[markm1]

I'm curious how you all protect your gear from power outages, surges, brown outs, etc.? Do you employ high end UPS back up systems, surge protectors, Etc.
 
I recently upgraded my main speaker and HP rig.  I have my gear plugged into a Supra Mains Distribution Block with surge protection (see below) 
 
http://www.supracables.co.uk/mainscables/lorad-md06.html
 
I always power everything off during a storm. I turn off my gear while at work. A few days ago while burning in a new $1800 DAC/Preamp/HP amp component and some new digital cables, the power blinked on and off momentarily-what you could call a brown out or power fluctuation or possibly a surge. It looks like my DAC/Pre was ruined. I sent it to the manufacturer to look at it.
 
Now, I'm looking at further options such as a back up battery or something more substantial than my Supra surge protector/distribution blocks.
 
I called Crutchfield and here's their recommendation:
 
http://www.crutchfield.com/cart/default.aspx?nolp=true&emKey=1248485&emType=0
 
We have a back up battery for our PC. After talking to Cyberpower Sytsems, and giving me a rundown of my equipment and wattage use, they suggested their CP1 1500.
 
http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/ups-systems/intelligent-lcd-ups/CP1500AVRLCD.html
 
I'm relatively new to higher end audio and Headfidom and this is a new frontier for me.
 
So, yeah-I'm kind of freaking out about potentially losing nearly 2K on a new component. I do live in an area where we lose power fairly frequently, but I wasn't expecting this kind of damage from a momentary power fluctuation with an audio specific surge protector in place. I really thought I was following a sort of best practices model. At minimum, I think I need a back up battery.
 
I'd welcome suggestions!

 

[markm1]

  I'm curious how you all protect your gear from power outages, surges, brown outs, etc.? Do you employ high end UPS back up systems, surge protectors, Etc.
 
I recently upgraded my main speaker and HP rig.  I have my gear plugged into a Supra Mains Distribution Block with surge protection (see below) 
 
http://www.supracables.co.uk/mainscables/lorad-md06.html
 
I always power everything off during a storm. I turn off my gear while at work. A few days ago while burning in a new $1800 DAC/Preamp/HP amp component and some new digital cables, the power blinked on and off momentarily-what you could call a brown out or power fluctuation or possibly a surge. It looks like my DAC/Pre was ruined. I sent it to the manufacturer to look at it.
 
Now, I'm looking at further options such as a back up battery or something more substantial than my Supra surge protector/distribution blocks.
 
I called Crutchfield and here's their recommendation:
 
http://www.crutchfield.com/cart/default.aspx?nolp=true&emKey=1248485&emType=0
 
We have a back up battery for our PC. After talking to Cyberpower Sytsems, and giving me a rundown of my equipment and wattage use, they suggested their CP1 1500.
 
http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/ups-systems/intelligent-lcd-ups/CP1500AVRLCD.html
 
I'm relatively new to higher end audio and Headfidom and this is a new frontier for me.
 
So, yeah-I'm kind of freaking out about potentially losing nearly 2K on a new component. I do live in an area where we lose power fairly frequently, but I wasn't expecting this kind of damage from a momentary power fluctuation with an audio specific surge protector in place. I really thought I was following a sort of best practices model. At minimum, I think I need a back up battery.
 
I'd welcome suggestions!

 

[Speedskater]

I have a whole-house surge protector in the home's main breaker box. That's the end of that story.
 
Sometimes use a UPS for components that have a computer chip and are slow to restart like my cable TV box and some TV's.
Also use a UPS on components that make nasty pops when power outages cause off/on cycles (like some DBX crossovers).
 
We live in a very old neighborhood and just 400 feet from the shore of Lake Erie, so storms (wind or lightning) are very common. But it's just an inconvenience that comes with the territory.

 

[markm1]

  I have a whole-house surge protector in the home's main breaker box. That's the end of that story.
 
Sometimes use a UPS for components that have a computer chip and are slow to restart like my cable TV box and some TV's.
Also use a UPS on components that make nasty pops when power outages cause off/on cycles (like some DBX crossovers).
 
We live in a very old neighborhood and just 400 feet from the shore of Lake Erie, so storms (wind or lightning) are very common. But it's just an inconvenience that comes with the territory.

Thanks for that. I called an electrician and we talked about s house surge he could install in the breaker box. I'm also researching power conditioners/power management systems-Panamax and Furman are the two companies that I'm seeing most frequently.

 

[dprimary]

In pro audio we use surgex they have surge protection only models and models with a ups as well.
 
http://www.surgex.com/products.html

 

[Speedskater]

While they are very pricey, they are excellent point of use protectors.
Yes, Henry W. Ott writes:
http://www.hottconsultants.com/resources.html
 
Series Mode AC Protectors
The common MOV based shunt surge protector dumps large transients currents onto the AC neutral and ground conductor increasing the local ground potential, series protectors do not. To learn more about the advantages of Series Mode Surge Protectors,
 
"The Benefits Of Series Mode Surge Suppression"
Neil Muncy provides a primer on how surge suppression works, how MOV's work, and the advantages of series mode surge suppression in audio systems.
Aug. 02, 2011, by Neil A. Muncy
 
 
http://www.prosoundweb.com/article//series_mode_surge_suppression/
 
Some manufacturers of series mode surge suppressors are listed below:
 
Brick Wall
http://www.brickwall.com/

ZeroSurge
http://www.zerosurge.com/

SurgeX
http://www.surgex.com/

 

[markm1]

Thanks all for the suggestions!

 

[markm1]

I've been looking at the Panamax AV 4300.  I know it's probably the lower end "best buys" version of a power conditioner. My priority is really just protecting gear-two channel system-relatively low wattage amp (50W), DAC/pre/HP amp, CDP, monitor/book shelf speaker set up, a NAS for digital music storage with Sonos connect, Comcast router/box, PC.
 
Would any of you steer me away from this? I'm not looking to spend a fortune but protect about a 5K speaker set up and HP rig in a computer room/listening room.
 
http://www.panamax.com/Products/A-V-Components/MR4300.php

 

[yage]

Not sure if you already bought the Panamax, but I would definitely get a unit that has series-mode surge protection. I owned a Furman PL-8 Series II (now superseded by the PL-8 C, apparently) a few years ago while living in an apartment. While I was away, a surge must have occurred. As I walked in, all the electronics were off and the 'Extreme voltage' LED was lit. I turned the Furman off and on and checked everything out. No damage to speak of. The Furman protected a TV, integrated amp, DVD player, and CD player at the time. Well worth the money I paid for it.
 
Nowadays, I have a Bryston BIT-15 that has both an isolation transformer and series-mode surge suppression from ZeroSurge. In addition to protecting the system, it actually makes it sound better, something the Furman didn't do. It's much more expensive, but still worth it IMHO.
 
Hope this helps.

 

[paradoxper]

It really is overkill. Any decent power conditioner should work. Surge X or something cooked up from Blue Circle would be my recommendations.
 
It would also be great if you updated your situation. I.e.my combo unit wasn't fried per se, I just blew a fuse, etc. Just for clarification.

 

[markm1]

My power momentarily blinked on and off and it destroyed my new DAC.preamp/HP amp.  It was plugged into a surge protector distribution block..I think they call that a brown out. Bad luck-I was actively playing music at the time it went out. No warning. No storm. I live in a simi rural area and have a fair amount of power outages. luckily it was under warranty still. I got a deal on a Pana 4300 under $200. My power has gone out a couple of times in storms since then. And, it's done the trick, just turns everything off-takes the hit so to speak. So far so good.