Surge Protectors - Use Them or Not?

[peano]

Interesting thread. Just today I started researching power strips with surge protection and a timer. My house glows at night too.

 

[tedb3rd]

Our office scored a direct hit from lightning several years ago. Everything that was plugged into an electrical outlet through a surge protector was fried. (Computers, Copier, Alarm System, etc.) The one electronic device that DID survive was the fax machine--which was plugged directly into the wall.

I think that if you take a direct hit, it doesn't really matter. It might save you some hassle with insurance folks to get it replaced if you can say you had a surge protector connected.

And BTW, we had a laptop get fried too and the power cord was not plugged in. Lightning can and will travel through your Ethernet cables too!!

 

[whatchel1]

Our office scored a direct hit from lightning several years ago. Everything that was plugged into an electrical outlet through a surge protector was fried. (Computers, Copier, Alarm System, etc.) The one electronic device that DID survive was the fax machine--which was plugged directly into the wall.

I think that if you take a direct hit, it doesn't really matter. It might save you some hassle with insurance folks to get it replaced if you can say you had a surge protector connected.

And BTW, we had a laptop get fried too and the power cord was not plugged in. Lightning can and will travel through your Ethernet cables too!!

That's why I have protection on my E-net cable.

 

[whitewolf8214]

As long as you're not using HomePlug networking then I'd recommend plugging it in to a surge protector. I have all of my equipment plugged into APC surge protectors/UPSs and I haven't had any issues at all. Oh and I disagree with cutting off the power to all of your equipment entirely each evening, it really doesn't save you that much in electricity and it causes more problems than the very few pennies than you save.

+2 i have everything electrical on surge protectors

 

[KKlare]

On a somewhat related topic: has anyone seen a power strip with individual switches (at a reasonable price)?
I ask because I turn all hard drives off and ON with a regular surge strip. That's a lot of transformers for 8 drives, using at most 2.
I select the drive by which USB I plug into the front of either 722. I would prefer to switch the transformers and multiplex the USBs.
I just have not seen a wide-spaced set of switches or any switched strip, for that matter.
Thanks, -Ken

Aside, it is good to power off the HDDs because a connected one will delay the reboot while it does something--as much as 15 minutes. -K

 

[mikethedishguy]

Surge Protectors, Are designed to protect from serges in an electric lines. Example, if you live in an major city the chances are you do not have 110, in NYC the average is around 100 volts the protectors are designed to protect against sudden change in the line voltage, like when you have a power failure the voltage and amperage may spike above 120 which would damage some equipment. With the receiver I have found that the voltage can get into the system from any line hooked to the receiver. This includes the power cord, Ethernet, home plug, phone line ETC. and I have had receivers damaged from all the sources.

Do not have the line going to the dish run through the surge protector, most are not designed to handle voltage there is voltage going to the dish, it will fail.

 

[JosephB]

Surge Protectors, Are designed to protect from serges in an electric lines. Example, if you live in an major city the chances are you do not have 110, in NYC the average is around 100 volts the protectors are designed to protect against sudden change in the line voltage, like when you have a power failure the voltage and amperage may spike above 120 which would damage some equipment. With the receiver I have found that the voltage can get into the system from any line hooked to the receiver. This includes the power cord, Ethernet, home plug, phone line ETC. and I have had receivers damaged from all the sources.

Do not have the line going to the dish run through the surge protector, most are not designed to handle voltage there is voltage going to the dish, it will fail.

Indeed. None of these devices, even the $1000 range high end home theater power conditioners and surge protectors can handle 100,000 volts or more from lightning.

 

[InHouse]

Being plugged into some surge protectors do regulate the power and can cause remote issues, I personally ran into this just this week with a 622 install plugged into the surge protector it took 3 to 5 seconds for any remote to register any push of a button, plugged directly into the wall and the remote was immediate, as I was told this is now in the FSS100 class

 

[whatchel1]

Being plugged into some surge protectors do regulate the power and can cause remote issues, I personally ran into this just this week with a 622 install plugged into the surge protector it took 3 to 5 seconds for any remote to register any push of a button, plugged directly into the wall and the remote was immediate, as I was told this is now in the FSS100 class

You are saying it effect the speed of the REMOTE CONTROL working?

 

[Lord_Vader]

You are saying it effect the speed of the REMOTE CONTROL working?

Well, it was in front of the IR receiver.

 

[TonyT@DISH Network]

While the tag on the cord "recommends" a surge protector, I have personally seen it lead to rebooting issues and power failures. I PERSONALLY recommend it be plugged straight into the wall. As a troubleshooting step, it is suggested to bypass the surge protector if possible, as that could correct issues as well.

I have had my 722 plugged directly into the wall since installation, no flaws, no glitches, and not a HINT of anything that anyone has suggested as a common problem here or on any other forum.

Here is my thoughts on surge protectors. Everyone has a different idea of a good one. Some people say they bought an expensive one (using $6 range as a cheap one). Some people base it on name, like Panamax or Monster. Honestly, I have not seen a great device less then $299. Even if I could afford the $1500 you can find power conditioners for (and yes, they go MUCH higher), I would still not run my receiver through it.

 

[whatchel1]

While the tag on the cord "recommends" a surge protector, I have personally seen it lead to rebooting issues and power failures. I PERSONALLY recommend it be plugged straight into the wall. As a troubleshooting step, it is suggested to bypass the surge protector if possible, as that could correct issues as well.

I have had my 722 plugged directly into the wall since installation, no flaws, no glitches, and not a HINT of anything that anyone has suggested as a common problem here or on any other forum.

Here is my thoughts on surge protectors. Everyone has a different idea of a good one. Some people say they bought an expensive one (using $6 range as a cheap one). Some people base it on name, like Panamax or Monster. Honestly, I have not seen a great device less then $299. Even if I could afford the $1500 you can find power conditioners for (and yes, they go MUCH higher), I would still not run my receiver through it.

And you also live in an area that has a really good power distribution system(Denver). Where as many that have been talking here don't.

 

[dwarren2]

I have my 722 plugged into the battery side of a UPS. That way if there is any momentary power blip it won't go into a reboot or if I'm in the middle of a recording it will continue to record.

 

[JosephB]

If you're using a surge protector that is introducing enough line noise or voltage differences that it affects the functioning of the receiver (except the DishComm stuff) then it's probably going to burn your house down at some point and I wouldn't use it for a table lamp.

 

[beedeejay]

I use a Monster MDP 900 surge protector with my 722K. The protector has a dedicated HomePlug outlet for the 722. I use a Netgear ethernet bridge which is connected to my router. The set-up works fine.

 

[whatchel1]

I use a Monster MDP 900 surge protector with my 722K. The protector has a dedicated HomePlug outlet for the 722. I use a Netgear ethernet bridge which is connected to my router. The set-up works fine.

900 must be a typo since they don't seem to make that but there is a MDP 800 that has the home plug like you talk about.

 

[Jhon69]

Surge protectors? Use them,not on a table lamp though.

 

[beedeejay]

My protector is a MDP 900. There is a MDP 900 on Monster's web site.

 

[TonyT@DISH Network]

I have seen people using the "battery back-up" type things out this way. Estes Park here is notorious for nasty power and I dealt with those customers religiously when BB opened up shop in Longmont. It was the closest electronics/big box store in the area for most of them. Common usage, but make sure that the battery backup supplies more then enough power at start-up, because if not, it is the same thing as a power strip. Not all are created equal, which is why they put the power ratings on the box.

 

[chiodo]

I use a Liebert PSA 1000 UPS on my 722k, never had any issues.