Surge Protection

[CCSchoch]

I currently have a Montster strip surge protector (Don't know the model # off hand). I just bought a Panny Plasma and they sales guy recommended I definately upgrade to a power conditioner / surge protector since I got a plasma and they're really susceptible to damage from power spikes.

Is this accurate?

If I need to get a power conditioner or more powerful surge protector, any recommendations on one? Would rather stay w/ a strip model where I can place behind my TV stand instead of a model where it would require to be on the stand.


Thanks for any help.

[Warjack Prime]

Do you own your home or rent? If you own your home contact your power company and ask if they have whole house surge protection available. My power company put a protectore outside the house for my electric and cable (I don't have phone) and it's about $6 a month. It eliminates the need for an expensive strip surge protector.

[Asylump]

I've had APC Surge protectors and battery backups for all my computers for many years, and never had a single issue. Not once. Lots of thunder storms, power outages, surges and spikes and I've never lost anything - as long as the batteries are kept in good condition and replaced on a regular basis you should be fine.

I've bought a APC J10 in cabinet power conditioner for my new theatre I'm building, I don't have a single doubt that it will protect against most problems with the electrical if it ever occurs. Those SurgeX systems are nice, they sell them at the place I buy my NAD equipment and PSB speakers from, and even the owner doesn't recommend them because they are overpriced for home use. As long as your house's electrical is in good condition and working order you probably don't even need a surge protector.

[oppopioneer]

Originally Posted by Asylump

Those SurgeX systems are nice, they sell them at the place I buy my NAD equipment and PSB speakers from, and even the owner doesn't recommend them because they are overpriced for home use. As long as your house's electrical is in good condition and working order you probably don't even need a surge protector.

Sorry, I don't mean to be rude but I think the "owner" obviously isn't educated on what surge suppression versus surge elimination is. And how can anything be "overpriced for home use" when protecting expensive equipment? That's like saying you want to be stingy on buying a bullet proof vest. So what would a SurgeX product be priced for?

There never has been one documented account of a SurgeX product failing, they are that good! But there are many horror stories of the APC, Monster, Panamax products failing suffering a catastrophic failure. SurgeX are made in the U.S but the others are made in China often in undisclosed factories so the quality control is poor.

Originally Posted by Asylump

owner doesn't recommend them because they are overpriced for home use.

The owner obviously doesn't think highly of your HT and basically by insulting you he meant: "A professional high quality surge eliminator isn't needed to protect some run of the mill electronics."

I really really recommend and suggest a SurgeX model to get the best protection available downstream at the power outlet.

[Asylump]

Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Like I said, I've been using APC for 10+ years, to protect thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment, and I've never had an issue. I do a lot of digital web design and print, so my PC's are worth a bit more than the average PC, plus I have a few wide format Epson printers which have never had an issue with surge protection, even while printing something in a power outtage (which doesn't happen often, but has happened during mid printing).

Battery has kicked on, and everything runs fine without any hiccups at all.

Like I said, the owner of the shop I go to didn't suggest it to me, but I'm sure someone who's spending 100,000$+ on a full McIntosh Or NAIM setup won't bat an eye to pay 2000$ on a surge protector - but that's totally outside of any normal person's budget.

[repete66211]

I've been using no more than cheap surge protectors--and sometimes nothing at all--for decades on all sorts of equipment, through blackouts, brownouts, surges, spikes, etc. To this very day I have yet to lose any appliances or electronics. Does that mean surge protectors and other such equipment are a waste of money or are never needed? Absolutely not. I am certain thousands of dollars have been saved by using such equipment. But I'm also sure thousands of dollars have been spent needlessly on such devices. Such devices are an added layer of insurance against damage and, like any other insurance, the expense is only justified if your equipment would have been damaged without it. In other words, the only way to know if such insurance is worth it is if you don't have it. So a cost/benefit analysis is nearly impossible for most users.

[oppopioneer]

Originally Posted by Asylump

Like I said, the owner of the shop I go to didn't suggest it to me, but I'm sure someone who's spending 100,000$+ on a full McIntosh Or NAIM setup won't bat an eye to pay 2000$ on a surge protector - but that's totally outside of any normal person's budget.

Before you say these things I hope you can please first educate yourself on SurgeX and their prices and who uses them and what they are for.

The new Dallas Cowboys Stadium uses the SurgeX SX1120RT in all of their booths and that model costs around $550 bucks. They also have models that cost around $250 bucks.

QUOTE: "SurgeX was specified for surge elimination and power conditioning for the main racks, FOH racks, and every remote rack location protecting the sensitive DSP, hubs and other peripheral equipment. A total of 44 SurgeX SX1120-RT were used throughout the venue. Everything else is a TVSS surge suppressor, SurgeX is the only complete surge eliminator, 0 voltage let through on worst case surge of 6000Volts, 3000amps. Projects like this have to have the very best."

http://www.listentech.com/blog/Dalla...lights-Listen/

SurgeX is used at professional sports stadiums nation wide (New Dallas Cowboys Stadium, new Yankee Stadium, every pro-sports facility in Philly to name a few) plus at Carnegie Hall, Kimmel Center, Paramount Studios for on location production, used by NASA to protect the uplink of the Hubble Space Telescope, professional recording studios. The pro-audio world demands SurgeX Advanced Series Mode technology over mov's.

http://www.surgex.com/news.html

The models that are used in multi-million and billion dollar projects and venues are the same exact models you can buy, you can pull their SurgeX SX1120-RT right out of the booth at Cowboys' Stadium and put it in your house, that's what makes them so great and special! They are a amazing company.

[Hammie]

It probably depends more on whether you feel you have poor power in your home. Additionally, what other devices are on the same circuit, i.e., refrigerator, air conditioner, portable heater, blower for a fireplace, etc.

I'm not sure if you really NEED it, but it may protect it from non-direct power hits.

[oppopioneer]

Stay away from all power conditioners from Best Buy, Walmart, Staples, Office Max, those are mickey mouse and use fragile mov's to protect your equipment, they will weaken or explode if a 6000 volt surge hits it.

A professional industrial company that professional recording studios use and most in the pro audio world use is SurgeX

http://surgex.com/

SurgeX vs MOV Suppressors:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RixUrc-FRcM

[qiong]

You can get the Belkin PF30 for less than $100, not a lot more expensive than a decent surge protector, but does two jobs: surge protection and cleaning you power.

[CCSchoch]

Looked at the Belkin. Looks nice. Due to limited rack space, any in that price range as a strip protector?

[Blaumann]

You can also check out

http://www.furmansound.com/

-> Power Station Series, if you don't want something for your rack.