When to replace surge supressor/power conditioner
polktiger
Posts: 556
I have an 6 -7 year old panamax unit that I am using basically as a surge supressor. I was reading on some other forums and searching here to see how people felt about using them. Certainly some people suggest going straight to the outlet with amps to make sure there is no constriction on power flow, which makes sense.
Over on a Carver site, a person was talking about the use of MOVs in surge supressors, and MOVs basically degrade over time and the surge spressor eventually becomes an extension cord with a bunch of outlets. Well this had me worried that maybe these units should be put on a replacement cycle instead of a use until upgrade cycle like other components. Made me wonder if my 6 yr old panamax was really doing anything anymore.
Are we better off putting a cheapy surge supressor in front of an expensive "conditioner" and just replace the supressor each year? This even had me thinking about APC batteries on my computers. I replace the batteries every 3 years, but that is it. A different poster (from the Carver forum) even indiciated that surge supressors are generally toast after a transformer blowing near by. Well around here during the late afternoon thunderstorms you always hear at least 1 transformer blow every week. (I give up resetteing clocks at home during July, August becuase you run around the house resetting them a couple times a week)
Any thoughts?
Over on a Carver site, a person was talking about the use of MOVs in surge supressors, and MOVs basically degrade over time and the surge spressor eventually becomes an extension cord with a bunch of outlets. Well this had me worried that maybe these units should be put on a replacement cycle instead of a use until upgrade cycle like other components. Made me wonder if my 6 yr old panamax was really doing anything anymore.
Are we better off putting a cheapy surge supressor in front of an expensive "conditioner" and just replace the supressor each year? This even had me thinking about APC batteries on my computers. I replace the batteries every 3 years, but that is it. A different poster (from the Carver forum) even indiciated that surge supressors are generally toast after a transformer blowing near by. Well around here during the late afternoon thunderstorms you always hear at least 1 transformer blow every week. (I give up resetteing clocks at home during July, August becuase you run around the house resetting them a couple times a week)
Any thoughts?
Post edited by polktiger on
Comments
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My components may be tricking me, but I feel as long as the "Protected" light is on, my stuff is protected. At least I hope this is true...
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My components may be tricking me, but I feel as long as the "Protected" light is on, my stuff is protected. At least I hope this is true...
Ditto.......the nice blue leds make me feel better as lightening is striking outside....
