[JerryM]

I'm starting to lean strongly towards non-MOV surge protectors. I'm reading up on the zerosurge ones, but would be interested to learn about other non-MOV brands.

I'm not too concerned about MOVs suddenly bursting into flames. Maybe some have in the past, but so have blenders, toasters, microwaves, dishwashers, etc. I'm with Wayner on this one; if MOVs had any track record at all as consistently unsafe, the Consumer Product Safety Commission would have made life hell for anyone marketing them by now.

The problem with MOVs is that they are designed to fail. They are consumables. How much money do you want to spend on an item wherein the first time it actually does its job you may need to replace it?

I use one of these. Made in America, too! 

Have fun,
Jerry

[newzooreview]

I'm not too concerned about MOVs suddenly bursting into flames. Maybe some have in the past, but so have blenders, toasters, microwaves, dishwashers, etc. I'm with Wayner on this one; if MOVs had any track record at all as consistently unsafe, the Consumer Product Safety Commission would have made life hell for anyone marketing them by now.

The problem with MOVs is that they are designed to fail. They are consumables. How much money do you want to spend on an item wherein the first time it actually does its job you may need to replace it?

I use one of these. Made in America, too! 

Have fun,
Jerry

Setting aside all the other issues surrounding MOVs (whether significant or peripheral in anyone's view), I just ran across some data that suggest that the Tripp-Lite ISOBAR in question in this post is substantially less effective in suppressing surges than the non-MOV approach that appears to be licensed by SurgeX to Brickwall and ZeroSurge:

http://www.zerosurge.com/waveforms.cfm?PType=Res

[Nick77]

That looks 2-3x the cost of the zerosurge, and I already have an RFI/EMI filter, so it may not be the best for my needs (but it might be good for someone who's looking for surge protection and some form of power conditioning).

Thats because surgex uses zerosurge technology, buy direct.

[dlparker]

Setting aside all the other issues surrounding MOVs (whether significant or peripheral in anyone's view), I just ran across some data that suggest that the Tripp-Lite ISOBAR in question in this post is substantially less effective in suppressing surges than the non-MOV approach that appears to be licensed by SurgeX to Brickwall and ZeroSurge:

http://www.zerosurge.com/waveforms.cfm?PType=Res

I only glanced at the article, but given that it's on the zerosurge website I'd have the expectation that it wouldn't be negative toward their products or technology.  It may be a great product, not denying that.  Just like being at a jam session - let's not talk about how great we are, let's get up there and make some music!

[newzooreview]

Thats because surgex uses zerosurge technology, buy direct.

Just read the patent for the ZeroSurge by the founder of the company (not that I understood all of it). Invented and manufactured in the USA. They apparently license to SurgeX who sell the same products at higher prices and to Brickwall who don't seem to offer the extra cancellation circuit that ZeroSurge does (they call it Zero Surge Cancellation, whatever that means). I think I know which direction I'm going.

I'm glad I happened across this thread.

[turkey]

Read the original post - I said I pull the plug because no surge suppressor will protect  equipment from a lightning strike. IF I'm wrong with that - then correct me.

And no, there are a lot of incredibly smart people here - especially in the area of electronics.
You are reading far more in the original post than is in there.

Maybe I'm more paranoid about protecting my AVA equipment than most - so excuse me!

Here's my take on it:


Pulling the plug is better protection than even the best surge protector. However, it is a good idea to also have a surge protector for those times when the surge is not caused by a thunderstorm, or when you're not home to pull the plug.

[TjMV3]

I have had this product for about 6 months now, and there are no ill-side effects from it, and it offers some protection for AVA and other equipment owners. It's a product by Tripp-lite called the Isobar Ultra surge protector. You can get the 4-plex for under $50 and the 6 plex for under $60 and I think it's a good value for the money.

I have used it, but they also used it at my previous place of employ (Hutchinson Technologies, Inc (HTI)), used in all of the automated manufacturing modules, to protect vary valuable PLCs, power supplies and meters. Nothing fancy, just plain old surge supression using MOVs with a latching voltage at 140 and also offers RFI/EMI filtering (at 40-80db) for a bit of treatment. I got the specifications from Tripp-lite.

Things that this unit can't do is take out lightening strikes, but will stop damaging transient voltage spikes and clean up a bit of hash noise to boot. I think it offers a value above the usual power strip as it also offers circuit isolation from components that are plugged into the same unit.

f anyone is interested in this.

Wayner 

I've been using Tripp-Lite Isobars for over seven years. 

I have three Isobar 8's ( ISOBAR8ULTRA ) one of which has been working for me for over seven years,   two of their ISOBAR6DBS and one ISOTEL4ULTRA.

I use them for my systems and my computers.

I have no illusions or delusions. 

When I know I'm leaving the house for several hours or an extended period of time and I know no one will be here......I shut off all my electronics and unplug the Isobars from the wall.

I live in North Carolina and some of the houses (areas) I've lived in down here,  have problems with brown outs,   power outages and we sure as hell get a ton of lightning storms.  So I use Isobars to protect my equipment from all that stuff.  But I never expect these Isobars to be my full protection from lightning hits.  Never.

I'm no scientist or electrician.  I have no idea if there are any surge protectors or protectors in general that truely and fully protect equipment from those lightning hits.   

 I use common sense and (caution) 98% of the time.  I unplug when the nasty lightning comes.   And if by chance a storm hits while we're all out and I didn't have a chance to unplug because we left in a hurry (emergency or other urgent matters);  I check eack each and every one of them to see if the fault LEDs.

[charmerci]

Speaking of which this is cool!   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bvmEYxEYiA&feature=player_embedded


3/10 of a second expanded into 93 seconds.

[Minn Mark]

I'm using one of these....is there any (real) surge protection there ??  Sonically it's supposed to improve sound (a la  Sam Tellig - Stereophile) but I can't honestly say it makes an improvement.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/496014-REG/Monster_Power_121533_HTS_1000_MKIII_Power.html

I'm unfortnunate to have only a multiple-outlet single 20A circuit in my listening room, so a LOT of stuff can potenially draw current simultaneously (stereo + TV + room lights + hot steam iron). In situations of high-use, I have blown the circuit breaker on my home's main panel, but never have tripped the breaker on the Monster-Power HTS 1000.

Comments or advice appreciated.

Mark

[gjs_cds]

Mark,

I hate saying this...but maybe there *is* something to some of these (Monster) AC filters.  I bought a b-stock Monster HTS 3500 just for the surge and on/off button.  I expected NO visual or sonic change--as cynical as I am.  But I was very surprised to see a "blacker" black on my tv.  No audible changes were noted.