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How to surge protect a projector???

post #1 of 11
2/8/10 at 9:26am
Thread Starter 
Ok, so I am in the middle of my HT build and I have prewired power to the ceiling projector location.....  Only thing I got concerned about last night was....  how the heck do I surge protect the Projector.  I mean sure I have a surge protector in my rack for all my av equipment in the rack, but shoot nothing is protecting my prjector, and it is the most expensive piece of all.....

Ideas, suggestions, etc...

I am about to start drywalling so If I need to make a wiring change I need to make it now!

This was my only idea....  Run romex from my rack location to the ceiling outlet.  use an outlet box on the rack end of the wire run, and then splice a standard cord (a dishwaser cord to be precise) to the romex inside the junction box.  Then plug the cord into the surge protector in the rack.    Basically this would make the run to my ceiling projector act like an extension cord, but of course the romex is rated for in wall use whereas a normal extension cord would not be.

Not an electrician so are there flaws in this plan...  Is there a better way to protect my projector...  help!
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post #2 of 11
2/8/10 at 10:08am
Thread Starter 
Ok, so I browsed around some and found some in wall units, that mount in the recepticle box....  I like this idea much more than the idea of rigging up the above solution....  

I found in wall units by SCP (structured cable products), and Panamax.  The Panamax ones have some wiring requirements that are not entirely clear by their website to keep their warranty good.   Also the Panamax unit is a 2 gang, and the SCP one is a single gang.  Tripplite has a unit that fits right over the outlet, but it then projects out 2.5 inches.

Any thoughts on these solutions?
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post #3 of 11
2/8/10 at 10:45am
There are three options.  Panamax, Monster and others make a double gang in-box model.  It just wires up like a regular outlet.  Here is the Panamax model: http://www.panamax.com/Products/In-Wall/MIW-POWER-PRO-PFP.aspx

Panamax and Midlite also have a kit that lets you use your surge protector in your rack.  It is essentially is a long in-wall extension cord.  For this to work to need to run the projector outlet to a box behind your equipment.  It is not a "regular" outlet.  These kits are just as expensive as the in-wall models, so they only make sense if you are bought a high end power model for your equipment rack.  Its also nice because you know your PJ will be on the same phase as your other gear.  If you are dealing with a normally wired outlet where your PJ is this solution won't work.

The other solution is a small surface mount surge protector that is designed to fit behind wall mount TVs. 

The first two options are your best bet.
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post #4 of 11
2/8/10 at 11:33am
This should work for all but the most difficult power problems.  http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-Suppressor-Receptacle-Commercial-Specification/dp/B0006I33Y6 .  It's a Leviton duplex AC outlet.
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post #5 of 11
2/8/10 at 4:59pm
I know little about electronics, but when I mention this to my electrician when setting up my projector, he suggested a whole house surge protector which is attached directly to the box with my circuit breakers.
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post #6 of 11
2/8/10 at 8:14pm
Brian-
I was rushed when I replied to your post this morning.  The kit than I mention  essentially allows you to do what you want to do in your first post with running romex back to your surge protector.  It just looks a lot more polished and meets code, where your pigtail doesn't.  Here is a link to the Panamax solution: http://www.ramelectronics.net/manufacturers/panamax/panamax-miw-xt/prodMIWXT.html HTF members get free shipping if you use coupon code htffree.
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post #7 of 11
2/8/10 at 8:17pm
Craig-
I recommend a whole house surge protector, plus a high quality surge protector where your AV gear is.
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post #8 of 11
2/9/10 at 8:09am
Brian,
 
What your were originally planning is what I am doing in my own Theater that I am currently working on. I had a Pro Theater Design Company ($100 Charge to just make a diagram and check to set the best possible set up using my equipment. This was lucky I found someone for this price, but check in your area and call and ask what they would charge if your not already too far along.) come out and help with the speaker placements and wiring diagram of what I needed and where at. This helped in making sure I didn't make a mistake and leave a cord out as well as having no feedback in a line due to doing something I shouldn't have.

He advised me to run dedicated lines for the Subs and Projector. I did that by running 12-2 from their final locations back to my A/V room where i dead ended them in an standard electrical 2-gang wall box. I will then hook an SO cord cut to length for each line with a male end and plug them direcly into my power conditioner/ surge protector with my other components.

Good Luck,

 Chris


Edited by Sparks - 2/9/10 at 9:36pm
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post #9 of 11
2/16/10 at 8:42am
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone for the feedback.  Interesting that the pigtail method is not code (aka Adam's post) yet Sparks' Home theater people suggested exactly that.   weird...

I have all my AV equipment on one circuit, IE the outlets for the AV rack, projector, and sub.  So I'm not planning on rerunning any wire....  That and I just finished drywalling the ceiling so rerunning cable really isn't something I want to do. 

I have wanted a whole house surge protector for a while, so I think I will bite the bullet on that.  That combined with the in wall surge protector at the ceiling box will be enough for my piece of mind.  So that is going to be my plan, and it does prevent me from rewiring anything. 

Thanks again for the suggestions...
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post #10 of 11
2/16/10 at 9:45am

Quote:
I have wanted a whole house surge protector for a while, so I think I will bite the bullet on that.  That combined with the in wall surge protector at the ceiling box will be enough for my piece of mind.  So that is going to be my plan, and it does prevent me from rewiring anything. 
 

Nothing wrong with that, sounds like a good plan.  Have you considered posting pictures here so we can track your progress?
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post #11 of 11
3/1/10 at 4:39pm
That's good to know. Thanks for sharing.

Jess
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