The truth about your surge protector is it doesn't help much.

[tron3]

Today I am on the UPS kick in an effort to save people from equipment loss.
A UPS. Uninterruptable Power Supply. Staples carries the APC model.

In this day and age of "firmware updates" you don't want the power dipping or going out in the middle of flashing the ROM.

Even GOOD surge suppressors don't trip until about 600v. Considering standard current is 115v, that is still enough to damage your stuff. What about those spikes and transients which are below 600v? Does your surge protector do anything? NO.

Most surge protectors are "fail-safe" devices designed to go off in one catastrophic event. They do NOTHING for the pulses below the threshold. Some better ones have line conditioning and filters, but most people think the common outlet strip is enough. It is not. "Surely my strip does SOMETHING. Right?" Yes, it allows you to plug in more valuable electronics to fry like fish.

Spikes and transients are common. Your equipment becomes weakened by every spike it survives. I have a 13" Panasonic TV which has lived for 19 years plugged into a surge protector with filter, line conditioner, and REAL surge protection.

A battery backed up device is a natural supressor and could arrest some lightning strikes. Your battery will be toast, but not your home entertainment system. Lead Acid batteries are designed in layers. Those layers not only store energy it tends to slow it down and absorb it. My sister once lost a TV, stereo and DVD player because a squirrel got in the nearby power transformer. It can happen to anyone at any time.

My UPS is low end mostly to keep the players alive, not the TV, but still protects it. No more lost settings, and no fear of power loss during firmware upgrades to the BD player. I even have a small battery backup on my cordless phone.

BE SURE TO PLUG IN THE BATTERY FIRST!