Erik,
Given that I don't have to deal with lightning where I live, and power is actually underground so cars don't hit poles either.
But I would rather take my chances and buy new gear if damaged than compromise sound quality.
Jerry
Why whole house surge protectors are not enough
TL;DR:
One measure of a surge protector is the clamping voltage. That is, at what voltage does the surge protector actually start to work. Whole house surge protectors are limited to no less than ~ 600 Volts (instantaneous) between a leg and neutral or ground. That’s up to 1,200V if symmetrical.
The best surge protecting strips and conditioners clamp below 200 Volts.
Please keep this in mind when deciding whether or not to use surge protectors at your PC, stereo, TV, etc. in addition to a whole house unit.
I wrote more about this here:
https://inatinear.blogspot.com/2021/09/time-for-new-surge-suppression.html
No manufacturer of whole house surge protection claims that their devices alone are enough for sensitive electronics when you check the fine print.
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Do whatever you’d like so long as you remain informed. :) Personally, I don’t even want to LIFT the equipment off my rack, much less deal with insurance or replacements. :) Also, I run some nice PC’s here and don’t want them to fry with my data on them, same for my music collection. Here on the SC coast I have underground power in my neighborhood but that doesn’t stop the power from glitching due to transformer and other power issues elsewhere. My surge protectors or UPS has to intervene about 3x a year even without lightning or known vehicular assaults on my gear. :) As for the rest of the home, I have a lot of permanently attached devices besides major appliances such as automated lights, fire alarms and GFCI outlets. I met a man a month ago or so whose home was struck and he lost his entire outdoor AC units. No idea if a WHSP would have saved him, but just evidence that we are prone to that kind of damage here. |
I have a Siemens that monitors the voltage from the breaker it’s good for around $6 years and the LEDs if they turn red it’s time to change or stopped a electrical surge it was under $300. And saved my $3500 OLED tvs and computers to me it was$$ well spent from my Audio I have a custom one my AudioEngineer friend built for me as well as my 4 wire AWG 10 dedicated line with a common ground as well as a insulated isolated ground and it’s own dedicated Copper buzz bar and ground . Even with a audio computer I get very quiet black back grounds . |
@audioman58 I have the same brand, but mine stop blinking and an audible alarm goes off. Even so, their high clamping voltage is why I supplement those with point of use surge protectors. |
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