Voltage Regulator

[2jayzman]

I've moved into a new place and have noticed when certain light switches on the main level are turned on my prints move generally between the X and Z axis. I am running a good surge protector(used 2 different ones), but was wondering if anyone has a Regulator to keep the voltage to their printer consistent. It doesn't happen all the time. Just started noticing it. They are only $50 bucks at Walmart and just wondered if anyone was using them?

[Eaglezsoar]

I've moved into a new place and have noticed when certain light switches on the main level are turned on my prints move generally between the X and Z axis. I am running a good surge protector(used 2 different ones), but was wondering if anyone has a Regulator to keep the voltage to their printer consistent. It doesn't happen all the time. Just started noticing it. They are only $50 bucks at Walmart and just wondered if anyone was using them?

If turning on lights or whatever in the house effects your printer, it would seem to indicate bad house wiring or a power supply on the printer that should be upgraded. No
surge protector will prevent voltage sags which is what is happening to you. I personally suspect the power supply in the printer.

[geneb]

Nah, if he's flipping lights on and the printer acts weird, the circuit is sagging on him. A UPS would cure that problem, but I'd be more worried about why a simple light is drawing so much power that it causes a temporary sag condition in the line voltage.

g.

[2jayzman]

I have a better power supply, just haven't had time to install. Need to replace the table also. The Acrylic tends to crack from the heat cycles I believe. The wiring in house wasn't done very well or clean. It was a nightmare puttin the ceiling fan in. Lol. Thanks for the help.

[geneb]

Well like I said, a better power supply isn't going to solve your problem.

g.

[Eric]

Not solve it, but that Walmart power conditioner you mentioned would likely mask the problem for the printer. A quality UPS would be even better.

What's on the symptomatic light switches? If the switch is starting a big ceiling fan motor, I could see it....otherwise, something is likely wrong.

[geneb]

I actually mentioned a UPS...

If there's nothing but lighting connected to that switch (and not like two or three dozen 100W bulbs) and there's a noticeable power sag when the circuit is energized, there's a VERY, VERY high resistance issue going on somewhere that will eventually lead to much crying, screaming and calls to the local fire department.

At the end of the day, we're all just a bunch of dorks on the Internet and not professionals. (Well ok, SOME of us are, but that's not the point.) Get the electrical in your house checked by a professional electrician. It might cost you some to get it done, but dead is a lot more permanent and a damn sight more expensive.

g.

g.

[626Pilot]

If your lines can't keep up with your printer, they won't let your UPS keep its battery charged either, so at best you will have delayed the problem. Also, consumer-grade UPSes are not designed for continuous power conditioning on bad lines. It might not last very long.

This may seem like an odd statement, but you can't afford to live in this house as it is today. Even if the house doesn't try to kill you (which is gamble) it WILL try to kill everything you own that has transistors in it. A full rewire can run several thousand dollars, but then again, so does replacing your computer, TV, stereo, 3D printer, etc. etc. etc. I've seen what happens to electronics that get under-volted. They have a way of releasing the magic smoke and never turning on again!

Until you get your wiring fixed, I hope you're using a laptop.