[MGLDyson]

Hello folks,

I've got a friend who has just built a new house outside of a larger city.  He will be buying a new HDTV and wants to protect his investment.  Is a more expensive power conditioner necessary?  I know someone (living in an older subdivision) who bought a PS Audio Duet for their HDTV.  My friend with the new home is looking at something a lot cheaper, around 50 USD:

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=LE1200

So, should my friend invest in something more expensive, like the PS Audio Duet, for their TV or will something cheaper, like the APC, be sufficient when it comes to protection alone?

Thanks

[mgalusha]

If all he wants is good surge protection something like the Tripp Lite Isobar will work well. They give it a much higher Joule (surge energy protection) rating than the APC unit but it doesn't provide voltage regulation.

Edit: forgot to mention, the list is $99 but you can get it for about 1/2 that.

[richidoo]

Power conditioning is improving the quality of power by removing noise from the 60Hz AC. This makes the gear perform better, but not necessarily any safer from surge. Most videophile quality power conditioners also have surge protection.

A dedicated surge protector doesn't filter the noise, it only protects against overvoltage. Brickwall is a great brand of surge protector.

Consider a UPS if you have a DVR. It prevents the DVR computer from having to reboot after a 2 second outage which is bad for the DVR and interupts recordings unnecessarily. APS is a good brand for UPS.
Rich

[Big Red Machine]

Power conditioning is improving the quality of power by removing noise from the 60Hz AC. This makes the gear perform better, but not necessarily any safer from surge. Most videophile quality power conditioners also have surge protection.

A dedicated surge protector doesn't filter the noise, it only protects against overvoltage. Brickwall is a great brand of surge protector.

Consider a UPS if you have a DVR. It prevents the DVR computer from having to reboot after a 2 second outage which is bad for the DVR and interupts recordings unnecessarily. APS is a good brand for UPS.
Rich

Perfectly summarized.

And avoid the PS Audio stuff.  Every piece I have ever used restricted the top end.

[MGLDyson]

Thanks for the replies, so far, guys. 

I don't think my friend will be so much concerned with audio as he is with just keeping TV safe.  I've heard one of the reasons for tv's malfunctioning is the power source, i.e., over- under-voltage and that conditioners should help protect against such things.  And, thus, extend the life of the equipment.

Feel free to add to or take from this...

[PhilNYC]

If all he wants is good surge protection something like the Tripp Lite Isobar will work well. They give it a much higher Joule (surge energy protection) rating than the APC unit but it doesn't provide voltage regulation.

Edit: forgot to mention, the list is $99 but you can get it for about 1/2 that.

And both Tripplite and APC offer insurance for equipment plugged into their units....

[JLM]

If its not too late...

When we built 3 years ago, we had a whole house surge protector added between the electrical service line and the panel.  Its about 4 inches by 12 inches from square D.

While the TV is probably the most expensive device/applicance in the house, it might surprise you how much all the appliances plus devices add up to in your house and how often lightning "visits".

[WGH]

During the monsoon season in Tucson we can get thunderstorms every day for 2 months so a surge protector is a necessity. I have all my equipment plugged into a Pamamax 5410.

Surges can get into equipment many more ways than just the electrical grid. Phones lines are a favorite path, computer modems are commonly fried, along with your satellite dish, outdoor FM and HDTV antennas, and the digital cable.

The Panamax 5410 has inputs for all these lines along with noise filtering (2 levels), high current outlets for amps and powered subs, and even a USB port for a LED light.

Wayne