power centers & voltage stabilizers

[Erman_94]

Not sure if this is in the right spot of the forum but I hear and see a lot about these things (mainly in higher-end home theaters)

pardon my ignorance but...what are they?

i.e. what do they do? what is their purpose? how beneficial are they? pros vs cons? etc etc

and how come i mainly just see "monster" brand ones?

just looking to learn more about them..

thanks guys

[kpkelley]

Vote YES for power protection!

[moviefan]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

i.e. what do they do? what is their purpose? how beneficial are they? pros vs cons? etc etc

and how come i mainly just see "monster" brand ones?

just looking to learn more about them..

I believe most claims for "power centers" are greatly exagerated.
The benefits for me are:
One place to plug in all components
Audio/video AC isolated from each other
Surge protection
Possibly protection against A/c voltage flutter (maybe)
I got a refurbished Monster (my one and only Monster product) 1600 on the internet.
If I had to do it over, I would probably buy Panamax.

[Erman_94]

so basically what they do is provide all the components attached with the same voltage at all times?

and this will protect against blackouts, fluctuations in voltage etc etc which can damage your components?

if this is true...whats the difference between a power center and a voltage stabilizer?

thanks

[DIY_HD]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

so basically what they do is provide all the components attached with the same voltage at all times?

and this will protect against blackouts, fluctuations in voltage etc etc which can damage your components?

if this is true...whats the difference between a power center and a voltage stabilizer?

thanks

Power Centers and Voltage Stabilizers, as you call them, are more commonly called Power Conditioners and Voltage Regulators. While I had originally planned for both a Panamax 5400 and an APC 2200 UPS, I am re-thinking these, primarily because my wife thinks the money can better be spent elsewhere. It does not appear that the benefits are visible or even audible. It seems that the benefits are more along the line of prevention of damage to equipment and longevity.

If you live in an area where A/C power fluctuates in voltage or is otherwise unstable or unreliable, you should consider one or both of these products. A Power Conditioner will handle fluctuations in voltage and even brown-outs (major sags in voltage), but for black-out conditions, you need an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS, AKA Batter Backup). These products are like insurance. You know, the products you buy that you hope you never need.

Find out if your homeowner's insurance covers your equipment and add up the cost, so you know what your loss would be if you had to replace them due to a storm surge, etc. You may find it's a lot cheaper to invest in these devices to protect your equipment (not to mention less hassle). An insurance company will only give you the depreciated value for your equipment, unless your policy states "replacement value."

Consider that if your UPS or Power Conditioner gets fried, you can still bypass them and watch TV. If your TV gets fried, you have to wait till you can get another one, or get it repaired.