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Post subject: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:30 pm
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researched on google and found nothing that would end my doubt about this. there's someone willing to explain how to choice a good stabilizer, or when you should apply a transformer ... how should we proceed in the selection.
look what happened to me ... my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe burned! I lost $ 300 in GR audio, the only Fender's authorized in Rio.
burned due to peak light, AC .... how can I prevent this from happening again? stabilizer?? something that can help??
I even asked if i could use a stabilizer to the amp and the guy replied that it could even mess up with the amp ... that is only used in effect racks, pedals, keyboards. so...all i have to do is play and pray that not have a peak (excess) of light??? playing to get a few bucks and spend U$ 300 every time it happens .. what can i do?

sorry about my bad english.


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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:15 pm
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OK.. call me anal, but I have big mil spec Iso trannies prior to the outlets I use with amps, computers, and TV's. They really isolate the units from noise and keep them from injecting noise into the line. And are excellent for isolating the unit from lightning strikes and other line issues. This plus a good UPS works well in areas with heavy brown outs.

I bought and installed four 4-5kVA Topaz iso's when they were under $250, for mil spec surplus items.

http://www.surplussales.com/Transformer ... ers-2.html


UPS yaddy-yaddy:

http://www.smps.us/uninterruptible-power-supply.html


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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:47 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
OK.. call me anal, ....


Ok. You are anal. Big time, definitely. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:44 am
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BTW.. cheap power strips and power surge outlet are questionable, at best, for tube amp use. As long as your amp has a good PT and power filtering circuit... that is adequate.

My setup is for like 100+ dB quiet lines that can get nuked and not blow $200 worth of tubes. Tech's delight.


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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 5:28 am
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If you don't plan playing outside of your home, a whole-house surge protector would help.

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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:00 pm
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Forget power strips - useless.

Most rackmount (power surge ) are glorified power strips with rack ears.

If you're in a country with bad power, you may want to look into isolation transformers, but also the Surge-X line of protection. Unlike a power surge device, these work.

I carry the ebTech Hum-X with me on gigs which is a $75 isolating transformer, but it's more to help when your amps are on the same circuit with noisy neon signs, etc.

A UPS may help as well with the upfront surge protection; get one that continuously regenerates power as a pure sine wave, and voltage drops become a thing of the past.

Good luck!

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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:57 am
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try a Apc line-r 600 or 1200 watt voltage regulator . Great product for about $50.


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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:21 am
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An isolation transformer offers ZERO protection from electrical surges. A surge protector is exactly for that purpose, and will contain an MOV or other device to prevent surges from reaching the equipment that is plugged into it. The MOV is meant to be destroyed to protect the equipment. Obviously the surge protector must be properly sized for the equipment and voltage rating. If you use a cheap surge protector, you'll get what you paid for, and many power strips do not offer adequate surge protection, and some have none at all. A really good UPS will also have good surge protection and will protect in case of brown-outs, and of course is expensive, but again the UPS or some of it's components might be destroyed if they see a large enough surge. Probably the cheapest solution that offers very good protection from surges would be to get a really good quality power strip, and add some MOVs if necessary. I would even get two and keep one as a spare, as the MOV will short and make the power strip unusable in the event of a surge. MOVs are very inexpensive, but offer the best protection from surges. With lightning, all bets are off, it can do some crazy things.

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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:42 am
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+1

I have a couple for my Home Theater setup and will not worry about the small cost of replacing those vs the thousands of $ replacing the equipment behind it.

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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:07 am
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tyronne wrote:
+1

I have a couple for my Home Theater setup and will not worry about the small cost of replacing those vs the thousands of $ replacing the equipment behind it.


+2!

Anything worth owning is worth protecting.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 12:34 pm
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The apc line-r 600 or 1200 va has surge spike protection, emi/rfi noise rejection & auto voltage regulation. They go for $50-60 on amazon. I also plug my old $65 furrmann power "conditioner" rack strip into it for more outlets & protection.


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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:24 pm
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Although that has surge protection, it really isn't a surge protector it's a voltage regulator. The "let through" voltage of <900 volts, is way to high to effectively protect equipment from surges. 800 volts is more than enough to damage your equipment, so that regulator can not offer the best protection from surges. The regulator is more of a voltage stabilizer than it is a surge protector. If you look at the APC site, you can see the voltage regulators are listed separately from the surge protectors.

The surge protector (offered by the same company) has a "let through" voltage of <40 volts, which is much better protection against surges. This is really what you need for surge protection. On a 120 volt circuit, an MOV or similar device such as the APC surge protector, is going to limit the voltage at around 150 volts or 160 volts, which is very good protection and similar in cost to the regulator. The rack mount version is a little more expensive.
http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=176

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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:48 pm
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Shimmy, actually a good Ultra-Isolator has good voltage surge protection. It's due to interaction of electric and magnetic fields to maintain same voltage. The big iron laminations act as a magnetic field reservoir that are in a dynamic interaction with the electric wiring to yield a steady voltage.

Kinda like an electric inertia machine. I think it's call "reluctance" in Physics.

Anyhow, an amp with a good PT and filter cicruit does the same thing. Helps stabiize and clean voltage and current loads. It's partly why vintage Fender amps are so reliable and prized.

Have a good one!

http://www.gtb-transformers.com/isolati ... ormer.html


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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:55 pm
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Shimmilou,
I understand your points. I also have a furmann m-8x2 power conditioner plugged into the v. Regulator for another level of surge-spike protection, & noise filtration & more outlets. I was under the assumption that tubes are very sensitive to voltage variations & line noise. But Spikes &surges are deadly to any component.
This site is a wealth of information.


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Post subject: Re: transformer, surge protector or power strip?
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 7:36 pm
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Holgate, A tube amp with a good built-in power supply is not as sensitive to voltage spikes and brown-outs as digital equipment. There is a lot of electrical "inertia" or reluctance to instantaneous voltage change in a tube PS. The PT and PS caps are built to maintain their characteristics to higher voltages than most SS devices.

I really don't use an ultra-isolator on anything else of my Fender tube amps. I use them on my computers (and I've had at least three die due to voltage surges or brown-outs) and my flat screen TVs. Not only do these devices like clean, steady power--- but digital equipment tend to be noisy and inject that back into the house's line. Ultra-isolators really keep the AC quiet.

I use them in combo with a good UPS for my computers.

Plus, Topaz are BIG ugly suckers. You would not want to lug them around with your Gibson LPS, Twin Reverb, and speaker cabs. My main computer runs through a 4KV Topaz and each flat screen throgh 1KV ones.

http://www.poweruptech.com/isolation-tr ... rmers.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topaz-91095-32- ... 3378a15518


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