalent to 1W.

Not sure where you've got those specs above from as 5A is about 1200W, which is about 1.2kVA so 5A/125VA is twaddle.

squack · 09-07-2006, 13:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurch

1VA is roughly equivalent to 1W.

Not sure where you've got those specs above from as 5A is about 1200W, which is about 1.2kVA so 5A/125VA is twaddle.

The 5A is the fuse rating, the VA figures posted are the rated power.

So add all of the power ratings up and you get 875VA or as Lurch states 875W.

A 1KVA unit should do it.

Lurch · 09-07-2006, 14:03

Some confusion here, I was under the impression the ratings given in the OP were the ratings of MC units the OP had found and we were meant to guess at what the rating of his equipment was.

More info required.

squack · 09-07-2006, 14:22

Confusion.... You are quite right. I assumed that the list was his equipment ratings, but thinking about it that must be some plasma screen that draws 500VA

.

So smjxm09 can you find out the power ratings of the equipment that you want to protect, then add them up to give a final 'power required' figure which you can compare with the specs of the units available.

The 5A thing *must* be per outlet or am i assuming things again

Lurch · 09-07-2006, 15:06

Going on the basis 5A is around 1200VA then you only need one outlet.

If you got the 125VA model you would have about 500mA in total so multiple outputs rated at 5A max would be a bit pointless as they would have a combined max of 500mA anyway.

I'd say you were assuming things again!

smjxm09 · 10-07-2006, 07:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by squack

Confusion.... You are quite right. I assumed that the list was his equipment ratings, but thinking about it that must be some plasma screen that draws 500VA

.

So smjxm09 can you find out the power ratings of the equipment that you want to protect, then add them up to give a final 'power required' figure which you can compare with the specs of the units available.

The 5A thing *must* be per outlet or am i assuming things again

Sorry for the confusion, I am looking at obtaining a mains conditioning unit, which appears to contain a heavy transformer.

They come in 4 sizes.

Single outlet 5A/125VA
Double outlet 5A/250VA
Triple outlet 5A/500VA
Quad outlet 5A/1000VA

Haven’t checked but assuming a plasma draws 300W, AV amp 200W, sub 200W and a DVD player 30W then I would need the 5A/1000VA.

Would I be correct in assuming that a purpose built transformer based mains conditioning unit will be better than a filtered extension lead?

Also would a transformer based mains conditioning actually draw power when it was switched on?

Last edited by smjxm09 : 10-07-2006 at 07:51.

Lurch · 10-07-2006, 10:38

Yeah, if the ratings you have there are correct then a 1000VA unit is what you require. Where are these units OOI? Do you have a link?

A decent MCU would be far better than a filtered extension lead, and a UPS would be better then an MCU.

They shouldn't draw any power when switched on and unloaded on the outputs, however, they may draw a couple of mA because of the inefficiency of internal components. Over the year this will be a negligible amount so can almost certainly be disregarded.

The chances are the unit itself will draw more current when it's switched on than when there's no load on it.

crazy_eyes · 10-07-2006, 11:31

Pardon my ignorance but what exactly is a Mains Conditioning Unit and what does it do?

Also is it necessary?

From its name I gather it affects the mains supply some how but can someone explain further please.

smjxm09 · 10-07-2006, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurch

Yeah, if the ratings you have there are correct then a 1000VA unit is what you require. Where are these units OOI? Do you have a link?

I can't find a link but this one is very similar to it http://store.securehosting.com/store...?itemprcd=bdpp. I will be getting mine from work as we have quite a few recovered ones kicking around that were fitted to protect expensive electronic equipment.

I wonder what * rating What Hifi would give this product if it was for sale in the High Street.

Crazy_eyes this is for you http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Jul0...nsproblems.asp

Last edited by smjxm09 : 10-07-2006 at 15:12.

crazy_eyes · 10-07-2006, 16:39

Crazy_eyes this is for you http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Jul0...nsproblems.asp[/quote]

Thanks for that, I get the gist of the problem, never would have thought it was as detailed as all that though.

You live and learn

Lurch · 10-07-2006, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by smjxm09

I will be getting mine from work as we have quite a few recovered ones kicking around that were fitted to protect expensive electronic equipment.

Ah, I see. I sometimes use MCU's on telephone systems but I have a limited source of reasonably priced ones so I tend to just use a UPS as I can get them cheaper.

I just wondered if you had a good source, which you do, but not that useful to me!

smjxm09 · 10-07-2006, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurch

Ah, I see. I sometimes use MCU's on telephone systems.

I found this BT model on the net http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/images/MCU_5A.jpg

Lurch · 10-07-2006, 16:57

I use the smaller BT units for single cabinet systems. Anything that requires several hundred watts gets a UPS if it gets anything.

Interesting link to the technical info of MCU's btw, some good reading there.

09-07-2006, 06:06	#1
smjxm09 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 234	Mains conditioning power-handling question I am going to obtain a mains conditioning unit for my Plasma, and AV equipment. I don’t want to get a unit that can’t handle the power but nor do I want one that is too big. Can anyone tell be how many Watts the following units can handle. 5A/500VA 5A/250VA 5A/125VA

09-07-2006, 13:15	#2
Lurch Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 2,408	1VA is roughly equivalent to 1W. Not sure where you've got those specs above from as 5A is about 1200W, which is about 1.2kVA so 5A/125VA is twaddle.

09-07-2006, 13:27	#3
squack Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales Posts: 607	Quote: Originally Posted by Lurch 1VA is roughly equivalent to 1W. Not sure where you've got those specs above from as 5A is about 1200W, which is about 1.2kVA so 5A/125VA is twaddle. The 5A is the fuse rating, the VA figures posted are the rated power. So add all of the power ratings up and you get 875VA or as Lurch states 875W. A 1KVA unit should do it.

09-07-2006, 14:03	#4
Lurch Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 2,408	Some confusion here, I was under the impression the ratings given in the OP were the ratings of MC units the OP had found and we were meant to guess at what the rating of his equipment was. More info required.

09-07-2006, 14:22	#5
squack Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales Posts: 607	Confusion.... You are quite right. I assumed that the list was his equipment ratings, but thinking about it that must be some plasma screen that draws 500VA . So smjxm09 can you find out the power ratings of the equipment that you want to protect, then add them up to give a final 'power required' figure which you can compare with the specs of the units available. The 5A thing must be per outlet or am i assuming things again

09-07-2006, 15:06	#6
Lurch Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 2,408	Going on the basis 5A is around 1200VA then you only need one outlet. If you got the 125VA model you would have about 500mA in total so multiple outputs rated at 5A max would be a bit pointless as they would have a combined max of 500mA anyway. I'd say you were assuming things again!

10-07-2006, 07:33	#7
smjxm09 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 234	Quote: Originally Posted by squack Confusion.... You are quite right. I assumed that the list was his equipment ratings, but thinking about it that must be some plasma screen that draws 500VA . So smjxm09 can you find out the power ratings of the equipment that you want to protect, then add them up to give a final 'power required' figure which you can compare with the specs of the units available. The 5A thing must be per outlet or am i assuming things again Sorry for the confusion, I am looking at obtaining a mains conditioning unit, which appears to contain a heavy transformer. They come in 4 sizes. Single outlet 5A/125VA Double outlet 5A/250VA Triple outlet 5A/500VA Quad outlet 5A/1000VA Haven’t checked but assuming a plasma draws 300W, AV amp 200W, sub 200W and a DVD player 30W then I would need the 5A/1000VA. Would I be correct in assuming that a purpose built transformer based mains conditioning unit will be better than a filtered extension lead? Also would a transformer based mains conditioning actually draw power when it was switched on? Last edited by smjxm09 : 10-07-2006 at 07:51.

10-07-2006, 10:38	#8
Lurch Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 2,408	Yeah, if the ratings you have there are correct then a 1000VA unit is what you require. Where are these units OOI? Do you have a link? A decent MCU would be far better than a filtered extension lead, and a UPS would be better then an MCU. They shouldn't draw any power when switched on and unloaded on the outputs, however, they may draw a couple of mA because of the inefficiency of internal components. Over the year this will be a negligible amount so can almost certainly be disregarded. The chances are the unit itself will draw more current when it's switched on than when there's no load on it.

10-07-2006, 11:31	#9
crazy_eyes Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 55	Pardon my ignorance but what exactly is a Mains Conditioning Unit and what does it do? Also is it necessary? From its name I gather it affects the mains supply some how but can someone explain further please.

10-07-2006, 14:53	#10
smjxm09 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 234	Quote: Originally Posted by Lurch Yeah, if the ratings you have there are correct then a 1000VA unit is what you require. Where are these units OOI? Do you have a link? I can't find a link but this one is very similar to it http://store.securehosting.com/store...?itemprcd=bdpp. I will be getting mine from work as we have quite a few recovered ones kicking around that were fitted to protect expensive electronic equipment. I wonder what * rating What Hifi would give this product if it was for sale in the High Street. Crazy_eyes this is for you http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Jul0...nsproblems.asp Last edited by smjxm09 : 10-07-2006 at 15:12.

10-07-2006, 16:39	#11
crazy_eyes Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 55	Crazy_eyes this is for you http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Jul0...nsproblems.asp[/quote] Thanks for that, I get the gist of the problem, never would have thought it was as detailed as all that though. You live and learn

10-07-2006, 16:43	#12
Lurch Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 2,408	Quote: Originally Posted by smjxm09 I will be getting mine from work as we have quite a few recovered ones kicking around that were fitted to protect expensive electronic equipment. Ah, I see. I sometimes use MCU's on telephone systems but I have a limited source of reasonably priced ones so I tend to just use a UPS as I can get them cheaper. I just wondered if you had a good source, which you do, but not that useful to me!

10-07-2006, 16:52	#13
smjxm09 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 234	Quote: Originally Posted by Lurch Ah, I see. I sometimes use MCU's on telephone systems. I found this BT model on the net http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/images/MCU_5A.jpg

10-07-2006, 16:57	#14
Lurch Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 2,408	I use the smaller BT units for single cabinet systems. Anything that requires several hundred watts gets a UPS if it gets anything. Interesting link to the technical info of MCU's btw, some good reading there.

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Mains conditioning power-handling question