by
David Eidell
Surge Supressors, dampen unwanted electrical impulses that can damage sensitive digital circuits. However surge supressors cannot affect or modify long term (longer than a minute fraction of a second) voltage abnormalities. To accomodate low or high voltage, a device called a "Ferroresonant Transformer" (sometimes known as a Line Tamer) is plugged inline with the computer AC power cord.
Outlet strip surge protectors range from laughable to commendable performance and protection. I'll list a series of internal components that range from basic to sopisticated that may or may not be inside your surge protector. Better (more expensive) models usually list higher grade construction materials on the outside of the packing carton. The very best protectors include all three devices as part of the package)
1. MOV (metal oxide varistors) Very limited protection.
2. Gas Tube Discharge Device (Very Good protection)
3. Avalanche Rectifiers (Better yet).
ISOLATION TRANSFORMERS can be plugged into a wall socket and your computer can be connected in turn to the Isolation Transformer. Be sure that you choose a transformer large enough to handle your computer's load. Usually a 350 VA transformer is large enough to handle the very largest and most powerful PC's. The benefit of using an ISOLATION TRANSFORMER is that they eliminate about 99.99% of the "bad electricity" that can harm your computer's power supply. The transformer can handle more work than any "surge supressor" and does a better job to boot. You can find an ISOLATION TRANSFORMER in the yellow pages under "Electronic Surplus Dealers". It may take one or two calls to find the right store, but the effort is well worth it. By the way, if you connect an isolation transformer to a DC/AC power inverter, the electricity is changed in absolutely pure sine wave power (at the expense of some loss of efficiency with the inverter).
Next time, I shall write a short article on Ferroresonant Transformers. They even have the capability of subduing wild and wooly Mexican Electricity!
¡Saludos!
David Eidell