National Association of Broadcasters Engineering Handbook, 10th Edition

CHAPTER 9.2 AC Power Conditioning

JERRY C. WHITAKER

Advanced Television Systems Committee Washington, D.C.

JOSÉ R. ALVAREZ^*

Wavetech Associates Hackensack, New Jersey

INTRODUCTION

Utility companies make a good-faith attempt to deliver clean, well-regulated power to their customers. Unfortunately, most disturbances on the AC line are beyond their control. Large load changes imposed by customers on a random basis, power factor (PF) correction switching, lightning, and accident-related system faults all combine to produce an environment in which tight control over AC power quality is difficult to maintain. Therefore, the responsibility for ensuring AC power quality must rest with the users of sensitive equipment—in this case, the broadcaster.