I need a recommendation on some type of power (surge) accessory for my equipment. When I bought my original A/V gear about 15 years ago I bought a Monster protector (like their Power Bars today). I'm presuming there's something better out there today in terms of cost/performance.

Here's what I have (posting it here as the DLP is my most expensive piece of equipment):

Mitsubishi WD-65833 DLP
Onkyo TX-SR605 A/V Receiver
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player
Tivo Series 3 w/ 2 Cable Cards
Sony VCR
Slingbox

As for cables and such, I'm using HDMI from the Tivo and DVD Player (separately of course) to the A/V Receiver to the TV. Also using component from the Tivo to a 2nd TV in another room. Coax into the Tivo box. Composite from Tivo to Slingbox. S-Video and RCA Audio from VCR to Receiver.

I'd appreciate a recommendation on how to best protect this equipment while minimizing any electrical interference.

Thanks.

http://www.visualapex.com/accessories/accessory_details.asp?Accessory_Type=Power_Accessories&chPartNumber=DC-SP6900J&MFR=Digicom

6900 Joules at a great price.

How important is it to have a UPS with a DLP?

I have owned the Power Blocker II for a year and it is the best.

KEY ITEMS:
*** Faster response time is more critical than number of joules.
*** All you want is for your unit to be disconnected from the harmful surge.

What follows is info I received from Power Sentry...which is owned by Fiskars:

The amount of transient (lightning) joules the Power Blocker II can absorb is about 900 joules. This number does not take into account the amount of joules that the Power Blocker II (PB2) switch is eliminating. The response time of the MOV components (the 900 joules part) is < 1 nanosecond. The response time of the PB2 switch is about 2 milliseconds. The way the Power Blocker II works is that the MOVs will clamp first and if the surge is of long duration, > 2 milliseconds, the PB2 switch will open and disconnect all possible electrical output paths. The way other surge protectors work is that the MOVs will clamp, and if the surge is of long duration, the MOVs will heat up and burnout a thermal sensitive fuse placed beside the MOVs. The heating and burnout time of the fuse is > 2 seconds, typically about 10-30 seconds.

Other surge protectors attempt to absorb all of the surge energy entering the protector even though it may be excessive and cause MOV degradation. The Power Blocker II detects when surge energy reaches a damaging level and disconnects all MOVs and equipment connections, thus interrupting the surge. Therefore its MOVs are much less likely to suffer degradation or "wear out". Because of this rapid disconnecting feature, which blocks any further surge energy, in effect the joules of energy attempting to enter the unit and equipment are unlimited because everything has been disconnected.

The MOVs are not degraded when the unit trips as described. Therefore the Power Blocker II should operate much longer than conventional surge protectors and will survive power company mistakes and wiring faults when others surge protectors will nearly always be destroyed. So far we have not received any Power Blocker II returns with a MOV failure.

How important is it to have a UPS with a DLP?

IME, very. This has been discussed in several threads, do a search for more info. I use an APC 500VA on the DLP and a Tivo - works great. A UPS is a better buy then some glorified breaker.

-Evan

IME, very. This has been discussed in several threads, do a search for more info. I use an APC 500VA on the DLP and a Tivo - works great. A UPS is a better buy then some glorified breaker.

-Evan
A glorified breaker does the job of disconnecting the equipment from harmful surges. Right? That is what MOV Joules does...where they stop surges from moving into the equipment. Just the MOVs are a physical trip versus a solid state trip.

A glorified breaker does the job of disconnecting the equipment from harmful surges. Right? That is what MOV Joules does...where they stop surges from moving into the equipment. Just the MOVs are a physical trip versus a solid state trip.

A battery backup provides that basic protection along with the ability to let the fan run on the set until it can cool off. You can also shut down the set and any other electronics properly before loss of power. If you value your bulb it's the way to go.

-Evan

A battery backup provides that basic protection along with the ability to let the fan run on the set until it can cool off. You can also shut down the set and any other electronics properly before loss of power. If you value your bulb it's the way to go.

-Evan
Again....MOV fuses take longer to burn out and disengage versus the Power Blocker. Long enough for your bulb along with the TV electronics to be fried.

Also...the Power Blocker is immediately resettable by pushing a button...which the tv owner can immediately go over to reset and have the fan blow to cool off the unit.

However....I have an Samsung HLT6187 LED DLP. I don't have to worry about bulbs.

Won't the bulb cool off regardless. I mean you obviosly dont want to have the power go off all the time and not have it cool down but once or twice surely wont hurt. twice at most.

Won't the bulb cool off regardless. I mean you obviosly dont want to have the power go off all the time and not have it cool down but once or twice surely wont hurt. twice at most.
I would think that cooling the bulb wouldn't hurt. And these guys with battery backups are going overkill. Again...if there is a surge and triggers the surge protector...all you need to do with the Power Blocker is to push a button to reset...and the fan will blow cool air once again.

http://www.visualapex.com/accessories/accessory_details.asp?Accessory_Type=Power_Accessories&chPartNumber=DC-SP6900J&MFR=Digicom

6900 Joules at a great price.

Is this a good one? Never heard of digicom.

What does everybody think of this one?
buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=203073190