Belkin pure av vs monster clean power

Csa73

Anyone have experience with these products? Which one should i get?
Thanks.

ViperZ

What are you trying to achieve? What are you going to power? Which models are you looking at?

I currently have Belkin PF60. It's a good surge protector, but it's not a power conditioner, as advertised (same applies to most Belkin, Monster and lower-end Panamax products). It does not have a transformer inside, so all it does is protect from high-voltage surge spikes and it does filtering of AC signal. The models with transformer, obviously more expensive, are called power conditioners, because they can provide a stable output voltage, even when line voltage drops significantly. So if you have 100V AC on the line, the conditioner will provide a stable 115V AC on the output (brown-out protection).

PF60 is great for the price. APC H15 is excellent, since it has a transformer. Panamax 5400-PM is excellent, has all the filtering of PF60, plus a transformer, but for higher price.

tonyb

For surge protection, you won't notice a spit of difference between the two. Keep in mind, these are one hit wonders though. Whats that ? One direct hit by a lightning bolt, or even close to your house and they will be toast after that so don't spend the nest egg on a surge protector.

Csa73

Hey thx for your responses. Belkin p31 vs monster hdp 1800. I need a new power bar. Found these two on sale. The Belkin is used, so i think i will go with the monster. Here is a list of my set up.
Yamaha 6180
Samsung 46" led
Ps3
Shaw motorola
Polk Monitor 75t
Polk CSi5
Polk Tsi100
Polk PSW 12

ViperZ

Csa73 wrote: »

Hey thx for your responses. Belkin p31 vs monster hdp 1800. I need a new power bar. Found these two on sale. The Belkin is used, so i think i will go with the monster. Here is a list of my set up.
Yamaha 6180
Samsung 46" led
Ps3
Shaw motorola
Polk Monitor 75t
Polk CSi5
Polk Tsi100
Polk PSW 12

For those two models, tonyb got it perfect. They are probably identical, very basic surge protectors.
Here is the inside of monster: http://www2.crutchfield.com.edgesuite.net/pix.crutchfield.com/ImageHandler/fixedscale/400/300/products/2009/44/119/x119HDP1800-o_open.jpeg
Here is the inside of Belkin: http://www.sonocable.com/shootout/monster.jpg

Here is a comparison of Belkin PF31 vs Monster HTS3500 MKII (previous generation compared to 1800).
http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1803

Interesting that Belkin weighs more than double compared to Monster (19.5lb vs 8.5lb). Usually that would mean that there is a transformer inside, but in Belkin case, it's just a very sturdy chassis.

Just buy whichever one is cheaper, as long as they are working.

Csa73

Thanks ViperZ great info. Im going to check them out tomorrow.

Glen B

Get the unit that is the best deal pricewise. As already said here, most of the popular products all employ similar technology (an L-C network comprising common-mode chokes and noise suppression caps). Some, like Belkin, also include ferrite chokes.

I use a Belkin PureAv PF-60 with my HT system because I liked the triggering options, flexible programmable turn on/turn off delay for each outlet bank, and extreme voltage automatic shutdown feature.

IMO you don't need voltage regulation or UPS unless your mains voltage fluctuates outside the range of 114V - 126V (±5% of 120V) or you have frequent brownouts. Equipment is made to tolerate the differences. The exception will be tube amplifiers, especially vintage ones, where tubes will run hotter with increased line voltage, shortening their life.

westom

tonyb wrote: »

Keep in mind, these are one hit wonders though. Whats that ? One direct hit by a lightning bolt, or even close to your house and they will be toast after that so don't spend the nest egg on a surge protector.

Exactly. Because those protectors are designed only to protect from one type of surge. A surge, too tiny to overwhelm protection inside appliances, can destroy the 'one hit' wonder. Then naive consumers use wild speculation. Will assume that undersized protector did protection. Nonsense. Protection already inside appliances did protection. An undersized protector failed on a surge too tiny to harm the appliance. An undersized protector is also a potential house fire.

Another and completely different device is also called a surge protector. Designed for protection from the typically destructive type of surge. And costs significantly less money. Facilities that cannot have damage, instead, earth this other and effective protector. Then a protector remains functional even after direct lightning strikes.

Neither the Belkin nor other discussed solutions claim to protect from typically destructive surges. Otherwise each recommendation came with a number that defines that protection. No numbers were provided for good reason. A protector adjacent to appliances must either block or absorb that surge. How does its hundreds of joules absorb a surge that is hundreds of thousands of joules? It doesn't. And when it fails, many will recommend that one-shot wonder. Many must recommend by ignoring numbers.

A transformer does galvanic isolation. Many forget what is already inside electronics - a transfomer. Superior galvanic isolation. But again, many adjacent protectors are sold to do less than what already exists inside appliances.

A typically destructive surge is maybe once every seven years. What must be protected from a destructive surge? The Belkin, Monster, etc. Informed homeowners installed one 'whole house' protector to even protect those tiny protectors. Provided by more responsible companies such as Siemens, Leviton, Square D, Ditek, General Electric, Polyphaser, ABB, or Intermatic. A Cutler-Hammer solution even sold in Lowes and Home Depot for less than $50. But again, the protector does not do protection. Critical for better protectors is a dedicated wire that makes a short (ie 'less than 10 foot') connection to what actually does the protection - single point earth ground.

Any useful recommendation will say where hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate. Every facility that cannot have damage earths a 'whole house' protector. A completely different device that just happens to have a similar name.

Speedskater

While not always agreeing with everything that West Tom writes!
In this case I agree 100 % about the goodness of the 'whole house' protector's that he listed.

sodablue

Get yourself a Tripp-Lite AVBAR8 for $50 from newegg and spend the money you saved on popcorn.