as our Industrial Grade GC-120 AC Line Purifier
Model GC120-500
500 Watt capability designed for digital components. DSP processors, CD and DVD players, analog preamps and turntables.
| · Only 1 RU high (1 ¾ inches) rack mount package with rubber feet for shelf mount. · 6 Hospital grade power outlets on back (3 duplex receptacles) · Balanced Power Transformer · Internal, shielded, RFI/EMI filter. · TransZorb® industrial grade surge suppressors. · 100% shielded 14 AWG detachable line cord. · Front panel On-OFF buttons with LED indicators. Relay latching power circuit. · Auto-On if power drops out and then comes back on. (Defeatable internally) · Anodized, brushed aluminum front panel. · Designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. |
GC120-1K
| · Only 2 RU high (3 ½ inches) rack mount package with rubber feet for shelf mount. · 8 Hospital grade power outlets on the back (4 duplex receptacles) · Balanced Power Transformer · Ground fault breaker built-in · TransZorb® industrial grade surge suppressors. · Internal, shielded, RFI/EMI filter. · 100% shielded 14 AWG detachable line cord. · Built to UL safety standards. · Front panel On-OFF buttons with LED indicators. Relay latching power circuit. · Auto-On if power drops out and then comes back on. (Defeatable internally) · Anodized, brushed aluminum front panel. · Designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. |
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Now you can get the maximum performance possible from your high quality audiophile or home theatre equipment by reducing or eliminating the noise delivered to your components by the AC power line. Unbalanced power lines carry many forms of noise, distortion, and hum that can seriously degrade the performance of sensitive audio and video equipment that is generated by every electrical device connected to the line, and by other components in your system.
Power balancing systems have become popular in recording studios, video studios, and large computer complexes where high performance equipment must work reliably, without interference from outside electrical influences. Much has been written on the merits of pure, clean power in professional trade publications, electrical standards publications, and audio and video society technical papers. In fact, Bell labs proposed the use of AC balancing transformers in the 1960's to remove line noise and EMI problems in installations that had sensitive, precision electronic equipment. Balancing power can make an enormous improvement in reducing the noise in your systems.
The AC Line Purifier is analogous to a water purifier you attach to your faucet to remove unwanted components from drinking water. The Line Purifier removes "garbage" or spikes that are reflected into your AC mains by other devices on the same line. Some of the culprits may be:
(1) By other equipment connected to the source line in your home or apartment (or neighbor's equipment on the same power pole transformer).
(2) RF and EMI interference that thinks the AC line is an antenna.
(3) Transients and harmonics from SCR dimmers, triacs, fluorescent lamps, and from some common household appliances.
(4) A nearby lighting strike that radiates an electrical charge inductively into your AC line. Note: a direct lightning hit on the AC line will hopefully damage the Line Purifier and not your expensive audio and video components.
(5) Back EMF "Kick" from solenoids and relays in washing machines, clothes dryers, air conditioners, etc.
(6) By other components that are interconnected in your audio/video system.
(7) DC components on the line from diodes used in lamps, coffee makers, hair dryers, switching supplies in computers, and other electrical devices.
| The line input HF Low pass filter contains LCR components to reduce very high frequency energy such as RF and EMI components that may be present on the power line prior to entering the balancing transformer. This sealed module (bottom cover soldered to case) prevents leakage of radiating signals into the interior chassis of the Line Purifier. Another smaller low pass filter is used on the outlets labeled "Digital" to minimize clock and other induced interference from backing into the package from components connected to the GC-120. Both filters are rated for 20A service. |  |
While many consumer "line conditioners" address one or more common AC line problems, the GC series has several sections that specifically treat a variety of symptoms and individually provide a "cure" for the problem. This product was designed for professional use in recording studios and motion picture projection booths to handle the hostile electrical environments commonly found in those critical environments.
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Our premium, custom made toroid core features more turns of thinner metal for higher efficiency, lower loss and less heat generated.
Core manufacturing uses a special vacuum impregnation of epoxy to fill small air gaps to minimize vibration and noise under heavy loads. Common (inexpensive) toroids do not incorporate this extra process. The grain-oriented silicon steel banding used to make the core is only 3 mils thick. This is much thinner material than is normally used but has the advantage of a quieter transformer.
Kapton® insulator between the primary and secondaries is extremely heat tolerant and fire resistant. Used in only the finest transformers.
Copper Faraday shield between windings stops high frequency energy from being transmitted from the primary winding to the secondaries. This shield is grounded to line ground through a separate conductor. Another important feature not found in competitive products.
Mylar wraps between the Faraday shield and the secondaries prevents "arc-over" due to extremely high voltages that may appear from the AC line (lightning strikes and transients). The combination of the Kapton insulator, mylar wrap and Faraday shield will prevent huge instantaneous voltages from arcing to the secondary windings. Hi-Pot tested.
Balance tested during production before the final mylar protection wrap is added to assure a perfectly balanced output, for maximum common mode rejection of unwanted signals.
12 gauge, stranded leads are used for the lowest wire resistance and maximum current capability. All wire used in the GC series and the transformer is UL approved for safety.
Custom manufactured by SMART MAGNETICS, our in-house transformer maker for consistent performance and the highest manufacturing standards. A special test fixture is used to measure perfect balance before the final mylar wrap is added to the transformer.
Cut-away view of the AC line balancing transformer (Size varies with model)
(1) Toroid core made from steel banding with an epoxy jacket.
(2) Final mylar wrap insulating material
(3) Primary winding
(4) Kapton® high voltage-high temperature insulator
(5) 12 AWG lead wires
(6) Secondary windings with center tap
(7) Copper Faraday shield (grounded) between primary and secondary windings
SURGE SUPRESSION
Industrial Duty TransZorb® Avalanche transient surge suppressors for long life and reliable protection against AC line spikes and transients. No MOV's (metal oxide varistors) are used in our product because these devices deteriorate with every line spike "hit" until they eventually become ineffective. Unfortunately, there is no warning or indication when MOV's can no longer protect your equipment. The TransZorb devices do nothing until their overvoltage threshold is reached when a huge transient peak or voltage spike appears. When the threshold is exceeded the bi-directional device will avalanche and instantly dump the overvoltage directly to ground. This is a very effective component used in expensive, delicate equipment. These protectors are connected at the output of the RFI/EMI filters for maximum effectiveness.
Power Outlets
The GC series uses the highly respected Hubbell AC outlets to power your system. The hospital grade, large blade contact, isolated ground duplex receptacles are UL listed for the most critical applications. Solid brass binding screws minimize corrosion over time. The isolated ground terminals of the receptacles are connected directly to the Zero potential tap of the balancing transformer. Because your audio and video components are now connected to a solid common ground, the chances of a system ground loop (difference of potential between the grounds of individual components) are greatly reduced. The green dot stands for hospital grade, and the green triangle indicates an isolated ground device.
Heavy Duty Power Cord
The 6 foot power cord is made of three 14 gauge stranded conductors with a 100% shield protecting the wires. The cord is rated at 15 amperes and is UL recognized. Even though the GC series has an IEC power connector to allow you to replace the standard cord with a premium type, we do not believe you will find a more suitable replacement than the one that is supplied with the Line Purifier, without spending considerably more money.
If you invest in premium power cords for your components you will realize maximum performance because these cords plug into the "clean" side of the GC-120.
American Made
The GC series Line Purifiers are designed and manufactured in our Norcross, Georgia, USA factory. American made parts are used wherever possible. . Every part including interconnecting wire is UL recognized and all parts are selected to meet industrial standards for reliable operation and long life.
Article about Line Purifiers published in the Film Journal Magazine Article reprinted from audioXpress magazine from expert in the field of AC power. PDF file (531k)
GC120-1K Sold through dealers for $995.00 - Direct factory price $699
GC120-1K-IEC Sold through dealers for $995.00- Direct Factory Price $699
GC120-500 Sold through dealers for $895.00 - Direct Factory Price $630
Larger GC-120 Professional AC Line Purifier
