Whole facility UPS

[Gravity]

Anyone know of the best approach to provide EMI filtering and true Sine UPS to a whole facility?

Obviously only for audio/technical circuits, not the whole place.. so Maybe 60-100A total.

I'd prefer to go hardwired at the panel if it's more cost effective, but if individual/room is a better bet Then i'll look to that too.

[jhbrandt]

The last large project we did required the electric company to put new transformers on the pole. We then installed a filtered isolation transformer for the audio circuits in the facility. Branch circuits had Surge-X modules added. The entire facility's audio/AC circuits were wired for zero-loop-area as per consulting with Neil Muncey.

There are several good was to approach this. I would suggest that you contact an expert electrician to discuss these possibilities.

Cheers,
John

[tINY]

You are going to need a big space for the 1.5v lead-acid batteries. Plan on stacking up 48v worth. I hope you have a big budget.



-tINY

[locutus]

Originally Posted by jhbrandt

The entire facility's audio/AC circuits were wired for zero-loop-area as per consulting with Neil Muncey.

OK. I'll bite. I am familiar with the rest, but what is "zero-loop-area". Is this another term for something I am already familiar with?

Nathan

[jhbrandt]

t

Originally Posted by locutus

OK. I'll bite. I am familiar with the rest, but what is "zero-loop-area". Is this another term for something I am already familiar with?

Nathan

Zero-Loop-Area is, I believe, a term coined by Muncey. He did several seminars about it with AES.. Sorry I don't have the papers..

Anyway, he would explain by hooking a long line from an earthed signal source (like a DI or something) to a mic preamplifier. Laying the signal line (or taping it) together with the earth line (power cord) there was no hum. But holding a 6 ft. piece of the two cables, when he pulled the two cables apart thereby creating a 'loop area' - Hum was present - proportional to the loop area. - Have you every hear of an AM loop antenna?

I have for the last 11 years designed zero-loop-area wiring for recording studios.

The problem is called a ground loop. Loop is the key word. You can have as many grounds as you want as long as there is no loop.

Cheers,
John

[locutus]

Thanks for the info. I will have to try to find some of those papers.

There seem to be two definitions of loop at play, in fact, you seem to have fun playing them off of each other.

Essentially this seems like just an extension of star-grounding topology, with the difference being in how we treat line inductance.

I will have to do some reading and thinking on this.

Any other input on the subject is welcome, as I am just getting off the "ground".

Nathan

[AudioWonderland]

Originally Posted by Gravity

Anyone know of the best approach to provide EMI filtering and true Sine UPS to a whole facility?

Obviously only for audio/technical circuits, not the whole place.. so Maybe 60-100A total.

I'd prefer to go hardwired at the panel if it's more cost effective, but if individual/room is a better bet Then i'll look to that too.

Better get out your checkbook. How long are you expecting the UPS to run the gear?

[SAC]

Almost ANY UPS sufficient to power down data equipment is satisfactory - as I doubt you are prepared to go the lengths necessary to power the facility for actual production work - including all of the environmental systems!!!

As far as protection, there is really only one system worth investing in...Surge X.

And regarding EMI and noise, there is no substitute for following current best practices.
If you need any of the Muncy, Brown, or Whitlock documents, PM me.