[sueata1]

Hey guy's,,,need a little advice,,,,
I have the opportunity to use a Belkin Surge Protector/Battery Back-Up unit for my audio components..
I would use this for low power devices,,DAC, CD Player, Phase Invt., Pre-Amp etc....NO POWER AMPS...
I use all AVA stuff so I guess this is the best place to post,,,,
Question,,,does anybody use these Belkins on there stuff????  I think these are made for Computers,,phones etc,,,,It's pretty heavy about 35-40lbs,,,with 8 outlets.  Can't seem to find a model #.
Any advice Appreciated,,,
thanx a lot & Happy listening
Mel

[Wayner]

I hope you realize that a battery backup is really meant for a short term use. Of course, a computer may last quite awhile (if it's not number chrunching too much), but I don't think you're going to get hours and hours of play from a 2 channel system. The question I would have is what is the power consumption per hour rating supposed to be on the Belkin unit?

Wayner

[Big Red Machine]

Most HT guys use them to run their projector safely into turn-off mode, but unless you are in a high outage area, can't see much use for them.  I have no surge protection on my stereo system right now.  SOunds great.

[ArthurDent]

ditto what Wayner said. I use an APC UPS (un-interruptable power supply)/Battery backup on my work computer, and it even has software that allows you to set it's shutdown time. Depending on how many watts you have plugged into it, it can run for a while, at which point it will close any open programs per their or Mr Softie's requirements and turn off the machine per Mr Softie's rules. Not familiar with the Belkin, but if it's a similar unit they don't actually run the battery except on loss of power & are intended to be plugged in to maintain charge. They allow one time to save any work in progress, if you happen to be working during a storm, or someone levels the power pole down the road. But you may already know that.

If it is a UPS/Battery backup it's probably not what you really want. Not from experience, but from reading various posts here on the A/C and poking around the various mfgr's sites I believe Red Wine actually makes a standalone rechargeable battery power system designed for stereo use. Couldn't quote the specs, but might check them out if that is your intent.

[sueata1]

Thanx for all the answers,,,

I just really want to use this for Surge & Spike Protection,,,forget about the Backup,,,I can see where it would be great for computers.

Soooo with that being said Surge Protection ONLY,,,,, what ya think????

Mel

[Wayner]

I like Tripp-lite. We use them at work where we have a mix of digital and analog (signals) and this device also isolates each set of receptacles. There are many makes and models out there.

Wayner

[Tom Alverson]

Mel:

Most low cost UPS devices run right off the AC line until there is a failure and then switch over to the battery backup.   The only function they serve while the AC power is up is to provide surge protection (against very high voltage system damaging spikes - not minor fluctuations) and also some filtering of RF noise.

There are some fancier "UPS" like devices that are meant to stabilize line variations that either run the power through the UPS circuitry all the time (thus keeping the output voltage regulated) or some that use a special "ferro-resonant" transformer that provides some voltage regulation.  The "surge supression" will not help the audio performance at all, it just kicks in when the voltage jumps to dangerous levels to protect the equipment (lightning strike etc).  The RF filtering could help some audio equipment, but most "surge suppressors" and UPS devices have pretty minimal RF filtering in them.

Tom

[mark funk]

I use a Belkin 10 outlet and I think it is 20 amps surge suppressors for all my AVA stuff.

[sueata1]

thanx again guys,,,,
The reason I am considering this is that it looks like a Great Surge/Spike protector ++++
it's a $1500 unit that was given to me


Sooooo,,now would ya use it or just stick with the standard cheap 6 strip deals???
Mel

[Wayner]

Well, use it man! Just shut things down in a calm fashion after a power failure. Nice to have your computer on this system, but if you have a laptop, it will switch automatically to the battery.

Wayner