Torus Power Balanced 90A Panel

[Frank750]

My Torus Power Balanced 90A panel was delivered yesterday. It's a monster and extremely well built! I hope to have it installed within two weeks.
It will give me 5 dedicated 20A lines to my room with automatic voltage regulation and transient surge suppression.

I still plan to use the Shunyata Triton/ Typhon combo for the front end and dedicated Typhons in parallel with each amp. Only difference is the Torus panel will be feeding them.

 

[Bruce B]

Better get some beefy boys to mount that monster on the wall. Looks great!! Good-luck with the install...

 

[amirm]

Definitely a monster. Congrats!

Let us know when you install it, how often the fan runs.

 

[microstrip]

I saw it has a balanced input (2 x 120V phase) and an unbalanced 120V - a very interesting concept, different from the balanced output units. Do you know how it achieves voltage regulation?

 

[Frank750]

Do you know how it achieves voltage regulation?

I asked but I never did get an answer.

 

[amirm]

I asked but I never did get an answer.

I don't see the massive power transistors that would be required for true regulation. What it has is what UPS systems use which is multiple taps on the transformer. Instead of say, having a single one at 120, it will have one at 130 and one at 110. It will then monitor the voltage and switch up and down to the other taps as necessary. As such it is not voltage regulation but rather, getting it closer to the target voltage than not having the feature.

Looks like there is a schematic on the door? If so, post a picture of it and I may be able to tell more. Right now I see one relay on top right that could do the tap switching but I am not sure.

 

[Frank750]

I don't see the massive power transistors that would be required for true regulation. What it has is what UPS systems use which is multiple taps on the transformer. Instead of say, having a single one at 120, it will have one at 130 and one at 110. It will then monitor the voltage and switch up and down to the other taps as necessary. As such it is not voltage regulation but rather, getting it closer to the target voltage than not having the feature.Looks like there is a schematic on the door? If so, post a picture of it and I may be able to tell more. Right now I see one relay on top right that could do the tap switching but I am not sure.

 

[rockitman]

My Torus Power Balanced 90A panel was delivered yesterday. It's a monster and extremely well built! I hope to have it installed within two weeks.
It will give me 5 dedicated 20A lines to my room with automatic voltage regulation and transient surge suppression.

I still plan to use the Shunyata Triton/ Typhon combo for the front end and dedicated Typhons in parallel with each amp. Only difference is the Torus panel will be feeding them.

View attachment 16523
View attachment 16524

Transformer porn...nice body !

 

[Frank750]

Transformer porn...nice body !

Now I just have to hope it does what I need it to do.

 

[amirm]

View attachment 16526

Thanks. THe second picture which I have quoted shows the design I talked about. THere are multiple input taps on the transformer. It monitors the input and output voltages and with relays switches which tap is being used on the transformer. It is a bit hard to see but looks like it is able to switch between four different voltages.

It also has surge protection. And a current monitor but I don't know what it is doing with the latter. Maybe it is used to figure out when to turn on the fan.

 

[Cyclotronguy]

Drop out on "over-current" would be my guess and wanna bet some under-voltage provision for drop out too. Given how professional the unit looks, I would expect both. Good stuff Frank!

Cyclotronguy

 

[rockitman]

Now I just have to hope it does what I need it to do.

Has it ? How are things sounding lately Frank ?

 

[Frank750]

Has it ? How are things sounding lately Frank ?

Three electricians coming Sunday morning at 7:00AM to install the beast. Bringing a power lift to get it into place. It should be an interesting install.

 

[Speedskater]

In as much as you live in Chicago and you have to use conduit. You should read this Whitlock & Fox paper before the electrician arrives. But the electrician won't understand what it's about and won't like the added work.

"Ground Loops: The Rest of the Story"
Bill Whitlock, AES Fellow and Jamie Fox, P.E.

This paper was presented at the AES 129th Convention, 4-7 November 2010, San Francisco, CA, USA

ABSTRACT

The mechanisms that enable so-called ground loops to cause well-known hum, buzz, and other audio system
noise problems are well known. But what causes power-line related currents to flow in signal cables in the first
place? This paper explains how magnetic induction in ordinary premises AC wiring creates the small voltage
differences normally found among system ground connections, even if “isolated” or “technical” grounding is
used. The theoretical basis is explored, experimental data shown, and an actual case history related. Little
has been written about this “elephant in the room” topic in engineering literature and apparently none in the
context of audio or video systems. It is shown that simply twisting L-N pairs in the premises wiring can
profoundly reduce system noise problems.

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/20963848/268252969/name/Whitlock-Fox+-+Ground+Loops+.pdf

 

[Frank750]

Torus Install

It took 2 Commercial Electricians 9 hours to get this up. It weighs 289 pounds!
After a 9 hour install they called me down to fire it up......................and it doesn't work!
240V in and nothing out. Tried everything. Trouble shooting for another 2 hours. Went through every wire, every connection, nothing!

One of the electricians came back this afternoon and spent over an hour on the phone with Torus and it's no closer to working now than it was yesterday. Torus doesn't seem to have any idea what the problem is.

The power is coming in but not getting to the output. Zero volts at the breakers. Very discouraging considering the effort, time and dollars that went in to installing it.

As you can see from the pictures, not exactly something you can easily pull off the wall and send back for a quick exchange.

Torus is supposed to call back tomorrow after they have a chance to consider their next move.

 

[rockitman]

This is insanity Frank. Have hope. If no resolution fire the electricians.

 

[Frank750]

This is insanity Frank. Have hope. If no resolution fire the electricians.

One of the best firms in Chicago. And the owner is into audio as well. Not their problem. Power is coming in as it should. The box is not doing it's job.

 

[Bruce B]

One of the best firms in Chicago. And the owner is into audio as well. Not their problem. Power is coming in as it should. The box is not doing it's job.

Sorry to hear that Frank. I'm sure the headache will be well worth the frustration when the bugs get worked out.
Hang in there!

 

[rockitman]

One of the best firms in Chicago. And the owner is into audio as well. Not their problem. Power is coming in as it should. The box is not doing it's job.

They should send you a new box and pay to p/u and ship the bad box back.

 

[LL21]

Sorry to hear Frank...hang in there.