Power conditioners--are they worthwhile? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2020, 12:16:46 am
content: I've got a small 1600w standby generator for running the refrigerator if/when power quits. The manufacturer says it's not recommended to run electronics with it and suggests a power conditioner if the need to power electronics is necessary.I'm looking at <$300US units like this to protect computers and LCD monitors and small peripherals (not printers or such):https://www.amazon.com/Monster-MP-PRO-2500-10-Outlet/dp/B0002PZGMUnot specifically this brand but this category of protection.Do these class of units do any good or do I need to look at much spendier equipment?I'm looking to protect 120vac equipment to 10 amps.Thanks.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2020, 12:56:36 am
content: QuoteQuoteAre you saying that you are currently using it for a fridge, but you plan to use it for other appliances now? What types of appliances?QuoteIt generates electricity but it can't be used to power electronics? That's really vague, which appliances are considered "electronics" and which are not?To know what types of appliances can be safely used on this generator you need to find out what method of waveform generation it uses. Eg:(1) Direct drive alternator. Cleanish sinewave but badly regulated voltage & frequency (esp whenever the load changes).(2) "Modified" sinewave inverter. Ugly waveform, but still good for certain loads.(3) "Pure" sinewave inverter. Can provide the best waveform & stability, but there are also a lot of questionable orbad unitsout there.I suspect that rackmount unit you link to is simply item (3) in a box, I'm not sure. Regardless I generally fear anything with the name 'Monster' in it due to association with the 'Monster cables' brand; I note your comment about the brand tooYou will also need to find out how much of an inductive load your generator can drive. Old-style fridges have inductive motors, some never ones may have something fancier; etc for other motor appliances.

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2020, 01:02:34 am
content: Personally I would put the money toward a good efficient generator like a Honda EU2200i and forget the power conditioner. The fuel savings may help offset the additional cost.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2020, 04:43:09 am
content: Quote from: Gregg on July 08, 2020, 01:02:34 amOr if you only use it (very) occasionally with sustained load less than 1kW or so, just get a sine wave inverter to take advantage of the generator in your car.http://priups.com/riddle/answer-1.htm

author: richard.cs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2020, 11:10:58 am
content: It is completely unclear what that power conditioner is doing internally. As Whales says it could rectify the mains input to DC and then re-generating a nice, perfect, synthesised sine wave. That would work rather well for your application. On the other hand that box could just have some reactive filtering components and some MOVs which might be reasonable for stripping spikes and noise off of grid-derived mains but will do nothing to protect equipment from a generator output with a wonky waveform or poor voltage or frequency regulation.I rather suspect its doing the latter, both because the inverter approach could actually make noise worse for audio equipment (its intended application) and because the manual herehttps://www.fullcompass.com/common/files/19824-MonsterCablePRO2500UserManual.pdfmakes extensive references to filters.Basically it's almost certainly not what you want, and you may struggle to find a "power conditioner" that actually protects sensitive loads from a crummy generator to any meaningful extent. In reality your biggest problem will probably be poor voltage regulation. A badly-regulated generator output might spike to 50% or so above normal for a good fraction of a second when a big load is removed, and that is actually quite hard to protect against.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2020, 12:20:43 pm
content: The problem with smaller generators, including inverter generators, is that a significant load change like a motor or oven starting can cause the output to dip enough to interfere with proper operation of more sensitive loads which use switching power supplies like computers.The solution I have used very successfully is to place my computers and electronics on an online UPS. That Monster brand piece of junk would be useless for this application, and probably for any others. A good backup UPS should also work but finding a good one is not easy.