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How to protect a 2.1 speaker system from power issues? - Page 2

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post #31 of 36

3/7/13 at 2:27pm

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161 Posts. Joined 7/2009
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Well, hopefully the Isobar will give me some protection. There are some reviews that say Isobars have protected equipment from lightning strikes. Here's one, "I have witnessed lightning storms that have literally blown sockets out of walls, and yet the equipment plugged into the Isobar has remained intact. Granted, some of the Isobars didn't fare as well as the equipment they protected, but they did their job."

post #32 of 36

3/7/13 at 3:38pm

FOH
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Quote:

Originally Posted by SAM64

Yes, No power supply, designed by a competent person, requires an external surge protector.

+1

Beginning back in post #2;

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOH

I'd reccomend series mode protection, if you want surge protection.

That said, Surge-X would be what I'd go with, with price in mind.
No, you don't need voltage regulation, no,.. the amps need no protection from brown outs.

A good dedicated circuit, ideally with an isolated ground, series mode protection ... sized so there's no current limiting. That's key here, as an improperly config'd scenarion could actually be worse.

The finest come from Torus. Their RM series is the best available, when price isn't an issue. But realistically, one must determine whatpower quality issues actually exist, and go from there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOH

Good luck, the Isobars stuff is likely the best of the non-series mode offerings. They will allow surges, but most gear doesn't really need any protection. I'm skeptical of anything not series mode in topology, hence the Surge-X suggestion. I'm guessing Nyal feels the same.

Yes, the Torus offerings are expensive, very expensive. But they're the finest iso/surge power components out there. That's why I said the Torus were the best, and I didn't know your budget for this item.
You're right, that's the best first step.

But I'd say "best" would be a tiered approach, begining ...like you suggested, at the meter/service, .. and ending up with a device at the point of use. A series mode device ideally.

I'd say the Isobar gear is just fine, and if one wants to employ them that's great.

post #33 of 36

3/7/13 at 3:43pm

4,161 Posts. Joined 8/2002
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Isobar surge protective devices are good. The MOVs are big enough they will last a very long time. They also incorporate sine wave tracking technology, which is really nothing more than a filter network, that reduces ring wave transients (the kind typically generated in the buidling) to very close to what series mode devices do. And they have low (lower is "better") UL voltage protection ratings for impulse transients (the kind that typically are generate outside the building). I have two Isobar Ultras I got used about ten years ago for $10 a piece that are still going strong. I don't use them to protect my AV gear. But they make great power strips that will take a beating because of the metal enclosure.

FWIW any surge protective device that dies is not doing its job. A MOV is not a sacrificial device.

post #34 of 36

3/7/13 at 3:52pm

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Thanks for the clarification. Seems like I should at least have something. The 20 amp Isobar seemed like a good choice considering cost and quality. If I feel like I need to graduate to a series mode protector I'll keep that in mind.

I'm wondering if it's really wise though, to plug amps directly into the wall. Maybe if this is what's recommended by the amp manufacturers, you should go for the whole house surge protector. Unfortunately, like I said I have a rental and I don't want to bug my landlord about this right now.

post #35 of 36

3/7/13 at 4:15pm