Surge protectors for video equipment

[lilblu]

Do surge protectors actually provide protection from surges and are they worh getting for tvs, dvd players, etc.? By surge protector, I mean those ones that look like power strips that are usually sold for $10-$50+. A lot of people recommend them but a lot of people say they're just junk that doesn't work. I know they wouldn't hold up from something major like a lightning strike. At my house when the weather is bad we've had the electric go out and then come back on a second later, then go out, then come back on. The tvs go on and off with it if they had been on.

So, any opinions? I'm sure someone here must know if they work and are worth getting.

[Bjs]

Yes they do fine for what they are ... but I'd tell user's to keep an eye out for those that give $10,000 connected equipment protection insurance or better .

I picked up whats called , the "pod" made here in au ... for $50au , it come's with $100,000 connected equipment protection , and 3 year's warrantee ... cheap .

If lightning strike's within 5km directly to power line , and equipment is affected ... you need to get your local electrical authority to write a report that concludes the strike was outside the distance not covered by the insurance .

That is from your home ... to a maximum distance as shown by insurance documentation ... on a direct line over this distance .

The lightning strike must occur outside of this "direct line" distance to be covered .

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Then you get into fancy powerboards running into a couple of hundred dollar's .

Belkin make one that cover's all av equipment , including aerial connection , and these come with $200,000.00+ insurance cover ... but read the fine print again on lightning strike's .

Considering the modern equipment is very susceptible to electrical spike's from any source , it's worth adding one of these device's to protect expensive av equipment .

If you have to go out , or there are storm's about ... turn the whole lot off at the power point to be completely sure ... even these powerboards wont protect 100% if the charge received exceeds the limit of the device ...

The last belkin device I bought had 5 year's guarantee with it ... that at least break's down to around $40au per year which is peace of mind .

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Even massive electrical discharge's that dont connect physically with the device ... but nearby with a thump , can cause problem's .

It is alway's best to turn off all device's from power point's when storm's are around , or going out / away on holiday .

The most common reported device here in the au that cause's fire's in the home when people are away , is the vcr ... it still has power flowing into it , and suck's dust inside over time ... it should be turned off at the power point .