Once upon a time S a n r shaped the electrons to say... > I was wondering what type and strength of surge protectors are really needed > to protect your electronics such as Tivo, a plasma and a recorder > altogether. They vary so much in kinds and choice that it's hard to know
The plasma is probably the largest power draw, by far. I'd recommend getting a UPS from APC or Tripp Lite, and probably connecting the plasma to the 'surge protection only' outlets on the device, while connecting the TiVo and recorder to the UPS battery backup side. The plasma would just suck the battery dry in a hurry if it were on when the power goes out. Though you could connect it to the battery if you have power fluctuations or brownouts where the power comes and goes, that'd allow you to keep watching while the power flickers - just turn the TV off if the power goes out for any length of time. But the point is you need to size the UPS, or surge protector, to the power draw of the device(s) being connected. For example, take the Tripp Lite you're looking at. It is rated at 330VA outlet power, so you don't want to connect devices that draw more than that total. Personally I have several APC Back-Ups ES 600 units, which are UPSes. I have one where I am now for my laptop and USB drives, as well as having my phone charger and some other things plugged into the protection side. I have two behind my entertainment center for all my gear, and another in another room for my printer, router, and more computer stuff. I also have some older UPSes kicking around for less important gear. I don't think they make them anymore, looking around it looks like this is the current model similar to mine: http://www.amazon.com/APC-Back-UPS-Outlet-550VA-120V/dp/B0019804U8/?tag=tiv-20 It is rated for more power draw, 550VA, and it is a UPS and surge protector, not just a aurge protector. That means it has a battery to power connected devices even if the power goes out completely. But the batter also allows it to help devices ride out any brownouts or power flucuations without rebooting. As you can see if you poke around Amazon, APC makes UPSes in a variety of capacities, outlet numbers, battery lifes, etc. > they would rather go with? I found that Tripp lite is supposed to be a good > brand but not sure about any of the features and other details on surge Tripp Lite and APC are the two leading brands I'd say. And I'd avoid supposedly 'premium' brands like Monster. They don't offer anything special and cost insanely more. Total rip-off. (Pretty much anything from Monster Cable is a total rip-off.) > then but I may not always be home. I know that none will protect from a > direct hit but the power goes out a lot and that must produce power surges. If the power goes out a lot and you have a lot of storms, I think that's all the more reason to get a UPS to isolate devices from that. A surge protector will help protect against spikes, but it still isn't good for devices to have power drop and come back a lot, and there are probably flucuations that don't quite cut out the power completely, which a simple protector won't filter out. > product such as this is, how do people 'know' how well or not a surge > protector is protecting them under normal everyday circumstances? Some > reviews and replies are after only having it a short while. They don't really, and there is really no way to tell for sure. Even if the protector trips out in a storm you'll never know if the surge would have damaged something or not. It is basically an insurance policy. -MZ -- megazone-at-megazone.org http://www.MegaZone.org/ Gweep, Geek, Human, me. http://www.GizmoLovers.com/ http://www.Eyrie-Productions.com/ -><- Hail Eris "A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-852-2171
