Eric / Don, Eric you are so right; "A properly designed electrical distribution system--". However many systems are not designed properly and more are not maintained properly! It is left up to the customer to correct for these problems. Many 4kv systems just ahead of the pole transformers do not have transient protection and none have noise elimination devices. Everything the power companies do is all related to their cost and they want to keep it to as low a value as possible.
For the customer, where the power companies responsibility stops and the customers begin, there needs to be a lighting/transient protection of some kind. Isolation transformers are not always necessary unless the electronic equipment is critical or susceptible to transients. There are some isolation transformers that provide 60 to 70 db isolation and a ferro-resonant transformer that also provides for line voltage fluxuations. Sola transformers are a good example. As an engineer in the 60's, I started using Sola's transformers on all remote located equipment with a transient protector on the primary of the Sola with excellent results. I also used Josylan protectors on three phase deep well pumps with excellent results. If the power companies did better maintenance, we hams would not have to lead them to their noise problems. Lighting transients can be picked up by power lines due to large ground currents and cause problems in all electrical systems, no matter how well the electrical system is designed and maintained. Don; there are solutions to your problems, you just have to do some research and find them. Fred W5VAY ----- Original Message ----- From: Eric Lemmon To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 10:21 PM Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] AC Line Conditioner Don, Thanks to some advertising hype being spread by manufacturers of so-called "surge suppressors", one might think that some kind of a surge suppressor is a "must-have" accessory. Not! A properly-designed electrical distribution system does not need such pathetically inadequate gimmicks. As a power engineer for Boeing, I see many instances of our IT people being pressured to install surge suppressors where they are completely unnecessary. It is the responsibility of the utility to provide an AC power source that is appropriately protected with fuses and surge arrestors at the distribution level- usually 12kV or 22kV. Once inside the radio shack, each station should have a properly-grounded 120 VAC feed, along with appropriate protection of the antenna feedline. The highest priority should be to ensure that every conductor that enters each radio equipment cabinet has the *SAME* ground reference for protection. If you are converting the incoming AC to nominal 14 VDC floating on a battery, you should be okay. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -----Original Message----- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Don KA9QJG Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:55 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] AC Line Conditioner I Would like some input on What some are using for a AC Line Conditioner not a UPS , For a Repeater site that may not have the Cleanest AC Coming in . I do have a 50 Amp Astron with the Battery Backup on a Battery. I know that should Clean most things up, But I am a little concerned about what’s coming in. on the AC, I also have Great grounding and a Poly Phaser on the Antenna Side. Thanks Don KA9QJG
