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Bill Kane · 03-12-2002, 08:47 PM

WHAT IS A POWER OR LINE CONDITIONER/SURGE PROTECTOR?

Many people incorrectly describe these boxes as the same thing, but there's no argument that it's just good peace-of-mind insurance to use a SURGE SUPPRESSOR on our electronic gear.

Surge protectors alone -- virtually every one under $100 --DO NOTHING TO IMPROVE your sound and picture beyond an AC noise filter. They should be neutral, and, like a good physician, first do no harm to your listening signal.

We'll talk about "power conditioners" later.

Surge protectors range from $19 at an office supply store to hundreds of dollars. Ideally, these can act as more than just extra-plug power strips. Some feature outlets for high-current amplifiers and delayed power-on for monoblock amps; coax pass-thru terminals for CATV and satellite; plus telephone lines. Most $60-$350 surge protectors use MOVs (metal oxide varistors). These are designed to FAIL when taking a huge hit. They are sacrificial. But surge suppression ALSO may be cumulative, little ones each day, until a utility outage or electrical storm comes along. These high-voltage surges are of very short duration, but can peak to 5,000 volts or higher. Hundreds of these surges enter your home every day through the wiring. They can either burn out an electronic component instantly, or, more likely, gradually degrade its performance.

IF MOVs eventully blow and hopefully save the gear, these units can be returned for free replacement.

Consider your personal experience with your electric utility (rock steady, grid brownouts, daily flickers) and geographic-related storms (lightning prone), as well as how many components you have, when you decide on how large a surge protector you may need. TVs, satellite equipment, DSS systems, VCRs, DVD and CD players, stereo receivers and cable modems ALL need surge protection. Telephone lines (computer) and coax cables going into your equipment need to be surge-protected.

Monster consumer units use MOVs and the company has upgraded its 2001-2002 line. Panamax has a new 2001-2002 line that still use larger MOVs, and like the rest will clamp off overvoltages and undervoltges with "SurgeGate" circuits and hopefully keep working.
Tripplite,
AR and Belkin also are widely available under $80. Most of these units provide ~ 50dB EMI/RFI AC line noise filter, and call it a "line conditioner." In addition, people often regard the big-$$$ replacement warranty, but it's not a deal-maker; it may be a chore to collect and it may be required that one applies for homeowner insurance FIRST.

A common method to judge these plug-in units is by the Joule rating. The Joule rating of any MOV is a measure of the amount of energy it can absorb at one time without failing. Anything above 2,000 joules is regarded as good (edited for 2003).

Here's a link to How Stuff Works on Surge Suppression

If nothing else, buyers should only accept a surge protector that says it's "U.L. 1449 Listed." This standard cuts a lot of the hype away.

HERE is a link to some under-$100 units posted from AUG '02.

A totally different, non-MOV technology is used by Brickwall (an industrial company discovered five years ago by audiophiles, and whose business now is 50 percent audio sales). Units start at $149 2-outlet and range up to 10 outlets. The ADCOM 315 and 615 units ($250 and $395 MSRP) are 8-outlet models that license this technology.Furman offers a pro level unit (designed for entertainment industry) with 8 outlets with protection for power-line related transient voltage, noise and wiring faults, $399 MSRP. This non-MOV technology is termed Series Mode and currently is the highest level of surge/spike protection for those who need or want it.

Some amplifiers (aside from audio/video receivers) have their own built-in protection and should not be connected to anything beyond the wall outlet; the manufacturers typically provide this instruction.

Ultimately, one can add a WHOLE-HOUSE SURGE PROTECTOR as a first line of defense to protect every appliance in the home. HERE is an explainer from an Oregon power company. These units can go behind the electric meter or on the main breaker box.

But nothing will protect you from direct lightning strike.
If you are able, unplug your sensitive equipment, including satellite boxes, when electrical storms threaten your home.

Now, what is power conditioning and do I need it?

It depends. Ideally, we want a steady 120-volt to 117-volt pure sine wave electrical feed. But voltage will drop when adding more current draw, besides neighborhood power grid fluctuations. Audiophiles claim they can hear improved sound and see better picture quality from various power line conditioners, but in many cases, it takes high-end gear to detect it.

But I Read That Surge Suppressors May Limit Current
In some tests, when amps are DRIVEN HARD, the ability of the line filter and surge protectors to supply the needed power may diminish, blunting transients, compressing the bass, reducing dynamic range and blurring sonic images. If amps are not driven hard, then you likely won't have a problem. There are surge units that come with two high-current outlets designed to overcome "current limiting."

But I Read That I May Be Getting "Dirty Power"

In North America, the idea that there is something fundamentally flawed with AC power from the wall is overstated. Most AC power is fairly well regulated and generally free from noise. The power supplies in our equipment will filter any small noise spikes and bypass most RFI to ground. If power utility voltage is not constant, then buying a voltage regulator can make up for flucuations between 80V and 140V. These power conditioners that are voltage stabilizer/regulators are much more costly, and usually work independently of any surge suppressor.

There are other devices for "balanced power," something regular electricians often don't know about. They often are recommended for systems with persistent ground potential hums.

B-P-T is a big player. BPT units claim surge protection with two types in combination: MOV & Avalanche. Equi=Tech also is highly-evolved and far from budget-priced.
PS Audio , Richard Gray's Power Company and Tice Audio also sell specialized power conditioners.

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03-12-2002, 08:47 PM
Bill Kane Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Local Time: 12:41 PM Local Date: 07-04-2008 Posts: 1,532	WHAT IS A POWER OR LINE CONDITIONER/SURGE PROTECTOR? Many people incorrectly describe these boxes as the same thing, but there's no argument that it's just good peace-of-mind insurance to use a SURGE SUPPRESSOR on our electronic gear. Surge protectors alone -- virtually every one under $100 --DO NOTHING TO IMPROVE your sound and picture beyond an AC noise filter. They should be neutral, and, like a good physician, first do no harm to your listening signal. We'll talk about "power conditioners" later. Surge protectors range from $19 at an office supply store to hundreds of dollars. Ideally, these can act as more than just extra-plug power strips. Some feature outlets for high-current amplifiers and delayed power-on for monoblock amps; coax pass-thru terminals for CATV and satellite; plus telephone lines. Most $60-$350 surge protectors use MOVs (metal oxide varistors). These are designed to FAIL when taking a huge hit. They are sacrificial. But surge suppression ALSO may be cumulative, little ones each day, until a utility outage or electrical storm comes along. These high-voltage surges are of very short duration, but can peak to 5,000 volts or higher. Hundreds of these surges enter your home every day through the wiring. They can either burn out an electronic component instantly, or, more likely, gradually degrade its performance. IF MOVs eventully blow and hopefully save the gear, these units can be returned for free replacement. Consider your personal experience with your electric utility (rock steady, grid brownouts, daily flickers) and geographic-related storms (lightning prone), as well as how many components you have, when you decide on how large a surge protector you may need. TVs, satellite equipment, DSS systems, VCRs, DVD and CD players, stereo receivers and cable modems ALL need surge protection. Telephone lines (computer) and coax cables going into your equipment need to be surge-protected. Monster consumer units use MOVs and the company has upgraded its 2001-2002 line. Panamax has a new 2001-2002 line that still use larger MOVs, and like the rest will clamp off overvoltages and undervoltges with "SurgeGate" circuits and hopefully keep working. Tripplite, AR and Belkin also are widely available under $80. Most of these units provide ~ 50dB EMI/RFI AC line noise filter, and call it a "line conditioner." In addition, people often regard the big-$$$ replacement warranty, but it's not a deal-maker; it may be a chore to collect and it may be required that one applies for homeowner insurance FIRST. A common method to judge these plug-in units is by the Joule rating. The Joule rating of any MOV is a measure of the amount of energy it can absorb at one time without failing. Anything above 2,000 joules is regarded as good (edited for 2003). Here's a link to How Stuff Works on Surge Suppression If nothing else, buyers should only accept a surge protector that says it's "U.L. 1449 Listed." This standard cuts a lot of the hype away. HERE is a link to some under-$100 units posted from AUG '02. A totally different, non-MOV technology is used by Brickwall (an industrial company discovered five years ago by audiophiles, and whose business now is 50 percent audio sales). Units start at $149 2-outlet and range up to 10 outlets. The ADCOM 315 and 615 units ($250 and $395 MSRP) are 8-outlet models that license this technology.Furman offers a pro level unit (designed for entertainment industry) with 8 outlets with protection for power-line related transient voltage, noise and wiring faults, $399 MSRP. This non-MOV technology is termed Series Mode and currently is the highest level of surge/spike protection for those who need or want it. Some amplifiers (aside from audio/video receivers) have their own built-in protection and should not be connected to anything beyond the wall outlet; the manufacturers typically provide this instruction. Ultimately, one can add a WHOLE-HOUSE SURGE PROTECTOR as a first line of defense to protect every appliance in the home. HERE is an explainer from an Oregon power company. These units can go behind the electric meter or on the main breaker box. But nothing will protect you from direct lightning strike. If you are able, unplug your sensitive equipment, including satellite boxes, when electrical storms threaten your home. Now, what is power conditioning and do I need it? It depends. Ideally, we want a steady 120-volt to 117-volt pure sine wave electrical feed. But voltage will drop when adding more current draw, besides neighborhood power grid fluctuations. Audiophiles claim they can hear improved sound and see better picture quality from various power line conditioners, but in many cases, it takes high-end gear to detect it. But I Read That Surge Suppressors May Limit Current In some tests, when amps are DRIVEN HARD, the ability of the line filter and surge protectors to supply the needed power may diminish, blunting transients, compressing the bass, reducing dynamic range and blurring sonic images. If amps are not driven hard, then you likely won't have a problem. There are surge units that come with two high-current outlets designed to overcome "current limiting." But I Read That I May Be Getting "Dirty Power" In North America, the idea that there is something fundamentally flawed with AC power from the wall is overstated. Most AC power is fairly well regulated and generally free from noise. The power supplies in our equipment will filter any small noise spikes and bypass most RFI to ground. If power utility voltage is not constant, then buying a voltage regulator can make up for flucuations between 80V and 140V. These power conditioners that are voltage stabilizer/regulators are much more costly, and usually work independently of any surge suppressor. There are other devices for "balanced power," something regular electricians often don't know about. They often are recommended for systems with persistent ground potential hums. B-P-T is a big player. BPT units claim surge protection with two types in combination: MOV & Avalanche. Equi=Tech also is highly-evolved and far from budget-priced. PS Audio , Richard Gray's Power Company and Tice Audio also sell specialized power conditioners.