A DC power conditioner (also known
as a line conditioner or power line conditioner) is a
device intended to improve the “quality” of the power (see
power quality) that is delivered to electrical load equipment. While
there is no official definition of a power conditioner, the term most
often refers to a device that acts in one or more ways to deliver a
voltage
of the proper level and characteristics to enable load equipment to
function properly. In some usages, “power conditioner” refers to a
voltage regulator with at least one other function to improve power
quality (e.g. noise suppression, transient impulse protection, etc.).
The terms “power conditioning” and “power conditioner” are misnomers,
however they have been accepted in common usage to convey an image to
those not intimately familiar with electrical theory. It is voltage
rather than
electric power that is being acted upon, and “conditioning” is
actually the control and adjustment of voltage.
Power conditioners can vary greatly in specific functionality and size,
with both parameters generally determined by the application. Some power
conditioners provide only minimal voltage regulation while others
provide protection from half a dozen or more power quality problems.
Units may be small enough to mount on a
printed circuit board or big enough to protect a large factory.
Small power conditioners are rated in
volt-amps (VA) while larger units are rated in kilo-volt-amps (kVA).
While no single power conditioner can correct all power quality
problems, many can correct a variety of them.
It is common to find
audio
power conditioners that only include an
electronic filter and a
surge protector with no voltage regulating capability.
