AudiogoN Forums: Problem with AC and how to solve it

Problem with AC and how to solve it

I have a problem with the voltage at my country home. It's either too high or too low, I'm not sure. The result is that my amps are buzzing, sometimes so loud that I can hear the buzz from my listening chair, witch is some 12 feet away. This buzz is annoying but I could live with it if it didn't affect the sound. Saddly enough, it does. Has anyone been exposed to that problem and if so, have you found any solution.

My amps are Classé's CAM-200 monoblocks. They are dead quiet when the voltage is ok.

Siegfried (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

12-08-05

Responses (1-13 of 13)

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12-08-05: Bigtee
It is probably not a voltage problem at all. You are carrying noise on your lines from something. It could be as simple as a light dimmer or something similiar.
Some sources of lighting will cause it. Probably need to turn things off in your home until you find the culprit.
As long as the AC is clean, slight voltage variations don't mean much (other than affecting the maximum output of the amp.) Most power companies operate in a + or - 10% realm. It is not unusual for voltage to drop down to say (maybe even lower) as low as 108v (sag) in the summer and then peak up to as high as 127v or more at other times. If your voltage is outside of these approximate values, you will need to contact your power utility and see what is going on. It will effect your refrigeration and air conditioning systems adversely also. Actually anything with motors. When voltage sags, amps increase and when voltage increases, amps decrease for a given load. Fortunately, most motors have a service factor built in that helps motors survive unusual situations. Over voltage can be as bad as under voltage.
A severe under or over voltage would be required to cause noise in a transformer, if then. I feel confident your amps are suffering from some sort of RFI or other noise on the line. It could be coming from about anywhere.
Bigtee (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

12-08-05 Or it could be that there's dc present in the house power wi ... Gs5556

12-08-05 Audiophile aps 1050 regenerator- will output a perfect 120 v ... Fsarc

12-08-05 Ps audio power plant p-500 or p-1000 ac regenerator. Krell_man

12-08-05 Totally correct! it is the current that makes the differance ... Dlstephenson

12-09-05 Some sort of regenerator is worth it. solves all sorts of i ... Programmergeek

12-08-05 Try a ps audio humbuster. worked for me!!! brad day atlan ... bday0000@

12-08-05 Bigtee had one of the best responses i've read on the site. ... Ngjockey

12-09-05 I'd recommend tripplite available at digikey.com or newark.c ... Marakanetz

12-12-05 Thanks everybody. i'm new on this site and i'm quite amazed ... Siegfried

12-12-05 The mechanical noise of a transformer may not affect the ele ... Ngjockey

12-13-05 Thanks ngjockey, very usefull info. following your advice, ... Siegfried

12-29-05 Halogen pot lights were the cause of buzzing in my system. Lacee