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ITGlossary · Power quality
Power Conditioning
Techniques such as EMI/RFI filtering, surge protection and AVR that correct voltage problems before they reach the load.
Technical level:Intermediate
Mains voltage rarely reaches equipment in a clean state: it carries sags, overvoltages, spikes, noise and harmonics. Power conditioning refers to the set of techniques that correct these problems before they reach the load, such as EMI/RFI filters, surge protection, AVR voltage stabilization and isolation transformers.
Each type of equipment offers a different degree of conditioning: a surge-protected power strip mainly clips spikes, a stabilizer corrects the voltage level, while a double-conversion UPS completely regenerates the waveform. The right choice depends on the quality of the local grid and how sensitive the load is.
A practical tip: if you notice flickering, frequent resets or failing power supplies, logging the voltage for a few days will show which problem you actually need to solve.
Related terms
- Surge ProtectorA device that limits brief voltage spikes from lightning or grid switching by diverting the excess energy to earth.
- Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR)A device that automatically maintains a constant voltage level to protect electrical equipment from fluctuations.
- 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.
- Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)Unwanted electrical noise or interference that can disrupt electronic equipment operation.
- RFI — Radio Frequency InterferenceA subset of EMI: high-frequency noise from electronic equipment that can disturb radio, Wi-Fi and other devices.
- Smart ChargingCharging that adapts current and voltage to battery condition and temperature, or an EV charger’s power to the site’s available capacity.