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Transformers .. Is It Just Me?

I have 2 line conditioners in my system in series -- the SR PowerCell 10SE Mark II (according to Ted_d's information, thanks) plugged into a Bybee Stealth. Frankly, with my recent experience with an isolation transformer, if I had to do it all over again I would have made different choices. I think I could have had a lot more bang for my buck. Let's just say that the Bybee Stealth made it worthwhile.

After experimenting with a lot of Bybee products I have come to the conclusion that it is hard to do too much AC cleaning. Lately, I have been doing research into balanced conditioners, isolation transformers and power regenerators. Since I live overseas it would cost an arm and a leg to have one of those mammoth balanced transformers shipped over -- not to mention the cost of the item. This is beyond my budget. So I have been looking at relatively inexpensive "alternatives". I cannot afford a balanced conditioner or balanced isolation transformer at the moment so I decided to gamble on a relatively inexpensive medical grade isolation transformer.

I found what I thought might be a good choice on Ebay. (I also found an inexpensive power regenerator. That's a story that will have to wait for another thread.) I just put this isolation transformer into my system and have been doing some A/B-ing. I have read where non-balanced transformers will have minimal effect -- but I did read (I lost the thread) where one Audiogon poster was not convinced of this. My initial experience -- is it just me? This is amazing. The holographic effect with this unit in my system is astonishing. This is unmistakable. When I unplug the unit the air around instruments and vocalists is gone. The sound is still holographic but it is not the same at all.

OK, the unit has a hum due to the internal fan. But with all but very low volume I cannot detect it. I'll have to work on damping the hum. Has anyone else had a positive experience with a medical grade isolation transformer? My unit was made in Germany by Block, by a top maker of transformers. It weighs about 40 lbs. and the toroidal is encased in resin. Do different medical transformers give different results?
sabai
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
Ozzy,
I just checked Ebay for your model and found this Olympus item with the same model number:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-Olympus-Model-012MD-Hosp-Grade-Isolation-Transformer-Ultra-Low-Leakage-/160573538833?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2562edc211#ht_500wt_938

It says 1350VA which is more than double the watts of your system. I'll be interested in hearing what it does for your system.
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,957 posts
 
It states "The leakage current is the lowest 10uA or less for the most stringent applications."
Does anyone know what that means ?
yeah.
normally, when a transformer is designed the intention is to keep the magnetic flux in the primary confined strictly to the windings of the primary. Similarly, the intention is to keep the magnetic flux confined to the sec windings only. But this is impossible to do in a practical transformer because the whole theory of operation of a transformer is coupling of magnetic flux between pri & sec to transfer power to the output. SO, there is bound to be some primary winding flux leaking into the sec winding. As a result there will be some leakage current associated with this. In an isolation transformer leakage is bad as the main function of this sort of transformer is isolation. That's the attribute that's being touted & sold for a premium. So, lower the leakage current, the better the isolation between pri & sec.
ozzy's avatar
ozzy
3,650 posts
 
Well thank you Bombaywalla and Sabai for the help.
Sabai, that was the one I bought, I made an offer he could'nt refuse.

Ok, another question, does Medical grade mean it was made to tighter tolerances that could translate to better Audio/ Video?
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
Ozzy,
You're very welcome. It looks like you have purchased a good unit. I hope it gives good results.

Medical grade means manufactured to high standards. How those standards differ from non-medical grade transformers is a question I cannot answer. Perhaps Bombaywalla can help here. He has indicated in an earlier post that non-balanced isolation transformers can indeed translate into better audio. I can attest that my isolation transformer has made a huge difference in my system.
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,957 posts
 
Ok, another question, does Medical grade mean it was made to tighter tolerances ....
What 'medical grade' means that the instrument will not spark nor will it create an electric shock hazard in the hospital environment both of which can be extremely harmful to the patient or care-giver/doctor/nurse/PA, etc.

Same deal when you read "hospital grade" wall outlets.
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