So then, what's the concensus here, guys? Are the kinds of conditioners I am talking about -- that is, the typical Monsters, APCs etc. -- worth installing?
Let's go back. All electronics work normally even when incandescent bulbs change intensity by 50%. That is the job of its power supply. Make voltage variations (even that large) completely irrelevant. Meanwhile, surge protectors and power conditioners do nothing for that electrical anomaly.
Power conditioners. View the spec numbers. Most are nothing more than power strip protectors inside a more expensive box. Then the same circuit selling in a grocery store for $7 can be sold as a power conditioner for $hundreds.
Meanwhile, anything a power conditioner might do is already inside electronic supplies.
See that $7 power strip protector in the grocery store? Least responsible companies (ie Monster Cable) simply sell the same circuit in an expensive box for $150. Again, what does it do? Well it if provides effective surge protection, then each type of surge is listed with numbers that define protection from that surge. Monster, et al protectors only claim to protect from a surge made irrelevant by the design in electronic supplies. Anything that might work on its power cord must already be inside the supply.
UL1449 says nothing about power conditioning or surge protection. UL says nothing about transistor safety. UL is only about human safety. UL1449 says the protector should not spit sparks and flame when it fails. Protectors can even fail during UL1449 testing and be approved. Because UL is only about a protector not killing humans.
No protector is C62.41 approved. C62.41 is defines electrical waveforms. These waveforms are used during UL testing. No protector meets 'waveforms'. But least responsible protector manufacturers like to hype C62.41 and UL1449 as if waveforms and human safety testing means better surge protection.
Numerous electrical anomalies can exist. Electronics are required to be so robust that 'dirty' American electricity is ideal clean. When does electronics often see the most 'dirty' power? When a typical UPS is in battery backup mode. For example, this 120 volt UPS outputs two 200 volt square waves with a spike of up to 270 volts between those square waves. No AC utility will ever provide power that 'dirty'. And even that electricity is ideal acceptable to any electronics.
Purchasing a solution without first identifying the anomaly is how salesmen reap massive profits from the naive. Ie a $3 power strip with some ten cent protector parts and expensive paint for $150 - Monster Cable.
Do you have harmonic problems? EMI? Frequency variation? Low voltage? Utility switching noise? Excessive power factor variation?
How often are you replacing dimmer switches? Hourly? Daily? These electronic devices are some of the least robust. Notice how long the sales line in every hardware store to buy dimmer switches? Destructive anomalies are that infrequent. Your concern is a rare anomaly that may occur maybe once every seven years. That can vary significantly even in the same town. Rare and so severe as to overwhelm protection already inside appliances. A solution for about $1 per protected appliance. And not defined in anything previously discussed.
But again, what do you want to solve? You must answer that before buying a solution.
