Surge protectors--how many $ make sense?
My power went out during the LA fires. A power spike blew my preamp's fuse even though it was plugged into an ancient Monster transformer surge protector. So, I need to buy something to plug my gear into. The prices, however, range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars. Surge protectors have never been at the top of my list of equipment to buy, but I think it's time.
I have a fairly expensive system, about $75K, consisting of VPI Prime Signature turntable, ARC PH-7 phono preamp, McCormack CD (universal disc), Pass XP 30 preamp, Moon streamer, and Hovland Radia amp. New equipment mixed in with old, but all very good stuff. I've never compared surge protectors. So, how little can I spend on a surge protector without disrespecting my previous investment?
+1 on the addition of a SIEMENS surge protection. on the electrical panel. i did it when I Reno”ed the house two years ago. I moved my “A” system to a new room and ran two new 20A dedicated lines into the new room unless I go away on vacation, the high-end integrated amp and the high-end streamer-dac both remain powered up full-time according to their manual specs . The panel solution works like a charm.Highly recommended. |
Sorry to hear about your loss. Living in San Francisco and Los Angeles I had to pay a lot for real power conditioning. The absolute safest, and most affordable solution is this Furman with voltage regulation, series protection, and automatic over/under voltage shutoff. This comes up so often I wrote a blog post with more detail here. Basically a whole house unit has a much higher let through voltage than the best surge "strips." Good for your range, not so much for your laptop or audio/video gear. The manufacturers recommend the use of both. |
As of 2020 the NEC requires it, local codes will vary. Among the things they protect is the house wiring itself, as well as anything else you can't or wouldn't normally put on a surge strip, like fire alarms, GFCI outlets, smart switches... |
Yep, @erik_squires and there is a 2023 edition with further "clarification" on the subject but it depends, as you said, on the locality. This link purports to identify state by state adoption of the NEC and which version applies: https://www.mikeholt.com/necadoptionlist.php#:~:text=The%20NEC%20is%20adopted%20and%20enforced%20at%20the%20local%20level. I don't know (this is where @Jea48 comes in) whether, if the state is stuck on an older version of the Code, a county or city within it can demand that the newer Code edition be enforced within its jurisdiction. |
