Low Cost AC Regenerator

This is not a regenerator. It is a voltage regulator. Now whether it creates quality power is up to the design of the components but that isn’t it’s primary function. It is designed to handle transients and protect a wide variety of equipment. I won’t say that it is impossible that this makes good power to run an audio system but I would say it is unlikely.

A regenerator made with audio is mind is your best bet.

Jerry

I just connected an imported lowish cost step down conditioning transformer that takes my 240V (nominal, sometimes higher) supply and outputs to 230V and to 220V outputs.

This followed two boxes needing repair, supposedly due to overvoltge. I would otherwise have stayed with a 'normal' power conditioner. My components have 220 on the back of some, 230 on the others. 

It's sounding good so far, but it's  barely had time to warm up yet.

It would surprise me very much if any component is manufactured that is damaged by 240 V.  240V is standard here in the US (along with 120V).  My voltages runs as high as 124V/248V and nobody complains of damaged equipment.

Here in the US we used to call outlet power "110 V" and saw some components marked 115V.  I think these numbers were conservative, more like a minimum voltage, since many items are more likely to be damaged by undervoltage. 

So does your transformer sound good?  An oversized transformer can be a good thing to power an amp from.  So it may not be a waste of money (as it seem syou suspect).

Jerry

@carlsbad2 . Yes,  I did feel that there were improvements on my first (and only) listen and I had a happy grin, but my system has changed a bit over a short period with boxes and cables, making real comparisons and unbiased judgements a bit tricky.

Note that the two boxes that died have 220V written on the back and I was feeding them 238 - 244, so more than 10% over. I also noted that one of them, a C/J 350 power amp, is now running 20+ degC cooler than it was before the step down/voltage regulator was installed (i.e. thermometer reading over the cooling fins).

I wouldn't completely rule out bigger power spikes as being part, or all of the cause, but adjusting the voltage, still seemed like a prudent thing to do. Otherwise, I would probably have gone for something like a Puritan Audio PSM 156 SE, which people are saying good things about elsewhere.

Heat kills electronics.  20 deg cooler is no joke.

But I'd say the CJ should be designed to handle normal voltage.  that said, you're doing the right thing.

I'd do some A/B testing to confirm your transformer is not limiting dynamics or bass and then be happy.

Jerry

@carlsbad2 This is not a regenerator. It is a voltage regulator. 

Sorry for the slow response, thanks for setting me straight. I assumed that because the units can step voltage up and down that the transformer is being used for regeneration. Interesting side note, the site that I cited has been down since shortly after this discussion started. 

I noticed that site down too.  I was going to send it to a friend who needs a voltage regulator and ask one of my electrical engineers to commen5 on the design of it.