Power Conditioner/Surge Protector

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rbutchie
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2012/02/25 07:38:52 (permalink)

Power Conditioner/Surge Protector

Any Recomendations on a good Power Conditioner/Surge Protector?
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    slartabartfast
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    Re:Power Conditioner/Surge Protector 2012/02/26 00:41:38 (permalink)
    A power conditioner and a surge protector are two quite different animals.
     
    A surge protector is designed to clamp off a major power surge if a line crosses or lightning strikes the line etc. before your connected equipment fries. A conditioner eliminates minor spikes and voltage fluctuations. A UPS  provides sustained power if your connection to the grid fails for long enough to shut down the computer without losing your work. Most UPS units include  surge protector circuits, but very few can be called power conditioners.
     
    If you have power company current connected in the USA you probably do not need much conditioning, unless your lights flicker when a truck goes by on the dirt road out front. Actually the fluctuations a conditioner is meant to prevent would probably not even cause your lights to flicker. A surge protector is a wise idea anywhere, and a UPS in my area, where a tree falls on the line every time the wind blows, is a near necessity.
     
     
    #2
    wst3
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    Re:Power Conditioner/Surge Protector 2012/02/26 10:38:17 (permalink)
    Bingo! If you need a surge suppressor - and most of us in the US do - go with SurgeX. Their series mode protection really is a better idea, and I expect that you'll soon see other manufacturers picking it up as the patent expires soon. Power conditioning is largely snake oil, which is unfortunate. Start with a clean technical power source and you probably won't need further conditioning.

    -- Bill
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    #3
    Jim Roseberry
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    Re:Power Conditioner/Surge Protector 2012/02/27 11:38:49 (permalink)
    Power conditioning is largely snake oil, which is unfortunate.

     
    FWIW, If you play in clubs... and have ever experience power sags... you'll appreciate a nice Furman unit. 
    My Korg M3 went out of tune at a gig... right in the middle of a piano breakdown.  Uuuggghhh!!!  
    That was the final staw that pushed me to go 100% soft-synths live.

    Best Regards,

    Jim Roseberry
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    www.studiocat.com
    #4
    Truckermusic
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    Re:Power Conditioner/Surge Protector 2012/03/05 13:53:32 (permalink)
    I do not know that much about power conditioners so I would go with what Jim has suggested....

    However if you are not playing out live and want to truly protect your equiptment then here are my suggestions:
    1. If your area is having a rain storm or rain and lightning storm do not go any further..stop
    2. shut down your eq. and unplug everything from the walls...

    1 1/2 years ago I lost my DAW due to a power surge / lightning strike and now I will not even power up if it is going to rain and I unplug everything everytime I walk out of my studio...

    Is this a pain?  Yes
    but it is only two plugs and well worth it.....I can be 100% assured that my eq. will not get hit.

    but that is just me

    Clifford

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    #5
    jimusic
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    Re:Power Conditioner/Surge Protector 2012/03/11 23:26:11 (permalink)
     I do the same if there's any considerable wind or heavy rain and of course even a hint of lightning - unplug it. For me, that's just 2 power surgre protector bars that feed everything that I care about in my studio. I also unplug it all if I'm going to be away for more than a day or 2. No matter what though, I turn my surge pro bars off when not in use whatsoever.
    post edited by jimusic - 2012/03/11 23:31:30



     
     
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