[Elecraft] Surge Protection

[Mark Kopec]

Good point about the extensions. However, I am under the impression that
none of the UPS or surge protector manufacturers would actually pay a claim
for power related damage regardless of the connection. When I researched
this issue several years ago I discovered the UPS and surge protector
manufacturers greatly depreciated the value of connected equipment so the
UPS or surge protector warranty is actually unusable. This is why the
advertising has outlandish claims of high value protection. The equipment
owner is left with trying to collect through homeowner's insurance, but that
solution would only work in event of a major catastrophe due to the
deductible.

 

I simply assume that I will be responsible for replacement of my equipment.
Two of my APC UPSes have an LCD. The display has been a good information
source during a brownout or power surge. A few months ago I noticed very
infrequent power surges where the AC line reached 185V. This occurred maybe
once a week. I had no idea what was causing it. Then one day a power
transformer for my street failed. After it was replaced I had no more
voltage spikes. The UPS handled the high voltage well, protecting
everything.

 

Mark

W5KXX

 

From: Ian Kahn - Ham [mailto:km4ik.ian at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 5:07 PM
To: Mark Kopec
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Surge Protection

 

Just as an FYI for everyone, using any type of extension device to go from
an outlet/device to a UPS typically nullifies any warranty the UPS
manufacturer offers.  If you use an extension device (cord, surge protector,
etc.) there is no way to know if any power-related damage to your device
happened because of UPS failure or the failure of some other device in the
chain.

I've dealt with this often in my 18 years' work in IT.

--Ian



Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA  EM74ua
km4ik.ian at gmail.com
K3 #281, P3 #688
HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team