Bill Kane
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2001
- Messages
- 1,359
Overview of Budget Surge Protectors Under $100
Much buzz is out there over larger, rack-style, surge protection black boxes ranging to $700. For those whose needs are more modest with midsized systems, who are not exposed to constant electrical/lightning storm activity, and who benefit from reliable, constant voltage delivery from their public power utilities, smaller, sit-on-the-floor surge protectors can give adequate, peace-of-mind protection.
Here are several robust units, some of them of recent redesign, that appear to fill this less costly niche for users of mid-power receivers and other HT components and with various cable tv or satellite systems. All use the standard MOV (metal oxide varistor) coils. The only flash on these units are the diagnostic LED lights.
Hints: Look for UL 1449 Listing and higher Spike amperage capacity (over Joule Single Spike Dissipation numbers. See Why).
Note: Panamax Max Series is higher design than Powermax 8 Series. Tip: Look for the new all white series with "SurgeGate Plus."
Panamax Max8 DBS +5 ($149.95 MSRP; or $74.99 at Link Removed
Outlets – 8 (4 always on, 4 switched)
Accommodates two satellite system receivers
Two Sat Coax lines - Clamping level of 27V
Two Antenna/Cabletv lines – Clamping level of 0.7V
Single Phone Jack pass-thru for pay-for-view
UL 1449 Listing for 330V surge Clamping Level
Spike Capacity - 52,000A
Undervoltage (brownout) Overvoltage protection circuit- 78V/147V
RF/EMI line noise filter
15A 1800-watt capacity
Hard plastic chassis
Warranty - $5 million connected equipment protection policy. Expanded 3-year or 5-year warranty for LNB and DBS receiver.
Panamax Max8 COAX ($89.95 MSRP; $79 at discountpanamax.com)
Outlets - 8 as above
One cabletv line at 0.7V clamping
Under/Over voltage protection 78V/147V
Joule Rating 1650
Surge Clamping 330V and Spike capacity 52,000A
UL 1449 Listing
15A 1800-watt
$5 million connected equipment policy
Panamax Powermax8 COAX ($49.95 MSRP)
One cable line
Specs same as DBS+3
No undervoltage circuit
UL 1449 Listing
$100,000 connected equipment policy
TrippLite ISOBAR6 DBS ($77.50 at partsexpress.com) Click for picture
Outlets – 6
One Satellite line
One Antenna/Cabletv line; Clamping voltage both lines 7.5V
Single phone line jack
UL 1449 Listed Clamping voltage 330V
Surge current capacity – 92,000A
Joule Rating 2850
No undervoltage circuit
RF/EMI line noise filter
Power On/Off switch
Aluminum chassis
Warranty - $50,000 lifetime equipment coverage. Product Replacement – Lifetime.
Belkin SurgeMaster Gold F9G933-10 ($67.99 MSRP and under $40 online)
Outlets – 9
Specifies Projection TV capable
One Satellite coax
One Antenna/Cabletv line
One phone line
UL 1449 Listed 330V clamping
Joule rating 2950
Spike current capacity 150,000A
RF/EMI line noise filter
No undervoltage circuit
Lifetime Unlimited Connected Equipment Warranty
Here's a newer more hefty Belkin for $119 MSRP AV Pro
MonsterPower HTS850 ($129.95 MSRP; or $109.99 at discountpanamax.com)
Outlets – 8
Two coax connections for mixed sat/cable/antenna
Single phone jack line
Joule Rating 2590
Surge Clamping voltage 330V
Coax cable clamping 75V
RF/EMI “Stage 1” AC line noise filter
Audible alarm for surges plus status lights
No undervoltage circuit
No specified UL Listing
15A, 1800-watt capacity
$150,000 connected equipment warranty
Much buzz is out there over larger, rack-style, surge protection black boxes ranging to $700. For those whose needs are more modest with midsized systems, who are not exposed to constant electrical/lightning storm activity, and who benefit from reliable, constant voltage delivery from their public power utilities, smaller, sit-on-the-floor surge protectors can give adequate, peace-of-mind protection.
Here are several robust units, some of them of recent redesign, that appear to fill this less costly niche for users of mid-power receivers and other HT components and with various cable tv or satellite systems. All use the standard MOV (metal oxide varistor) coils. The only flash on these units are the diagnostic LED lights.
Hints: Look for UL 1449 Listing and higher Spike amperage capacity (over Joule Single Spike Dissipation numbers. See Why).
Note: Panamax Max Series is higher design than Powermax 8 Series. Tip: Look for the new all white series with "SurgeGate Plus."
Panamax Max8 DBS +5 ($149.95 MSRP; or $74.99 at Link Removed
Outlets – 8 (4 always on, 4 switched)
Accommodates two satellite system receivers
Two Sat Coax lines - Clamping level of 27V
Two Antenna/Cabletv lines – Clamping level of 0.7V
Single Phone Jack pass-thru for pay-for-view
UL 1449 Listing for 330V surge Clamping Level
Spike Capacity - 52,000A
Undervoltage (brownout) Overvoltage protection circuit- 78V/147V
RF/EMI line noise filter
15A 1800-watt capacity
Hard plastic chassis
Warranty - $5 million connected equipment protection policy. Expanded 3-year or 5-year warranty for LNB and DBS receiver.
Panamax Max8 COAX ($89.95 MSRP; $79 at discountpanamax.com)
Outlets - 8 as above
One cabletv line at 0.7V clamping
Under/Over voltage protection 78V/147V
Joule Rating 1650
Surge Clamping 330V and Spike capacity 52,000A
UL 1449 Listing
15A 1800-watt
$5 million connected equipment policy
Panamax Powermax8 COAX ($49.95 MSRP)
One cable line
Specs same as DBS+3
No undervoltage circuit
UL 1449 Listing
$100,000 connected equipment policy
TrippLite ISOBAR6 DBS ($77.50 at partsexpress.com) Click for picture
Outlets – 6
One Satellite line
One Antenna/Cabletv line; Clamping voltage both lines 7.5V
Single phone line jack
UL 1449 Listed Clamping voltage 330V
Surge current capacity – 92,000A
Joule Rating 2850
No undervoltage circuit
RF/EMI line noise filter
Power On/Off switch
Aluminum chassis
Warranty - $50,000 lifetime equipment coverage. Product Replacement – Lifetime.
Belkin SurgeMaster Gold F9G933-10 ($67.99 MSRP and under $40 online)
Outlets – 9
Specifies Projection TV capable
One Satellite coax
One Antenna/Cabletv line
One phone line
UL 1449 Listed 330V clamping
Joule rating 2950
Spike current capacity 150,000A
RF/EMI line noise filter
No undervoltage circuit
Lifetime Unlimited Connected Equipment Warranty
Here's a newer more hefty Belkin for $119 MSRP AV Pro
MonsterPower HTS850 ($129.95 MSRP; or $109.99 at discountpanamax.com)
Outlets – 8
Two coax connections for mixed sat/cable/antenna
Single phone jack line
Joule Rating 2590
Surge Clamping voltage 330V
Coax cable clamping 75V
RF/EMI “Stage 1” AC line noise filter
Audible alarm for surges plus status lights
No undervoltage circuit
No specified UL Listing
15A, 1800-watt capacity
$150,000 connected equipment warranty