Fancy Power Strips..

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dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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Ok, so my Rocket RS450's are coming tomorrow along with my BIC H-100 sub. I will be hooking up a receiver, PS3, xbox360, TV, and cable box.

Right now I have a decent power strip, but I am going to need more plugs so I will be buying a new power strip. I am just wondering what you guys suggest for a power strip? I don't think I need a power cleaner or anything as I live in a pretty new building in an area with pretty new power lines, but I do want to ensure I can protect my stuff.

Would something like a computer battery backup work? Seems like they are a little less overpriced than home video stuff.

Thanks.
 
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dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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there is a big difference in price between those 2 items. Is there any reason to spend $200? I've already spent a good bit of money, so another $200 is ok if there is value in it.
 
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Elstupido

Senior member
Jan 28, 2008
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Obviously, the higher the joule rating the better, and the price. I believe that when you spend over $40 you are better served with a good UPS such as APC which will save your data and give you a very high amount of protection during power surges and brownouts. Depends on how much current your system draws, I recently bought a 900va APC UPS from Office Depot for $80 AR, which is so overkill for me, it's not even funny, but to me well worth the money over a high rated power strip.
 
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Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
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Don't even consider spending big money on a fancy power-strip/surge protecter ... spend roughly 1/2 that amount at most plus get much better protection with a UPS instead ... don't waste money on insanely over-priced Monster-cable models either, APC will work just fine.



Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS


i use this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1172881564111 for my 52in XBR5 + Onkyo SR605 setup though
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Do you have the $170 Monster HDMI cable and the $110 Monster M-seris component cable too? :D


 
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Midnight Rambler

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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I'm using a Belkin PureAV® PF31 Home Theater Power Console (Model # is AP21100fc12-BLK) and am quite impressed with it.

Check it out at Amazon for approx. $135 shipped (best price I've since incl. shipping). Read the reviews there too, rates very highly, just about all 5-star reviews

Sure, it's a lot more than just a surge protector, but for the price, you cannot beat its performance and features. Something similar from Monster would easily cost $150-200 more ...
 
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DisgruntledVirus

Lifer
Dec 26, 2007
11,782
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Originally posted by: Midnight Rambler
I'm using a Belkin PureAV® PF31 Home Theater Power Console (Model # is AP21100fc12-BLK) and am quite impressed with it.

Check it out at Amazon for approx. $135 shipped (best price I've since incl. shipping). Read the reviews there too, rates very highly, just about all 5-star reviews

Sure, it's a lot more than just a surge protector, but for the price, you cannot beat its performance and features. Something similar from Monster would easily cost $150-200 more ...
Click to expand...

I use that one also, and I like it quite a bit. For my A/V and PC's I get worried about that stuff, so I would rather spend a bit more to get something that is rated higher. I don't want to take the chance at a surge killing my $10k worth of electronics in that room lol
 
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s44

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2006
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The only thing that will actually stop a real surge is this. But even the el cheapo ones from any real manufacturer will give you more warranty coverage than you need.
 
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krotchy

Golden Member
Mar 29, 2006
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I personally use a 1150W/1500VA APC UPS I got from circuit city on a deal for my HTPC, 360, Wii, TV and Receiver. Its a heavy bastard, but it gets the job done and can handle all my components on at once, which is something I have never actually done aside from testing the thing out :p

Course I am a bit paranoid, and the unit is typically around 200 bucks and I paid like 110. Unless you feel you need a battery backup you can find plenty of nice quality surge protectors under 50 dollars or so with tons of nice spaced outlets and the same quality those monster jokes will give you.
 
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dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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Thanks for the suggestions so far. I am hoping to find something I can buy locally since I am going to start hooking stuff up today and I didnt think to order something in advance. I am going to looking into a UPS. How do I know what Watt and Amperage rating to get?
 
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krotchy

Golden Member
Mar 29, 2006
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Originally posted by: dmw16
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I am hoping to find something I can buy locally since I am going to start hooking stuff up today and I didnt think to order something in advance. I am going to looking into a UPS. How do I know what Watt and Amperage rating to get?
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This part is kinda tricky.

1 VA (Volt Amp) = 1Watt with 100% Power factor. However most AC appliances draw current out of phase with voltage making the power factor lower (Assumed can be as low as 66%)

Assuming you only hook up your expensive components to the UPS, add up the total Amperage they list as drawing and multply it by 120V.

Something like a subwoofer is probably going to want to go into the surge supressing outlets on the UPS and not the battery backup ones since it pulls more current than most things and doesnt need a soft turn off.

Lets say you decide on TV, Receiver and DVD Player. The listed current draw of the TV might say 3.5A, receiver 6A, DVD player .5A Now you have 10A, meaning you need a 1200VA UPS.

However its worth remembering that you are likely never going to pull the full current from all your devices at any given time, and you likely wont have them all on at once. Good UPS's from companies like cyberpower, tripplite, APC and whatnot will tell you what % of their maximum rating they are running at. So you might hook up your things and realize you need more or have plenty of head room. In the end, try to buy the best one you think is worth it to you, hook up everything, turn it on (and loud... so more power from receiver) then figure out what else you can backup until you are comfortable with.

Also keep in mind running a UPS at 100% gives you like 5 minutes to turn off the components typically, so headroom in VA = headroom in shut down time.
 
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Elstupido

Senior member
Jan 28, 2008
643
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That doesn't look bad at all, I wonder who makes that unit for BB. I think the UPS is a very wise choice, do you know the current draw for all your components?
 
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Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
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I'm using an APC 650va UPS that I got onsale at CC for $49 for the Toshiba 42 inch LCD, DVR & HD-DVD player in my living room & in my den I'm using an older APC 800va for the same model-line 37 inch Toshiba plus my PS3 & DVR ... both systems surge-protect all components plus the coax-cable & the battery backups are good for at least 15 minutes uptime. (its important to note that both my audio systems are only running off the surge-protected outlets not the battery-protected ones)
 
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biggestmuff

Diamond Member
Mar 20, 2001
8,201
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Originally posted by: Midnight Rambler
I'm using a Belkin PureAV® PF31 Home Theater Power Console (Model # is AP21100fc12-BLK) and am quite impressed with it.

Check it out at Amazon for approx. $135 shipped (best price I've since incl. shipping). Read the reviews there too, rates very highly, just about all 5-star reviews

Sure, it's a lot more than just a surge protector, but for the price, you cannot beat its performance and features. Something similar from Monster would easily cost $150-200 more ...
Click to expand...

Really? Name three ways that you are 'quite impressed' with the item.
 
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Elstupido

Senior member
Jan 28, 2008
643
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For that kind of money it needs to cook breakfast, and do the dishes! A whole lot of money unless you are a true audiophile with unlimited resourses
 
Modelworks

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
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Grab some of these for 2/$1.00 and stick them in the wall outlet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varistor
Its about the same thing you get with a surge protector, power strip.

Seriously though, don't spend big for a power strip.
And all that advertising lingo about "250,000.00 insurance", is just there to boost sales.
Your going to have a hard time proving it was their equipment that allowed your device to be harmed.

Want the best protection from damage to electronics from surge ?
Call your insurance company , most have lightning damage protection for the entire home.
I can get it for 7.95 a month and it covers everything from appliances to the pc.

 
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dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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Ended up with THIS. For $134 I figured it would be a good way to go. Probably overkill, but that's ok, it doesn't look like crap like my old power strip.
 
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Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
10,877
136
Originally posted by: dmw16
Ended up with THIS. For $134 I figured it would be a good way to go. Probably overkill, but that's ok, it doesn't look like crap like my old power strip.
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Definately overkill there but thats a high quality piece of equipment ... good choice.
 
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krotchy

Golden Member
Mar 29, 2006
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Originally posted by: dmw16
Ended up with THIS. For $134 I figured it would be a good way to go. Probably overkill, but that's ok, it doesn't look like crap like my old power strip.
Click to expand...

Nice choice. That is the little brother of the one I ended up buying (though not much smaller). IIRC you arent plugging a receiver into yours, so I am sure you have plenty of head room. I love the active wattage readout on the front of the unit. Like having a Kill-A-Watt plugged in at all times :p
 
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