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.

 

[Speedskater]

There are 3 common types of 'whole house protection systems:
1] you can rent a unit from the power company, that they install in the meter.
2] units that install in the main breaker box, like a circuit breaker.
3] high-tech (& low-tech) units that install next to the main breaker box. Some of these units can text you if they have a problem.

Our 10 Best Whole House Surge Protection – 2025’s Top Winners

Easily compare & choose from the 10 best Whole House Surge Protection for you. Don't buy a Whole House Surge Protection in the US before reading our rankings | BestProductsReviews.com

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These Are Our Favorite Whole-House Surge Protectors Based on Our Research and Expertise

Extreme weather and voltage fluctuation are common causes of power outages. View our top picks for the best whole house surge protectors.

www.bobvila.com

The Best Whole House Surge Protectors [2022]

Throw your power bar in the trash! The best whole house surge protector offers features that you can't find on any power strip. Here's how...

shedheads.net

 

[highfigh]

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.

The point of whole house protection is to stop surges coming from outside but protection is still needed for surges and spikes that are caused by motors starting, light switches and other devices that can cause them. Putting multiple surge protectors in various places can help, but not to the extent of whole-house protection.

No surge protection will last forever- at some point, they WILL fail to do their job and some are actually sacrificial anyway, so that has to enter the picture when considering which one(s) to buy.

 

[trochetier]

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.

Yes, Agree. I just didn't want to name those in my post.

 

[trochetier]

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.

Depends on what is the going rate for electricians in your area. Call around to a few to get an idea.

The point of whole house protection is to stop surges coming from outside but protection is still needed for surges and spikes that are caused by motors starting, light switches and other devices that can cause them. Putting multiple surge protectors in various places can help, but not to the extent of whole-house protection.

No surge protection will last forever- at some point, they WILL fail to do their job and some are actually sacrificial anyway, so that has to enter the picture when considering which one(s) to buy.

I am using 2700 joule surge suppressing wide spaced outlet power strips in addition to the panel mounted surge protector. I need to plug in the receiver, power amp, TT, tape deck anyway. Similarly, the printer, computer, monitor in my study.

 

[mono-bloc]

You see it advertised all the time Four outlet power strip with surge protection, All this protection for a small amount of money.. Lucky You

The truth is . most of them are rubbish, You get a full on Lighting Strike and nothing but noting will save your items that are plugged into your
super duppa surge un'protecter or power conditioner . The only real way to protect everything is to pull the plugs, from the wall socket.

 

[highfigh]

I am using 2700 joule surge suppressing wide spaced outlet power strips in addition to the panel mounted surge protector. I need to plug in the receiver, power amp, TT, tape deck anyway. Similarly, the printer, computer, monitor in my study.

What does wide spacing do for you, aside from making it easier to plug in wall warts?

 

[trochetier]

What does wide spacing do for you, aside from making it easier to plug in wall warts?

Exactly makes it easier to plug-in the wall warts. Also, I have one three prong plug whose wire comes out sideways at an weird angle it occupies one of the wider spaced outlets.

 

[trochetier]

You see it advertised all the time Four outlet power strip with surge protection, All this protection for a small amount of money.. Lucky You

The truth is . most of them are rubbish, You get a full on Lighting Strike and nothing but noting will save your items that are plugged into your
super duppa surge un'protecter or power conditioner . The only real way to protect everything is to pull the plugs, from the wall socket.

Even easier, cut the power at main panel. Protects everything electrical in the house.

 

[highfigh]

Exactly makes it easier to plug-in the wall warts. Also, I have one three prong plug whose wire comes out sideways at an weird angle it occupies one of the wider spaced outlets.

In cases like this, it's standard practice for installation contractors who aren't using a wide-spaced power strip to add a small, unprotected strip to plug in the wall warts- it uses one outlet on the surge protector and the total current on that strip isn't enough to cause problems. It's more suitable inside of a rack, but it can be done anywhere.

Wall warts are a PITA when the tabs are parallel to the ends of a longer rectangle, rather than the long sides. If I had a choice, the wart would be square and taller, so it could be used in ANY power strip r surge protector.

 

[highfigh]

Even easier, cut the power at main panel. Protects everything electrical in the house.

Whole house is now code and it should have been years ago, but the surges/spikes from devices inside of the building can cause damage, too. For this reason, best practice is to use whole house AND smaller strips at the AV system(s) and end components that are sensitive.

However, lightning doesn't need to strike the house/wires directly, just coming close can kill equipment and start fires. The immense voltage can induce current that's far more than anything can handle and the surge protection needs to be sacrificial in order to help. I received a trouble call form one of my customers a few months ago- the AV system in their family room lost power and when I arrived, I found that the surge protection in the cabinet had gone to meet its maker.

Their house has whole house AND local protection and along with the whole house unit that's mounted on the breaker panel (blinking lights), that one happened to be the only other one affected by lightning that struck a tree next to the house, within15' of the pole with the power cables and CableTV/phone lines that were then buried before they entered the garage and continued to the basement where the breaker panel and low voltage distribution are located. Once I replaced the surge protection, everything works. Not bad for a 14 year old installation.

 

[highfigh]

Even easier, cut the power at main panel. Protects everything electrical in the house.

Whole house protectors re-route large surges, they usually don't cut power to the main breaker. Nothing is going to stop a direct strike to the power wiring on the house unless you consider connection and device failure at the connecting points.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

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.

Mark, your first link (spd1) points to an SPD2 (not spd1) device, and the second link is broken.
Here are SPD Type 1 devices:

Type 1 Surge Protective Devices | Surge Protection Depot

Type 1 Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) are mounted on the line side of the main electric service entrance panel (between the utility pole and where the electricity enters the service panel), as well as the load side.

www.spd-depot.com

and here are SPD Type 2 devices:

Type 2 Surge Protective Devices | Surge Protection Depot

Type 2 Surge Protective Panels are mounted to the load side of an electric service panel and protect against residual external power disturbances as well as internally generated power surges, such as those caused by the OFF/ON switching of pumps or motors.

www.spd-depot.com

You probably should consult an electrician (or even better two) to see which one your home needs.
and here some high-level overview of what is spd and its types:

Surge Protection Overview

FAQs about power surges and protective devices to protect your operations and equipment

www.spd-depot.com

The bottom line is devices like Powerstrips and MRX 740 8K you mentioned are level 3. The latter is unnecessarily expensive and only protects a small subset of electronic devices in your home. Install whole house protection and you'll spend your money more wisely and with long-term benefits.

 

[TLS Guy]

Mark, your first link (spd1) points to an SPD2 (not spd1) device, and the second link is broken.
Here are SPD Type 1 devices:

Type 1 Surge Protective Devices | Surge Protection Depot

Type 1 Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) are mounted on the line side of the main electric service entrance panel (between the utility pole and where the electricity enters the service panel), as well as the load side.

www.spd-depot.com

and here are SPD Type 2 devices:

Type 2 Surge Protective Devices | Surge Protection Depot

Type 2 Surge Protective Panels are mounted to the load side of an electric service panel and protect against residual external power disturbances as well as internally generated power surges, such as those caused by the OFF/ON switching of pumps or motors.

www.spd-depot.com

You probably should consult an electrician (or even better two) to see which one your home needs.
and here some high-level overview of what is spd and its types:

Surge Protection Overview

FAQs about power surges and protective devices to protect your operations and equipment

www.spd-depot.com

The bottom line is devices like Powerstrips and MRX 740 8K you mentioned are level 3. The latter is unnecessarily expensive and only protects a small subset of electronic devices in your home. Install whole house protection and you'll spend your money more wisely and with long-term benefits.

Thanks for that. I really messed up those links.

The thing is this is something all members need to attend to before spring. This not just for their AV gear, but for practically everything else in their homes!