Power conditioners

[Stayne]

I just purchased an MRX 740 8K from Anthem and I will protect my receiver from sudden electrical surges. My question: Is a power conditioner with surge protection necessary or is a surge protector enough? I know that power conditioners are supposed to clean up the electrical supply but do those of you who use power conditioners hear or see a difference?

 

[TLS Guy]

I just purchased an MRX 740 8K from Anthem and I will protect my receiver from sudden electrical surges. My question: Is a power conditioner with surge protection necessary or is a surge protector enough? I know that power conditioners are supposed to clean up the electrical supply but do those of you who use power conditioners hear or see a difference?

You have a receiver, so protection options will be limited to surge protection, which is what you really need anyway. This is NEC (National Electrical Code) since 2024 for new construction and remodels. So NEC is SPD1 surge protector at the entry of your electric service, and SPD2 in any panels you have. So if you should have two panels you need a surge protector in each. If you happen to have solar panels then you need an SPD2 surge protector at the combiner. After that do not use surge protectors between units and the AC outlet. They will make matters worse, and they are next to useless anyway. So my strong recommendation for you is to have an electrician bring your home up to 2024 NEC.

As a bonus this protects all your appliances, furnaces, TVs even light bulbs now. Practically everything in your home contains microprocessors. Even your light bulbs have fragile ICs in them. I have spoken to two electricians who have both been to homes within the last year, that have had total wipe outs of practically every electrical device in the home after severe thunderstorms. With climate change these are getting worse and more frequent everywhere.

 

[trochetier]

Ditto to TLS guy's comments. I would suggest installing a surge protector with high surge current rating 100 to 140kA. Specially if thunder storms are frequent where you are. I am told 140kA units are common in FL. Some come with an audible alarm if/when the surge protector dies.

 

[Stayne]

I see how this is a great solution. How much do you think it would cost to install the necessary equipment to bring a one panel electrical system to 2024 NEC.

 

[Bernie Williams]

You have a receiver, so protection options will be limited to surge protection, which is what you really need anyway. This is NEC (National Electrical Code) since 2024 for new construction and remodels. So NEC is SPD1 surge protector at the entry of your electric service, and SPD2 in any panels you have. So if you should have two panels you need a surge protector in each. If you happen to have solar panels then you need an SPD2 surge protector at the combiner. After that do not use surge protectors between units and the AC outlet. They will make matters worse, and they are next to useless anyway. So my strong recommendation for you is to have an electrician bring your home up to 2024 NEC.

As a bonus this protects all your appliances, furnaces, TVs even light bulbs now. Practically everything in your home contains microprocessors. Even your light bulbs have fragile ICs in them. I have spoken to two electricians who have both been to homes within the last year, that have had total wipe outs of practically every electrical device in the home after severe thunderstorms. With climate change these are getting worse and more frequent everywhere.

I had a whole house surge protection system installed probably 20 years ago. Per your comment what is the problem with intalling surge protectors with multiple outlets between the AC outlet and the units. Its about the only way I could plug everything in is to use a surge protector.

 

[TLS Guy]

I see how this is a great solution. How much do you think it would cost to install the necessary equipment to bring a one panel electrical system to 2024 NEC.

You want quality units. There is a lot of junk out there.

This is a quality SPD1 unit.

This is a quality SPD2 unit.

Then the cost would be what your electrician would charge to install the two units. I would allow travel plus no more than an hour time on the job. An hourly rate is typically about $100.00 per hour. Don't let the guy fob you off with cheap junk.

 

[TLS Guy]

I had a whole house surge protection system installed probably 20 years ago. Per your comment what is the problem with intalling surge protectors with multiple outlets between the AC outlet and the units. Its about the only way I could plug everything in is to use a surge protector.

First of all after 20 years those units should be replaced.

Next the issue is that these units use inductors and capacitors and you have to have only the right units at the right place, or you can get and likely will adverse interactions. So you don't want surge protectors, like you are using as that can make the situation worse. Power strips without surge protection are readily available.