Help with Equitech 1.5Q power conditioner

@devinplombier

Just so you know the Equitech 1.5Q is a Balanced Power 60Vac - 0Vac - 60Vac System.

It is not like the 120/240Vac power system that feeds your home.

120/240Vac,... 120Vac - 0Vac -120Vac

Both have split phase secondary windings.

Equitech 1.5Q has two 60V secondary windings in series with one another.

60Vac + 60Vac =120Vac

The simple answer

If a 120V load is connected to the two Hot leads current will travel in the circuit. From one Hot lead, from the secondary winding of the transformer, through the load and return to the the secondary winding on the other hot lead.

Think of it like a 240Vac Central Air Conditioning condensing unit outside your house. It’s fed with two Hot ungrounded Conductors and a safety equipment ground. No neutral conductor.

The Equitech 1.5Q secondary winding neutral center tap is not used for power. That is unless you have something that runs on 60Vac. That’s what the voltage is from either Hot to neutral.

It is only used to created a Grounded Power System and provide a safety equipment ground system.

The Equitech 1.5Q puts out 120V only. Two ungrounded Hots and a safety equipment ground.

 

An Overview of Audio System Grounding & Interfacing

Read pages 201, 202, and 203.

Page 202 has a simple wiring diagram for a Balanced Power System.

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thanks for all the tips... a lot go well beyond my ski’s. I’ll tinker this weekend - I thought the outlet would be a quick swap but looks like I have to take the whole chassis apart.

Interesting enough, I have everything plugged in a furman surge protector power strip and nothing has tripped. So hope it is just a faulty gfci outlet.

I don’t have any meters or other devices to measure current and if I did it would be all Greek to me.

@califortini

I see you live about 400 miles from LA. Be safe... It’s hard to believe how fast and far the Santa Ana Winds have spread the fires. It looks like a war zone.

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I thought the outlet would be a quick swap but looks like I have to take the whole chassis apart.

https://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/large/5443352-eed0392e-equitech-15q-balanced-power-system.jpg

Looking at the photos it looks like you can remove the top cover to access the GFCI duplex receptacle. It appears the top cover also wraps around both sides so will will need to remove those screws as well.

IT is very important you wire the new outlet exactly the same as the one you remove. Don’t just use your memory... Use a pencil and a piece of paper and make a detailed drawing showing the colors of the wires and where they connect to the terminal screws. Hopefully the wires are color codded. IF not you will need to install a number or letter to each wire and write them down on your detailed drawing.

IT is a must the LINE wires reconnect to LINE and the LOAD wires reconnect to LOAD terminals.

Before you reinstall the GFCI outlet back in the rear panel VERIFY 100% is wired exactly the same as it was...

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Interesting enough, I have everything plugged in a furman surge protector power strip and nothing has tripped. So hope it is just a faulty gfci outlet.

Different type wiring scheme. The Furman outlets have a neutral and a HOT. (Your house’s AC mains power.)

Neutral, Grounded Conductor. HOT, Ungrounded Conductor.

The Furman, NO GFCI protection...

Voltage measurements taken at an outlet.

Hot to neutral 120Vac nominal.

Hot to safety equipment ground 120Vac nominal.

Neutral to safety equipment ground 0 Vac nominal.

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The Equitech 1.5Q is a whole different Animal.

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So hope it is just a faulty gfci outlet.

More than likely easier than finding which piece of equipment plugged into the Equitech 1.5Q outlets is causing the GFCI to trip.

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OP: 

BTW, I just realized you can buy GFCI adaptors for ~ $20 from your local hardware store.   You plug one into your wall and that will let you test each device without having to move it, and certainly without having to require your conditioner. 

Here's what I mean: https://amzn.to/424lKl3