AR-1215 FEATURES
● Delivers a stable 120 ±5 VAC whenever the input AC line
voltage is between 97V and 141V
● Eight outlets on the back panel, one on the front
● Output capacity 15 amps
● Eight-tap toroidal autoformer
● 10-LED bar-graph Input Voltage meter
● Extreme overvoltage/undervoltage causes instant shut
down, protecting equipment
● Extreme Voltage Shutdown indicator LED
● Output In Regulation indicator
● Low stray magnetic field leakage
DESCRIPTION
The 15 amp AR-1215 AC Line Voltage Regulator is intended
to protect audio, video, computer and other electronic equipment
from problems caused by AC line voltage irregularities—sags,
brownouts, or overvoltages that can cause sensitive digital
equipment to malfunction, or, in extreme cases, to sustain
damage.
The AR-1215 is designed to provide a steady, stable 120 VAC
output. It accepts any input voltage from 97V to 141V and
transforms it to a constant 120V, ±5V. Voltages beyond that range
may also be converted to usable levels, depending on how far out
of range they are. The AR-1215 can handle loads totaling up to
15 amps as long as the input voltage is above 124 volts. For
voltages below that level, its capacity must be derated at
approximately .15 ampere per volt.
The AR-1215 has been designed specifically with the unique
needs of audio and video in mind. Its technology differs from that
of computer-oriented voltage regulators in many important ways.
For example:
The AR-1215 does not use a ferro-resonant transformer,
which would be heavy and bulky, radiate a large magnetic field,
and be too frequency-sensitive to be usable with generators.
Instead, it uses a use a design based on an eight-tap toroidal
autoformer. The toroidal design assures minimal leakage of stray
magnetic fields.
The AR-1215 circuitry monitors the incoming line voltage with
each cycle, comparing it to an extremely precise voltage
reference, accurate to ±0.15%. If a voltage fluctuation requires
that a different tap be selected, the new tap is electronically
switched exactly at the zero-crossing, to avoid distorting the AC
waveform. (Most commercial voltage regulators using multipletapped transformers switch taps at uncontrolled times, thereby
creating voltage spikes, and often creating clicks that can leak
into the audio.) Hysteresis of 1.5V in the switching circuits avoids
“chatter.” The design is not sensitive to small errors in line
frequency, making them ideal for use with generators.
The AR-1215 also features power conditioning that is truly in a
class by itself, thanks to the quantity, quality and configuration of
the overvoltage suppression devices used. These include MOV’s
and high voltage inductors and capacitors. This unique
combination can safely divert large spikes as well as filter audible
high frequency noise.
An additional feature, Extreme Voltage Shutdown, senses
dangerously high or low voltages and shuts down the
before any damage is done. The output remains off until the
overvoltage or undervoltage is removed, with an LED indicating
the shutdown condition. This invaluable feature provides positive
protection to your equipment from accidental connection to
incorrect line voltages (for example, 220V when 120V is
expected—a not uncommon hazard in the entertainment
industries.)
The AR-1215 has eight outlets on the rear panel, and one on
the front panel. All outlets are regulated, spike-suppressed, and
filtered against RFI with a 3-pole filter. There are no controls
except the circuit breaker/on-off switch. A bar-graph meter
comprised of 10 LED’s indicates input voltage, while another LED
indicates “In Regulation” status (i.e., that the output voltage is
within ±5V of 120V.) The unit is housed in a compact, singlespace rack-mount chassis, 1.75" high and 8" deep (8.9 x 43.2
cm) and weighs only 12 lbs. (5 kg).