The Arizona Republic Saturday, August 29, 1998 HOUSEHOLD SURGE PROTECTION IS NECESSARY FOR ELECTRONICS. QUESTION: What is the best way to protect all of my electronic equipment? ANSWER: A spike or voltage surge can be caused by a blown transformer, downed power lines, lightning, electric POWER GRID SWITCHING, etc. Most of us use point-of-use suppressors but we should consider whole house suppressor at our breaker box. Price around $l50. and let a pro do it. (Long article but this was the "meat")

-- Ron Banks (phxbanks@webtv.net), August 29, 1998

Answers

That's a good suggestion. Do they say anything about voltage sags? I deal with PCs and I know that sags are more common and harder to deal with than spikes. I talked to our EL guys at work, and they said that low voltage will trash motors and compressors in a few hours. I would think that a system to boost (maintain 110 VAC) voltage for the whole house would be pretty pricey. I know you can get a surge suppressor for a PC for a lot less than the cost of a power conditioner, which handles sags too.

-- Mike (gartner@execpc.com), September 12, 1998.

I installed a "whole house" power conditioner (not UPS) several years ago after checking out tests on how lousy the "extension cord" filters are. Found that TV, microwave, computers, dryers, heater, Air Cond. motor are lasting longer and are not getting "killed" by power spikes, surges, and other random acts of violence.

(The small extension cord filters stink, don't trust them for anything larger or more valuable than a night light.) I will get maker and point of contact for the whole house filter, don't have it immediately available.

PS, larger ones (whole building) are made too for copiers, computers, motors and industrial settings. (Out of household/Y2K level problem though, nut soemthing to consider. Lightening, for example, wiped out Atlanta 911 services last year for 12-16 hours about two years ago.)

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 13, 1998.