Isolation transformer - does it offer protection

i have no technical experience or reference.

OTOH i do use an Equi=tech 10WQ Wall Panel System which uses a 10kw balanced isolation transformer for my audio circuits in a dedicated room. i have all the lights, HVAC and non audio electical on a separate panel. forgetting the performance advantages across the board, which are considerable, since i installed the Equi=tech last summer, when the lights flicker my system is not affected, it plays along unaffected. and twice when i had power outages my system continues playing for 4-8 seconds after the lights go out. my amp blows a fuse if the power is turned on and off quickly, as that triggers the protection circuit. so now i have a buffer of time to get up, walk over and turn it off.

does my experience indicate that spikes are reduced or eliminated. i don't know. but it seems like i have considerable protection from the bad stuff.

BTW, the shield shunting to ground obviously requires that an outlet, it's corresponding fused circuit/panel, and the entire house are properly grounded in the first place - which a frightening number are not.

07-12-11: Jedinite24
Nope it doesn't...I had an amp plugged into an industrial 1.8 KVA Topaz Isolation transformer

While that might seem like a large isolation transformer by weight, it really isn't that large when it comes to electrical spikes. 1.8KVA=120V x 15A.

I bought six Topaz 2.4KVA Ultra-Isolators from a guy who was using three in series per channel, which is called "cascading"(?). He was doing so for common noise reduction, but the effect also works for filtering of spikes(I think). Each succeeding transformer knocks down the remaining spike until none, or very little, is passed.

Or, you can just do it right from square one and get a big daddy at your panel like Mike.

Depends on the frequency response characterisitcs of the transformer and its construction.

For mid frequency transients, it may work very well. But some solation transformers capacitively couple very high frequency spikes from input to output without significant attenuation. So you cannot use them by themselves without additional surge protection.

I prefer using a good transient surge protection like Furman's products better than an isolation transformer.

07-20-11: Dhl93449
...But some solation transformers capacitively couple very high frequency spikes from input to output without significant attenuation. So you cannot use them by themselves without additional surge protection.

I was not aware of this, thanks for the tip.

Seek some thorough advice. http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surge_protector

My house was once hit by lightening a mere 6 feet from my on stereo. The system was plugged into a Sound Application unit. While most of the electronic on one side of my house was fried, neither the SA or my system were harmed.