Posted by Trevor on 11/16/36 11:39

On Wed, 8 Feb 2006 13:24:59 -0600, "Deke" <no spam@today.com> wrote:

>
><felixcct@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:1139413957.810444.161570@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>> w_tom wrote:
>> > If his problem was solved by a surge protector, then nothing in the
>> > player would function. Furthermore, a surge protector "in series" is a
>> > myth. Plug-in protector promoted by people who don't even know what a
>> > surge protector does. A protector that 'looks' like it is between a
>> > VCR/DVD player and AC electric is really only in parallel. A
>> > destructive transient hits protector and player simultaneously. Since
>> > players already have internal protection, then a trivial surge may not
>> > damage the player - and yet fully vaporize the typically undersized
>> > protector. Trivial surge struck both equally and simultaneously. But
>> > only grossly undersized protector failed - provided ineffective
>> > protection.
>>
>> Actually this is not quite a correct version of how a surge protector
>> works.
>>
>> Real surge protectors typically have the following specifications:
>> 1. Peak voltage allowed to pass
>> 2. Response time to respond to over-voltage
>> 3. Maximum energy sinked to ground before destruction
>>
>> When a voltage spike arrives at the surge protector, if it exceeds the
>> peak limit, the surge protector will drop to very low resistance and
>> begin diverting the current to ground. The response time is critical in
>> determining how much of the spike's energy will reach the protected
>> equipment. It's not the voltage of the spike that matters, it's the
>> total energy that gets through - i.e., voltage x current x time, with
>> the time being the critical factor that's up to the surge protector.
>>
>> Surge protectors also have a maximum energy capacity. If it is
>> exceeded, the surge protector will be destroyed, which may allow
>> additional energy to get through to the now-unprotected equipment (but
>> hopefully by then a line fuse or breaker in the current loop will have
>> opened). Many types of surge protectors are intended for one-time-use -
>> if they divert a surge, they are permanently affected, and need to be
>> replaced.
>>
>Well said, and exactly correct. Its also why I use several surge protectors
>plugged one into another.

My assumption is that devices typically sold as "surge protectors"
offer little or no actual protection, other than some (misplaced?)
peace of mind. If that assumption is correct, what benefit would be
gained by daisy chaining several of them together? (The old 0+0=0
theory.) Am I wrong?

>And theres also Panamax's $25,000.00 replacement
>guarantee, altho I've never known anyone to use it. I have known of them
>replacing damaged protectors for free though. Thats why my local
>electronics shop sells them.

What if the local shop sells them simply because there's demand for
them, and not because they actually work? :)

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