Changed set-up....o.k. to plug plasma straight into socket?

[TLS Guy]

Use a high quality surge protector.

Ignore the "dirty power" BS.

Dirty power is not BS. I have had some very dirty and uneven power this winter that surge protectors, and good ones were useless for in my little fist floor level system.

I have equipment to LOOK at the mains AC wave and actually measure the distortion of the wave.

I also have had UPS systems in my studio since building it, and put one in the the first floor system after multiple incidences of equipment failure this winter.

I have had to have the power company change transformers to get my distortion in the acceptable range. Even now it can get over the 5% spec.

Even when the load on the grid is down and there has been no severe whether, my UPS systems have been cutting in regularly to protect my system.

Now the audiophile loony set have said cleaning power makes their systems sound better. This is the BS part.

The problem is this rapid deterioration of America's grid causes a lot of excess equipment failure. Especially modern equipment with microprocessor control.

Now surge protectors are of no or limited value. Everyone thinks that it is just spikes that are dangerous to equipment health. Well I can tell you sags do as much damage, and so do voltage fluctuations. I have a feeling a lot of failures can be blamed on voltage sags

There was a good paper in Audio x-press within the last year with hard data showing how bad America's power is getting. If you don't have equipment to look at and measure what is going on you are taking a lot on faith.

Common problems are transformer overload, producing a wave that is nothing like a sine wave because of hysteresis distortion from transformer core overload. Inadequate filtration of the distortion caused by nonlinear loads in the substations. Inadequate neutral capacity in the grid, as non linear loads applied, by us the end users rise.

These problems will be maximal in the northern states in the winter and in the southern states in the summer.

I have recommended online smart UPS systems to power your expensive gear many times in these forums. These will clean your power a little, and most of all switch to battery and the inverted in 2ms or less if there is a rise and fall in voltage out of spec. My low voltage point is set at 109 Volts.

These systems are well worth the investment and make equipment failure much less likely.

I have been appalled at what I have found out within the last six months

 

[Seth=L]

I second the Pananamax recommendation.

Eagles, I was talking about power strips with surge protectors, but it looks like you are wanting something smaller. I couldn't find high rating small ones like you are looking for, but the Panamax seem to be the best rated so far. I would probably jump all over the Pananamax Max 2.

 

[majorloser]

Power Surges and Brown Outs

Actually you'll find the problem is "year round".

During the seasons of lower demands is when the power companies take generators and plants off-line for repairs and maintenance. Summer time up North and winter time down South. This is what happened this year in Florida when over 4,000,000 customers were without power. Many facilities were off-line for maintenance and there was a big surge shutting down one of our largest nuclear plant.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/26/florida.power/index.html

The term "dirty power" is really BS. You either have surges or dips (brown outs). Both are very common. Most older homes will create their own "brown out" problems. Lights dimming when an appliance come on is a good sign of problems. You can also have problems with frequency from the power company. Not much you can do about that problem (that's cheap).

Buying a good quality UPS with auto voltage regulation (AVR) is a good investment toward protecting your equipment. Consider it a cheap insurance policy.

I've had my television and receiver fry when living in an apartment. Everybody else's cheap crap survived since my equipment took the surge.
Oh, and I'll bet you'll find in your renters insurance it's classified as an "Act of God". NOT COVERED

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Dirty power is not BS. I have had some very dirty and uneven power this winter that surge protectors, and good ones were useless for in my little fist floor level system.

I have equipment to LOOK at the mains AC wave and actually measure the distortion of the wave.

I also have had UPS systems in my studio since building it, and put one in the the first floor system after multiple incidences of equipment failure this winter.

I have had to have the power company change transformers to get my distortion in the acceptable range. Even now it can get over the 5% spec.

Even when the load on the grid is down and there has been no severe whether, my UPS systems have been cutting in regularly to protect my system.

Now the audiophile loony set have said cleaning power makes their systems sound better. This is the BS part.

The problem is this rapid deterioration of America's grid causes a lot of excess equipment failure. Especially modern equipment with microprocessor control.

Now surge protectors are of no or limited value. Everyone thinks that it is just spikes that are dangerous to equipment health. Well I can tell you sags do as much damage, and so do voltage fluctuations. I have a feeling a lot of failures can be blamed on voltage sags

There was a good paper in Audio x-press within the last year with hard data showing how bad America's power is getting. If you don't have equipment to look at and measure what is going on you are taking a lot on faith.

Common problems are transformer overload, producing a wave that is nothing like a sine wave because of hysteresis distortion from transformer core overload. Inadequate filtration of the distortion caused by nonlinear loads in the substations. Inadequate neutral capacity in the grid, as non linear loads applied, by us the end users rise.

These problems will be maximal in the northern states in the winter and in the southern states in the summer.

I have recommended online smart UPS systems to power your expensive gear many times in these forums. These will clean your power a little, and most of all switch to battery and the inverted in 2ms or less if there is a rise and fall in voltage out of spec. My low voltage point is set at 109 Volts.

These systems are well worth the investment and make equipment failure much less likely.

I have been appalled at what I have found out within the last six months

But if I haven't lost one piece of electronic gear in the past seven years, let alone the two in my current residence.
So I don't really need a Voltage Regulator or line conditioner, correct?

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I second the Pananamax recommendation.

Eagles, I was talking about power strips with surge protectors, but it looks like you are wanting something smaller. I couldn't find high rating small ones like you are looking for, but the Panamax seem to be the best rated so far. I would probably jump all over the Pananamax Max 2.

Those do look good, but at $40 each(realized I need one for my seperate location sub as well just to be extra safe) should I look at something a little more with maybe more Joules protection and maybe more features?

By the way, thanks so much guys!

 

[TLS Guy]

But if I haven't lost one piece of electronic gear in the past seven years, let alone the two in my current residence.
So I don't really need a Voltage Regulator or line conditioner, correct?

I certainly would not rely on that line of reasoning. There has been serious underfunding of maintenance and improvements to America's grid. Non linear loads increase by the month.

I would say it is only a matter of time you do loose a piece of equipment from inadequate power protection.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Isn't that just conjecture?
If I was going to buy those pieces of gear, I would put them with my rack and my plasma will no longer be connected to my rack. It will be by itself.
So I would have to buy 2 Voltage Regulator's and 2 Line Conditioners.

It's too bad extension cords are a no-no, as I could run the display to the rack in the closet.

 

[Rickster71]

Most surges occur when devices with motors - hair dryers, refrigerators, water pumps - shut off. Suddenly the energy these devices were consuming is diverted elsewhere in the form of excess voltage. Surges also happen when the electric company switches power from one geographic area of the grid to another, as supply and demand in the region changes. Thunderstorms and lightening are the most dramatic and destructive causes of power line problems. We don't have to be the victim of a direct strike. High voltage spikes can be induced in wiring and travel great distances.

Only 40% of surge problems are generated outside the home or office by events such as lightening, utility grid switching, line slapping, etc. 60% of all electrical surges or transient voltage is generated within the home or office. Surges are caused by elevators, air conditioners, vending machines, copiers, large computers, even lights turning on and off will cause rushes of power and transient voltages back up the line.

Computerized appliances and electronics can be damaged or destroyed by over-voltage surges or spikes. This includes computer equipment and peripherals; electronic equipment such as stereos, TVs and VCRs; household appliances including washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwave ovens, food processors, blenders;(you get the idea) and other electronic devices such as fax machines, telephones, and answering machines. Any electronic device that contains a microprocessor is susceptible to damage from transient voltages.

 

[TLS Guy]

Isn't that just conjecture?
If I was going to buy those pieces of gear, I would put them with my rack and my plasma will no longer be connected to my rack. It will be by itself.
So I would have to buy 2 Voltage Regulator's and 2 Line Conditioners.

It's too bad extension cords are a no-no, as I could run the display to the rack in the closet.

Can you run the cable in the wall? I run the power to my TV from the UPS in the first equipment rack, in conduit.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Nope, unfortunately I'm in renting the home.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Most surges occur when devices with motors - hair dryers, refrigerators, water pumps - shut off. Suddenly the energy these devices were consuming is diverted elsewhere in the form of excess voltage. Surges also happen when the electric company switches power from one geographic area of the grid to another, as supply and demand in the region changes. Thunderstorms and lightening are the most dramatic and destructive causes of power line problems. We don't have to be the victim of a direct strike. High voltage spikes can be induced in wiring and travel great distances.

Only 40% of surge problems are generated outside the home or office by events such as lightening, utility grid switching, line slapping, etc. 60% of all electrical surges or transient voltage is generated within the home or office. Surges are caused by elevators, air conditioners, vending machines, copiers, large computers, even lights turning on and off will cause rushes of power and transient voltages back up the line.

Computerized appliances and electronics can be damaged or destroyed by over-voltage surges or spikes. This includes computer equipment and peripherals; electronic equipment such as stereos, TVs and VCRs; household appliances including washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwave ovens, food processors, blenders;(you get the idea) and other electronic devices such as fax machines, telephones, and answering machines. Any electronic device that contains a microprocessor is susceptible to damage from transient voltages.

That is one concern.
My fridge, washer/dryer, water heater/pump have no effect at all, but when I start up my vacuum cleaner the lights flicker, I notice nothing from my entertainment set-up though.(which does have a surge protector on it)
Does that mean I have 'serious' issues?