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Surge Protector Question

post #1 of 6
1/12/07 at 1:17am
Thread Starter 
I'm sure there are special surge protectors made for home theater systems, though I have one designed for computers that has a 5-minute built in battery. Is there any reason why it might not be a good idea to connect my LCD TV and other audio/video components to this? Are there any features in surge protectors that are designed for home audio/video that this one might be lacking?

Thanks!!!
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post #2 of 6
1/14/07 at 1:35pm

Re: Surge Protector Question

Home theater components (especially receivers, amplifiers and powered subwoofers) generally draw more power than home computers will, thus surge protectors designed for home theater will generally have higher joule ratings (the level of protection provided against surges and spikes) and in the case of UPS (battery backup), larger batteries.

Your existing UPS would "work" with home theater, although the battery might last 30 seconds to a minute with a typical load consisting of amplifiers on a receiver, a subwoofer, TV and source components. If you think you need a UPS for your home theater, I've seen these guys range from $400 up to over $1,000.
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post #3 of 6
1/14/07 at 5:27pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Surge Protector Question

Is there really a reason to need a battery in case of power outage? With a computer it is to save files and shut the computer down, is there any similar reason to keep the power on with home theater equipment?
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post #4 of 6
1/15/07 at 12:51am

Re: Surge Protector Question

I wouldn't say that having a UPS for a home theater system is as crucial as it would be for a computer where you can lose vital data, although they can be lifesaver in the event of brownouts (which can be damaging to anything electronic).

If your budget allows, it doesn't hurt to have a UPS, but I would focus on a quality surge protector first that has a suitable level of protection (2,000 joules or better for a typical home theater system, perhaps 3,000+ for a high-end system).
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post #5 of 6
1/15/07 at 1:48pm

Re: Surge Protector Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan Welks
Is there really a reason to need a battery in case of power outage? With a computer it is to save files and shut the computer down, is there any similar reason to keep the power on with home theater equipment?

Yes. If you have a projection system, which also includes rear projection TVs, that rely on a bulb, such as DLP or LCD projection then it is nice to have a UPS in case of power failure. You can then run a normal shutdown which includes running the fan to cool the bulb.

Any equipment that runs a fan after shutdown for cooling could benefit from a UPS in a power failure.

To select one just check the power consumption of the unit (add them up for more than one) you want to protect. IE: my projector consumes 220watts. I would select a UPS that can deliver more than that (say 300 watts). I wouldn't get a UPS that can supply way more because I won't need it and it will just cost more.
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post #6 of 6
1/16/07 at 12:21pm

Re: Surge Protector Question

If you have high end equipment and you want to protect them, and make them sound better then ever, buy a Richard Gray line conditioner (RGlc). After the warm up period, a few weeks, you can hear how much cleaner and brighter your system will sound. I bought one for $650, with just four outlets on it.

The RGlc elevated my system, to the next level. If you have quality components, then look into buying one. You won't be disappointed.
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