Surge protection

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:24 pm

Does anyone here have a surge protector(s)? Looking at buying one as Im getting a surround sound system shortly, and combined with the other electronics I have, it will all be worth well over 1000euro. Had a few power cuts the last day, and it made me realise I need to get one just in case I do get some sorta power surge.

I was gonna get a basic price one Here .

But after doing a bit of research it appears, that aint gonna cut it, so going for a better quality one Here which should have me covered Very Happy

Just curious if anyone here has one already, and if so, how basic/advanced is it? Or have you ever lost electrical equipment due to power surge? Think i remember someone posting something before about a surge happening to them but can find it.

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:48 pm

Hello bazzer101 I would highly recommend anything of Belkin they make amazing stuff but for a surge from them I have these ones here

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Surge-Protector-BZ108130uk2M/dp/B002RD48SS/ref=sr_1_91?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1295217800&sr=1-91

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Surge-Telephone-Protector-Metres/dp/B0013DETNM/ref=sr_1_80?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1295217800&sr=1-80

and this one for small things
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SURGE-PRT-4OT-1034J-19-5KA/dp/B004CEDW8W/ref=sr_1_120?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1295217972&sr=1-120

First one I have hooked up to my main PC and it handles it well never seen any problems and it more then covers your electronics though belkin

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:53 pm

I use a Belkin Pure AV Isolator and Home Theatre Surge Protector, would be lost without sounds !
Ah after clicking your link I see you are opting for a similar product. I have never had any electrical meltdowns but am prepared !

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:58 pm

hmm i've never thought about it but considering all the tech in one unit i think the ebay/amazon whore in me will be buying one now.... never had a prob but better to be safe i suppose....

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:11 pm

I have a Belkin Surgemaster for my PC and speakers/woofer, but having Googling the model number (fsc206u2av-tel3) i had 0 results, i assume that particular model is now obselete, after all i must have got it about 6 years ago lol, however it is almost identical to this model http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-SurgeMaster-6-Way-Modem-Protection/dp/B000093T88/ref=acc_glance_computers_ai_-2_t_2 . It does have decent reviews and a lifetime guarantee.

Dunno if it does the job or not, never had any power surges but i'd rather have and not need it than not have it and risk blowing up my gadgets lol...

I think if you've shelled so much cash out you'd be soft not to Laughing

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:27 pm

If i remember right CF got his system toasted by lightning. Important to know surge protection is not lightning protection. Lightning strikes due cause surges, as do solar flares,but the majority of surges are caused by heavy and or changing loads, to your local power grid. If this is the case then I would spend just a bit more, and get something with line conditioning, and a ups built in. The prices and availability of these have really come down a lot.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842102082

Now lightning protection can either be very basic for the average dwelling or get insanely expensive for structures like hospitals and government facilities. I don't know about the electrical codes in other counties. In the picture below is how most homes are, but the new NEC codes say you must have 2 ground rods in addition to a cold water ground, your phone system is also to be grounded to this. You can not have to much grounding, some of the labs I've built have ground rods every 10 feet around the entire structure. If your concerned i would go have a look around where your meter is and see if you have one, and if not call a electrician and get it done right.

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:01 pm

Bought a cheap one years ago ... still doing its job.
Even though our powerlines are "decaying" 'coz they get privatized ...

Good thing to have, especially in rural areas.

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Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:03 pm

I don't plug anything directly into the wall anymore. Everything is on a surge protector even if it's a plain run of the mill straight white bar with minimal protection.
I have fairly high end belkin models on both my computer and tv.
Even though they are several years old I have no complaint about them. One of them even has surge protection for lan and phone lines.

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:20 pm

I got a surge protector after i got my new PC. I use a Belkin too, it was only $50 but makes me feel much safer. I like Belikn i think its a good brand. Yeah C_F thats the one i got, its also got and Antenna in and out.

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:51 pm

ShMee.. wrote:

I got a surge protector after i got my new PC. I use a Belkin too, it was only $50 but makes me feel much safer. I like Belikn i think its a good brand. Yeah C_F thats the one i got, its also got and Antenna in and out.

..yeah the coax in and out... I actually run my cable through it since I know the nearest node to me has been submerged in water more than once.I don't want that shooting through the line and screwing my network

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:24 pm

It has a valve that protects your cable line from water?

Laughing

~scnr~

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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 2:18 pm

my first experience with the need for surge protection was with a stove element blowing out. the backlash through the lines killed the CPU in my machine, and it was surge protection always. My current system operates on battery backup. i use an APC model ES with surge protection and the gel cell it is shipped with it is supplemented by a couple of deep cycle batteries and a charge controller/inverter device. the whole system draws from the grid but i can switch over to the big batteries due to the 45 minutes grace the UPS gives. this recently came in handy as in about a half hour ago, im running on battery right now Laughing

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:18 pm

ya i prefer to go with a UPS, i just get a cheap $50 one that allows me to power things down in a power outage, just get like 5 mins backup power on them