Surge suppressor for new HDTV?

[MooreBonds]

On the more mundane topic...

My dad's old rear projection tv display bit the dust a few weeks ago, so he forked out for a new plasma/lcd/whatever-it-is-that-costs-more-than-I-want-to-spend tv.

I was with him when he bought it from Best Buy. Naturally, the salesman tried to push him into some $200 surge suppressor system that looked like it belonged to some rapper (literally gold plated, with too many outlets and so many catch phrases). I told him that from the purchase of the tv alone, he would have enough best buy rewards points to get a free surge suppressor, so let me research it to find out if you really need all that crap.

Since there are quite a few tech-savvy minds on the ER board...any recommendations on just what kind of surge suppressor one would need to protect a $2,500 tv?

 

[JohnP]

I watch the ads at the computer stores to find the surge supressors that

1. have power, cable, and phone surge suppression built in

2. give a $25,000 (or more) guarantee in case the connected equipment gets zapped

3. are on sale - usually can get them for under $25 during sales such as pre-Thanksgiving - (hint, hint) - CompUSA has an APC Surge suppressor w/3400 joule protection, $100,000 guarantee, cable, phone and 11 outlet protection for $35 not on sale - (in case you want one NOW!!!) Other stores have similar units with similar specs.

Good hunting

JohnP

 

[Cut-Throat]

Yup - Don't spend more than $50 on a surge suppressor. I'd do some checking on google for Surge suppressor tests - or compared. Most are fairly simple devices.

Also, To protect from lightning strikes the antenna cable or Cable feed also have to run through a surge suppressor, as lightning can follow these leads into the TV as well. So make sure the surge suppressor has inputs and outputs for Coax

 

[mathjak107]

surge suppression systems can get quite complex, while they look the same on the outside they are all very different behaving.

most cheap plug in suppressors are crap, and ineffective . i had a little testing lab in my apartment for a while. a pair of quad esl63 loudspeakers had a very quick protection system that would trip very quickly and shut my speakers down.

i couldnt figure out what was tripping it and one day i was in our kitchen and hit the light switch, bingo the flourescent light fixtures ballast would surge the line.

now for the fun, being in the business i requested samples of suppressors to try to get rid of it. 95% of the suppressors failed the test including all the cheapies. the best was a 100 dollar unit from electronic specialists corp.

as far as protecting from massive spikes you really need to have a suppressor at the main circuit breaker panel . that knocks the level down where each outlet has a high quality device. by itself the outlet suppressor cant deal with anyhing of very high magnitude. its really a system thats needed. lightning though is a seperate issue

leviton and wiremold make units that are of high quality in the 60-100.00 range

joules rating are not the only criteria and actually anything over 600 is probably over kill, its merely just an energy rating as to how much energy the mov can handle before failing, speed , tracking and clamping voltage are important, as well as an indicator to let you know when the mov has failed.

some line and noise filtering is good to have too.

 

[mathjak107]

HERES AN INSIDER TIP... watch those guarantees that offer to pay for damaged equipment. read them again, i bet they say they will pay when used within spec of the suppressor. the out is that if the suppressor passed on the spike than that spike was above the spec that can be handled by the suppressor hense an easy out for not paying.

just a heads up not to count on seeing a dime

 

[rs0460a]

Since there are quite a few tech-savvy minds on the ER board...any recommendations on just what kind of surge suppressor one would need to protect a $2,500 tv?

A. My homeowner's insurance.
B. Being FI, $2,500 is nothing (at least something I would loose sleep over).

Sorry if I sound "flippant", but it dosen't seem like a "problem"...

- Ron

 

[Bob_Smith]

I looked into this a few years ago. At the time, the Tripp-Lite Isotel or Isobar were highly recommended. I have two:

http://tinyurl.com/ykyrz5

As mathjak107 said, a whole house suppressor at the main panel is the first line of defense. The cost is roughly $150-$200 (installed) in my area.

 

[mathjak107]

everything in really protecting equipment is based on each suppressor knocking the spikes down so the next one can deal with it. a true protective system has 3 stages. one system mounted at the main incoming feed, another on any sub distribution panels and lastly one at each outlet.

thats the only way spikes can be reduced enough not to do damage.

thats why using even the highest quality surge suppressor outlet strips by themselves really dont protect much and thats why those warrantees that promise a cash payment for your equipment are very carefully worded to provide an out if needed.

a bigger problem than spikes sometimes can be rfi/emi noise. thats electronic noise in the powerline than can drive electronics nuts sometimes. or voltage instability if you are having voltage sags or high voltage issues

thats where big bucks can be spent on units such as that big monstor cable unit.