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Surge Protection and Power Regeneration Qs

I've been doing my research homework, but could use some advice on AC power for my HT. I have 3 new dedicated AC circuits in a 10 year old house / subdivision (not old power lines). HT = 7.1 - B&W Matrix 803s, 805s x3 and DS6 surrounds, ASW850sub, Classe CA-301 (300Wx2) and CAV-500 (250Wx5) amps, a WD65831 65" Mitsubishi DLP TV, cable service, and Onkyo universal SACD/DVD. A new Anthem AVM50 preamp will arrive soon, replacing my Onkyo TX-NR900.

I know I need surge protection at a minimum, and because of high power amps and 3 dedicated AC circuits, I need 3 units - 1 for each amp, one for everything else. Do I also need regenerated power? What models should I consider, keeping in mind I would also like to cover cable, Internet? (for preamp software updates?), and a battery back up (may be separate component) for the TV's DLP lamp fan. I know this is a tall order, and will require multiple components - but what?

Most used PS Audio doesn't do cable, Panamax does cable but not Internet, I could put a battery backup with internet and cable between these units and my components, but does that defeat the whole purpose?

I want to spend what I need to spend for protection, will buy new if I have to , but prefer used because I can't afford to spend $3K on this stuff - the preamp was a $tretch for me - my toy funds are low. What is minimum protection, what is nice to have for future? BTW - I live in Florida - lightning capital of the US. Thanks in advance for your thots.
celt16
celt16 OP
9 posts
 
I understand I can put surge protection in a plug-in unit (Brickwall, SurgeX, Zerosurge), but don't I defeat the purpose when I bring a coax (cable) or RJ-232 (Internet) connection inside that loop, between the surge protection and the component? In that instance, isn't my protection from surge only as good as the surge protection for the coax or Internet connections?
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,678 posts
 
Celt16-
One reason they say this is thay they do not test their equipment with hi-end audio, but with regular appliances. However, there's a definite advantage to putting your surge protection device as close to house ground as possible and, generally, that means at the power entry or breaker box. Any power shunting is only as effective with a low impedance path to ground. So, definitely get a whole-house device but, because of the need for protection on all lines (coax, telephone, etc.) and the potential for induced surges in the house wiring, that should not be your only device.

Kal
dradernh
2 posts
 
What Kal said. I've just put in whole-house surge protection as well as Hubbell MOV-based outlets for each place where I've got expensive gear. Yeah, MOVs aren't the best; the Hubbells do, however, have a light on them telling you if the surge protection is still any good.

I've also put a surge protector as close as possible to all my coax, ethernet, and telephone line-connected gear. For example, my satellite receiver has a surge protector for it's phone line that has a six-inch piece of telephone line between them.

Next, I have on order a Tripp Lite online, double conversion UPS - model number SU2200XL (http://www.tripplite.com/products/product.cfm?productID=2665). This UPS has three components in series: an inverter that converts AC power to DC power, a battery that stores the DC, and a second inverter that converts the battery's DC back to AC power. Basically, it feeds a battery from an AC outlet and then feeds electronic gear from the battery. Ergo, massive surge equals one dead AC-to-DC inverter but the surge will not be able to get past the battery. Not bad, huh? They're not cheap. But then you're assured of your gear getting perfect sine wave AC coming in from the battery at 120V AC (+/-2%).

Finally, the UPS (once I get it, that is) feeds a Balanced Power Technologies BP-3.5 Signature PLUS (http://www.b-p-t.com/news2.shtml). This power conditioner feeds balanced power to all of my gear.

To sum it up: surge protection at the panel, more surge protection at the wall, a UPS that provides surge protection with finality, and a balanced-power line conditioner to which all my gear is connected. The line conditioner is overkill as the UPS is feeding it a pure sine wave; however, I already had it and still want the balanced power so I'll be keeping it.
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