How do you protect your system?

Double Ugly · « **on:** 17 Oct 2003, 09:34 pm »

This is an expensive hobby under the best of circumstances, so what measures have you taken to protect your equipment?

Does anyone use one of the APC UPSs?

If so, does it make the use of line conditioning equipment, hospital-grade receptacles, etc. superfluous?

Thanks.

DU

rosconey · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Oct 2003, 10:19 pm »

i use a 120 pound PITT-ROTT named roscoe, and a 110 pound ROTT-LAB named mopar.
they work real good so far

dfaber · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Oct 2003, 10:32 pm »

NY Times ran an article last week arguing that Spike suppressors don't do any good and muddy up otherwise clean power. They quoted NAIM's position that their equipment should only receive power directly from a dedicated wall socket (hospital-grade) or via at most a a plain-vanilla high quality power strip.

I am inclined to agree. Anything with a quality transformer power supply should be able to handle transients just as well with or without a suppressor.

I take my mother's old advice and Unplug stuff when I leave home for vacation or if the weather looks particularly threatening. That is the only sure-fire protection.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Oct 2003, 11:14 pm »

I'm not interested in "Spike suppressors" either. A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) doesn’t just suppress spikes; it also regulates the power to your equipment, protecting it from under-voltages, which over time can be as damaging to electronic equipment as over-voltages.

My computer is connected to an APC Back-UPS Pro 650 and has been for years. On two occasions my computer has received damage from lightening strikes, and APC has paid to replace the damaged component. On one of those occasions the UPS itself had to be replaced and was, at no expense to me. Many times though the years the UPS has clicked on, providing supplemental power to my system from an under-voltage when I detected no problem (no lights dimming or flickering, etc.). I have no doubt the life of my computer has been lengthened by the use of this product.

Considering those experiences, I’m wondering if I should begin shopping around for another UPS for my system. If the UPS isn’t the way to go, why not and what should I look for?

Thanks again.

DU

randytsuch · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Oct 2003, 11:32 pm »

Quote from: Double Ugly

I'm not interested in "Spike suppressors" either. A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) doesn’t just suppress spikes; it also regulates the power to your equipment, protecting it from under-voltages, which over time can be as damaging to electronic equipment as over-voltages.

My computer is connected to an APC Back-UPS Pro 650 and has been for years. On two occasions my computer has received damage from lightening strikes, and APC has paid to replace the damaged component. On one of those occasions t ...

I have heard a UPS will mess up the sound, as compared to just plugging your system into a good outlet, but I have not tried a UPS myself, so no direct experience.

Why don't you move your APC from your computer to your stereo, and see what if anything, it does to the sound. Decide from there. Be curious to see what you find.

Randy

Double Ugly · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 Oct 2003, 01:00 am »

Quote from: randytsuch

Why don't you move your APC from your computer to your stereo, and see what if anything, it does to the sound. Decide from there. Be curious to see what you find.

In the absence of specifics either pro or con, that's precisely what I entend to do.

I'll report back with the results if/when that happens. Thanks for the feedback.

DU

cyounkman · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Oct 2003, 01:27 am »

Some UPS units have a sinewave generator, some don't. I am using sinewave generator-equipped units on my (audio) system, and the improvements have been significant.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Oct 2003, 01:43 am »

Quote from: cyounkman

Some UPS units have a sinewave generator, some don't. I am using sinewave generator-equipped units on my (audio) system, and the improvements have been significant.

I wasn't aware of that. Would you mind telling me more about your UPSs, Chris (make, model, etc.)?

PM if you'd prefer...

Thanks.

DU

RussKon · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Oct 2003, 02:31 am »

the best protection against surges is a series mode protector.....

units from surge-x, brickwall, or zero surge will protect your equipment even if lightning hits the power line right outside your house....

they are all rated to protect your equipment up to a 6000 volt - 3000 amp surge... the highest rating available!!!

i work at an electronics distributor and we sell the surge-x line.... i have two surge-x units in my house...one for my computer system and one for my audio/video system.....

do some reading on the websites....

www.surgex.com
www.brickwall.com
www.zerosurge.com

HChi · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Oct 2003, 02:53 am »

I currently use a Tripplite 2.2KVA online-UPS with my Tice PowerBlock IIIc HP. All my equipments are plugged into Tice. The amp section plug of Tice is plugged into the 20A circuit of UPS while the other plug is in the 15A circuit of UPS. I have experience no negative sonic degradation, but positive improvement (though more A/B testing needs to be conducted). I think the protection perspective of UPS is worth of the investment already. YMMV.

michael w · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Oct 2003, 03:06 am »

I use a good insurance company with a full replacement policy in case of damage from storms, power spikes etc. etc.

RussKon · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Oct 2003, 03:15 am »

I use a good insurance company with a full replacement policy in case of damage from storms, power spikes etc. etc.

i have heard this response from many other people as well...

there are several problems...

1. what if you have vintage equipment and/or equipment that can't be replaced?

2. how much is your deductible?

if you have relatively new equipment and your insurance company replaces it, you still have to pay the $250 or $500 deductible....

if you had taken that $250 you could have purchased a series mode protector (like surge-x) - your equipment would never have been damaged and you don't have to mess around with your insurance company...

additionally - you might have another major surge next year and you again have to pay your deductible...

rely on your insurance and you will probably have equipment failure in your life..... myself - two separate lightning surges that fried half of my system - 6 years apart.... it cost me $1000 in deductible costs....

now i rely on surge-x.....

wshuff · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Oct 2003, 04:31 am »

Big dogs and a vicious cat.

michael w · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Oct 2003, 07:41 am »

Hi RussKon,

1. ALL equipment can be replaced, it's the recordings that are really valuable, not the electronics.

2. Down here my deductible is a mere ~$120USD per claim.

The last big power surge we had here was ...never !
Next to zero chance of electrical storms either.

Seems my part of NZ is pretty safe as far as that sort of thing goes.

RussKon · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Oct 2003, 01:22 pm »

michael,

sounds great in your situation....

i live here in minnesota and we get many thunderstorms during the summer....

the weather bureau here has calculated that a large thunderstorm will generate about 125,000 lightning strikes during the course of the storm...

you can see why i advocate a good surge protector...

additionally.... if you buy new equipment...then yes it can be replaced.... but maybe that old mcintosh tube amplifier form the 50's that you bought used.....will the insurance give you replacement value???....and maybe you can't even find another one.....

good listening!