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ITGlossary · Power quality
Line Conditioner
A device that improves power quality by regulating voltage and filtering noise.
Technical level:Intermediate
It is a device that combines voltage regulation, usually with a transformer and electronic switches or a servo mechanism, with noise filters and surge protection. It keeps the output voltage close to 230 V even when the mains fluctuates, and cleans up interference coming from other equipment.
Unlike a UPS, it has no battery: if the power goes off, so does its output. It suits loads that need a stable voltage but can tolerate an interruption, such as audio systems, laboratory instruments, CNC machines or household appliances in low-voltage areas.
Size it with headroom for the inrush current of the loads, especially if they include motors or compressors. For computers and servers, which risk losing data in an outage, choose a UPS instead.
Related terms
- Noise (Electrical)Unwanted high-frequency disturbances on the supply voltage, e.g. from motors or power supplies, which UPS systems and line conditioners filter out.
- Signal ConditioningFiltering and stabilising the power or signal on a line so that it reaches the device clean and free of interference.
- Power ConditioningTechniques such as EMI/RFI filtering, surge protection and AVR that correct voltage problems before they reach the load.
- Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR)A device that automatically maintains a constant voltage level to protect electrical equipment from fluctuations.
- ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch)A device that automatically moves the load from the grid to a generator during an outage and back again when grid power returns.
- RFI — Radio Frequency InterferenceA subset of EMI: high-frequency noise from electronic equipment that can disturb radio, Wi-Fi and other devices.