Now that you are more aware of power problems and the various solutions, we recommend the following approach in choosing a surge protector. This approach eliminates the technitalk and confusion that the selection process could entail, and, hopefully, will demystify the selection process.
Step 1. What are you protecting? How valuable are these products? With computers, also consider the value of your data; a surge can destroy it all, as well as causing significant equipment damage. Even home telephones, with telephone numbers in memory will lose the programmed telephone numbers to a surge. The same is true with programmable VCRs and TVs.
You should also consider power protection for other conduits of surges. Surges are not limited to AC lines. TV and telephone cables can also carry transient surges. Therefore, any equipment such as a VCR, TV and HiFi System connected to an exterior antenna or CATV cable deserves protection. The same can be said for telephone lines acting as a conduit for surges. Equipment connected to these lines; telephones, modems, faxes--; need telephone line protection as well as AC line protection.
Once you have reviewed the equipment to be protected, the cost of repair or replacement, loss of productivity, business or enjoyment, and the inconvenience to get the equipment repaired or replaced, you can then assess how much insurance you need. The more insurance you need, the better the protection and the greater the cost.
Step 2. Look at the UL 1449 Suppressed Voltage rating. This number reflects the amount of volt age the surge suppressor will let through to your connected equipment after clamping. The lower the rating, the better.
500V - Good |
400V - Better |
330V - Best |
Step 3. Stages of Protection/Surge Current Rating. UL 1449 is great as far as it goes, but it does not tell you how much surge current (in amps) can be handled or how quickly the suppressor will clamp. With multiple stages of protection, different components are used to sup press a surge. The more stages, the more surge current can be handled.
1 stage - Good |
2 stages - Better |
3 stages - Best |
The surge current rating in amps lets you know the maximum amount of surge current that can be safely handled by the suppressor. The higher the number, the better.
Step 4. Clamping Response Time.
How quickly does the suppressor respond--the faster the better. - Nanosecond (billionths of a second) - Better - Picosecond (trillionths of a second) - Best
Step 5. Incoming Lines Protected--The more, the better. 1 line (Hot to Neutral) - Good 2 lines (Hot to Neutral, Hot to Ground) - Better 3 lines (Hot to Neutral, Hot to Ground, Neutral to Ground) - Best
Step 6. Warranty. A summation, of sorts, regarding the pluses of a manufacturers product. The longer the better. Especially look for products that feature lifetime warranties and equipment replacement guarantees. |