What do you use to protect your gear from a power surge or lightening?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cjacek
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isobar

I tend to use Tripp-Lite Isobar surge protectors for both computer and audio hardware. Here is a link to some of their products.

http://www.tripplite.com/products/suppressors/audiovideo.cfm

What has impressed me in the past is their warranty for the protected equipment. (always read the fine print)

I cannot think of anything that I had connected to an iso-bar die after a lighting strike or other problem.

I do remember a phase fault that blew up a 4000VA UPS (sending 12" of flames out of its side) and the computers connected both to the UPS and the faulted line through iso-bars were fine.

Can't say that for the iso-bars. They were toast after taking the surge. But then again tripp-lite replaced them at no charge.

Regards, E

Ran down to the "studio" : I'm using an APC UPS feeding an IBAR12 and Ultra 8

http://www.tripplite.com/products/product.cfm?productID=115
http://www.tripplite.com/products/product.cfm?productID=111
 
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I use two older APC Smart-UPS, Model 700. They have integrated line filtering and surge protection. I have a couple Curtis power strips with surge protection as well. Everything breaks off from there with a hodgepodge of power strips (I have a lot of outboard gear).

The most important thing I did for my studio was to run a dedicated grounded AC line from the breaker box in the garage, through the attic and to the studio. The room used to share power with other rooms, but now it’s isolated with its own fuse and the best ground in the house. I also pounded in a second 9 ft grounding rod outside where the AC service comes in.

IMO isolating the room’s AC is the place to start. If that’s too ambitious for some, the first step is to make sure the outlets are wired correctly (right polarity) so the chassis ground actually works for devices with two-prong plugs. You’ll often see Hot and Neutral wires reversed.

Start by getting an inexpensive GFCI tester (see pic) to make sure you have adequate ground and your Hot and Neutral are wired correctly. You can find them at Radio Shack and hardware stores... maybe even Wal-Mart in the lighting dept.

I’ve never lost a piece of recording equipment to lighting or surges, but I have seen a lightning strike take out a garage door opener, TV and microwave while leaving everything else alone. Lightning is strange the way it crawls around wiring zapping some things and sparing others. I’ve seen some really messed up networks after a lightning strike – half the switches, routers and servers fried and the rest ok. :confused:

:)
 

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APC VA550 for computer and monitors

Monster PowerPro 2500 for I/O and processing rack

Furman PL-8 for analog rack (58, ES-50, dbx 150X's)

My power source for the "cave" as I call it is atrocious...shared with lots of flourescent lighting and overburdened at that. Hoping to upgrade the space in the next year and run 1 - 2 lines of dedicated AC, though I don't have any grounding problems, hum, noise, etc.

Wouldn't mind having the analog rack on something more substantial.

I must say though, that if I'm around and we happen to have an electrical storm (pretty rare in my neck of the woods), I use the best power protection at any price...I pull the plug on the studio. :cool:
 
Hello from the northern edge of Lightening Alley! I live in Florida, on the northern edge of what is called Lightening Alley, my house has been directly hit once in the past 12 years (at least twice since it was built, one strike blasted a 50 foot antenna tower off of its concrete mount and brackets), my neighbors have been hit a few times in the past several years too, and there have been many (several hundred) strikes within about one block of me in that time.

For a reference to Lightening Alley, and some interesting info about lightening, see Roger Russell's (former Director of Acoustic Research at McIntosh Labs) web site, http://www.roger-russell.com/lightning/lightning.htm

For surge protection, I use Tripp-Lite Isobar Ultra models, but for lightening protection, there is little to do besides unplug everything. And be sure that you disconnect any incoming leads or wires too, like if you have a FM tuner attached to your equipment, disconnect the outdoor antenna lead if you have one.

Keep in mind that the intense magnetic field that lightening produces can cause induced surges in any wire or conductors that are immersed in the rapidly building and collapsing field. So, if a severe enough storm is coming, I would certainly disconnect any and all wiring in a home studio. Especially so if you have any long snakes laying around in coils with one or both ends connected to equipment.
 
I run an APC UPS on my system. In my humble opinion, surge protectors built around MOVs are useless. A fast rise will run through one like shit through a goose.
 
No one ever mentions the other thing you shouldn't be without:

HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE (or renters insurance)

Some years ago I had a lightning strike come down my cable TV line and take out half the stuff in my house. My homeowners insurance replaced all the appliances and all my computer gear (and since it was new stuff, I actually got better gear than I originally had.)

Of course that doesn't help you retrieve your lost data, but you should have off-line backups anyway..... I keep DVDs and a 500GB USB2 external drive in a waterproof firesafe (I'm also from Florida and in the last four hurricanes that went over my house I lost NOTHING.)
 
sweetbeats said:
I must say though, that if I'm around and we happen to have an electrical storm (pretty rare in my neck of the woods), I use the best power protection at any price...I pull the plug on the studio. :cool:
Click to expand...

Heh, yeah me too. :D

Even with all the proper wiring and surge protection pulling the plug is the only way to be sure. When I see a big storm coming on the radar I pull the breaker for my studio. That’s another handy thing about having a dedicated line for just that room.

The only rub is as an artist I've always loved storms and they spark my creativity. I feel most content on the inside when it's thundering blowing or snowing on the outside. I even like being out in it, preferably walking in the woods at night. And everybody says, "Tell me about your childhood." :eek: :D
 

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I have seen lightning do some crazy shit so I just unplug my power strip.
Its cheaper and always works.
 
Herm said:
I have seen lightning do some crazy shit so I just unplug my power strip.
Its cheaper and always works.
Click to expand...

Hey Gary, did you feel the earthquake this morning and the aftershock around 10:25? It shook my whole house and sounded like a poltergeist or something was trying to get into my front door....


... so of course I opened it. :cool:
 
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I use whole house surge protection, and disconnect the studio gear when a storm approaches. Be sure to disconnect the phone connection to your network too. Over the years, I've lost 3 garage door openers, 1 well pump, multiple modems, 1 PC, a Carver Stereo Reciever and CD player (expensive stuff), and a couple of phones.
 
Track Rat said:
In my humble opinion, surge protectors built around MOVs are useless.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what got me worried when I began researching this. Not only MOV's have a very limited life but when they go, you won't know it.

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Thanks again to everyone who replied. I'll look into everything you've suggested and probably also into circuit breakers built into whatever power strip I get....

I also like the whole house protection thing...

Thanks again!:)

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Beck said:
Hey Gary, did you feel the earthquake this morning and the aftershock around 10:25? It shook my whole house and sounded like a poltergeist or something was trying to get into my front door....


... so of course I opened it. :cool:
Click to expand...

Yea that was a hoot! First thing the wife says did you feel that? And then I got up and did the man thing and went down stairs to check on everything.

At first I thought maybe the bed just hadnt stop moving from earlier in the evening:D
 
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