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The BRLUG test of the Woods Digital Satellite Home Theater Surge =
Protector, Model 6517 is finished and here follows the results.=20
First Impressions
Opening the box and removing the unit reveals a slick gray molded =
plastic design distinguished by ergonomic features including one row of =
5 color-coded grounded outlets. Opposite is three color-coded grounded =
outlets with extra space in-between for equipment with transformers for =
a total of eight outlets. In-between the two rows of power outlets are =
two pass through surge suppression connections for RG-58U cable =
connections and one pass through RJ-45 telephone connection. A lit power =
switch is located near a surge warning light and a ground indicator. All =
together a nice package from the design point of view.=20
The Guts of the Matter
The specifications are no slouch for this unit purchased for less than =
$20 at Wal-Mart and are as follows:
UL 1449 Clamping Voltage: 330 Volts
3-line Protection: Line Neutral and Ground
Electrical Rating: 125 Volts, 15 Amps, 1875 Watts
Energy Dissipation: 1330 Joules (8 X 20 us waveform)
Maximum Surge Voltage: 6000 Volts
Maximum Spike Current: 91,000 Amps
Response Time: Faster than 1 Nanosecond
EMI/RFI Filtering: 4db-40db from 150kHz to 20MHz
Phone/Modem Surge Protection
UL 497A Compliant
Energy Dissipation 70 Joules
Clamping Voltage 200 Volts
DSS/Cable/Coax Surge Protection
Clamping Voltage 100 Volts
Not bad specifications for such a modestly priced unit. But lets see how =
it held up under the BRLUG's extended long-term test.
The Test
Installed in April the unit was challenged with the following equipment:
2 personal computers.
TV
VCR
Scanner
Laser Printer
Computer monitor
The unit was plugged into a grounded 110v receptacle. To make the test =
more challenging this receptacle was not entirely in good working order. =
Only one of the outlet's two receptacles was in working order.
The unit worked flawlessly through several blackouts and brownouts. The =
unit was powered down and up numerous times, each time handling the =
tasks of powerdowns and powerups, even when tasked with the full load at =
powerup several times.=20
The test was terminated when on August 11, at 5:20 pm when the unit =
experienced a surge that it could not handle. During the rebooting of =
one of the computers the unit experienced a surge. This surge was more =
than it could handle and it allowed a spike to get through to the =
attached equipment. The result was the destruction of the power supply =
on one of the computers. The .unit itself sustained irrepairable =
damage. Numerous attempts to reset the surge protector were in vain and =
the surge warning light remained lit. A sure sign that the unit's surge =
suppression capability has been compromised.
Conclusion
We here at the BRLUG test labs think that the Woods Digital Satellite =
Home Theater Surge Protector, Model 6517 is a well designed unit with =
adequate specifications. However, we feel that the lack of an audible =
alarm makes this unit a poor choice for electrical components of a =
critical nature. The average user could overlook an activated surge =
warning light which would then allow damage to attached equipment if it =
were not promptly removed from service. Furthermore, we were somewhat =
disappointed that the 6517 did not automatically shut power off to all =
attached devices but let them continue to operate with no surge =
suppression, thus allowing for the possibility of extended surge-related =
power damage to the attached equipment. With such poor warning qualities =
we feel that the buyer's money would be better spent elsewhere.
Next Test: The RadioShack 7-Outlet Surge Protector and Noise Filter =
(with audible alarm) Model Number 61-2206
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The BRLUG test of the Woods Digital =
Satellite Home=20
Theater Surge Protector, Model 6517 is finished and here follows the =
results.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>First Impressions</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Opening the box and removing the unit =
reveals a=20
slick gray molded plastic design distinguished by ergonomic features =
including=20
one row of 5 color-coded grounded outlets. Opposite is three color-coded =
grounded outlets with extra space in-between for equipment with=20
transformers for a total of eight outlets. In-between the two rows of =
power=20
outlets are two pass through surge suppression connections for =
RG-58U cable=20
connections and one pass through RJ-45 telephone connection. A lit =
power=20
switch is located near a surge warning light and a ground indicator. All =
together a nice package from the design point of view. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The Guts of the Matter</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The specifications are no slouch for =
this unit=20
purchased for less than $20 at Wal-Mart and are as follows:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>UL 1449 Clamping Voltage: 330 =
Volts</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>3-line Protection: Line Neutral and=20
Ground</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Electrical Rating: 125 Volts, 15 Amps, =
1875=20
Watts</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Energy Dissipation: 1330 Joules (8 X 20 =
us=20
waveform)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Maximum Surge Voltage: 6000 =
Volts</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Maximum Spike Current: 91,000 =
Amps</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Response Time: Faster than 1=20
Nanosecond</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>EMI/RFI Filtering: 4db-40db from 150kHz =
to=20
20MHz</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Phone/Modem Surge =
Protection</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>UL 497A Compliant</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Energy Dissipation 70 =
Joules</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Clamping Voltage 200 Volts</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>DSS/Cable/Coax Surge =
Protection</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Clamping Voltage 100 Volts</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Not bad specifications for such a =
modestly priced=20
unit. But lets see how it held up under the BRLUG's extended long-term=20
test.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The Test</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Installed in April the unit was =
challenged with the=20
following equipment:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>2 personal computers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>TV</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>VCR</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Scanner</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Laser Printer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Computer monitor</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The unit was plugged into a grounded =
110v=20
receptacle. To make the test more challenging this receptacle was not =
entirely=20
in good working order. Only one of the outlet's two receptacles was in =
working=20
order.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The unit worked flawlessly through =
several=20
blackouts and brownouts. The unit was powered down and up numerous =
times, each=20
time handling the tasks of powerdowns and powerups, even when tasked =
with the=20
full load at powerup several times. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The test was terminated when on August =
11, at 5:20=20
pm when the unit experienced a surge that it could not handle. During =
the=20
rebooting of one of the computers the unit experienced a surge. This =
surge was=20
more than it could handle and it allowed a spike to get through to the =
attached=20
equipment. The result was the destruction of the power supply on one of =
the=20
computers. The .unit itself sustained irrepairable damage. =
Numerous=20
attempts to reset the surge protector were in vain and the surge warning =
light=20
remained lit. A sure sign that the unit's surge suppression capability =
has been=20
compromised.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Conclusion</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We here at the BRLUG test labs think =
that the Woods=20
Digital Satellite Home Theater Surge Protector, Model 6517 is a well=20
designed unit with adequate specifications. However, we feel that =
the lack=20
of an audible alarm makes this unit a poor choice for electrical =
components of a=20
critical nature. The average user could overlook an activated surge =
warning=20
light which would then allow damage to attached equipment if it were not =
promptly removed from service. Furthermore, we were somewhat=20
disappointed that the 6517 did not automatically shut power =
off to all=20
attached devices but let them continue to operate with no surge =
suppression,=20
thus allowing for the possibility of extended surge-related power damage =
to the=20
attached equipment. With such poor warning qualities we feel that the =
buyer's=20
money would be better spent elsewhere.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Next Test: The RadioShack 7-Outlet =
Surge Protector=20
and Noise Filter (with audible alarm) Model Number=20
61-2206</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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