I have a very inexpensive surge protector with my digital cable box
and 19" CRT tv plugged into it. Last night, about 1 min after I turned
the tv on, it turned off and would not turn back on. I unplugged it
and plugged it back in and the same thing happened again. So I got out
a power strip and plugged it into the same wall outlet. I plugged the
tv into the power strip and the tv worked normally. What does this
mean? Is something wrong with the surge protector or the tv? The cable
box works fine plugged into the surge protector.

On Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:26:19 -0700 (PDT), Jo
wrote:

I have a very inexpensive surge protector with my digital cable box
and 19" CRT tv plugged into it. Last night, about 1 min after I turned
the tv on, it turned off and would not turn back on. I unplugged it
and plugged it back in and the same thing happened again. So I got out
a power strip and plugged it into the same wall outlet. I plugged the
tv into the power strip and the tv worked normally. What does this
mean? Is something wrong with the surge protector or the tv? The cable
box works fine plugged into the surge protector.
You have 'Electronics Hell'. The parts pass (rudimentary) tests, but
do not work together.

How many outlets are ther in this 'very inexpensive surge protector'?
Have you tried another outlet on the surge protector, or swapping the
TV and cable box plugs to the other outlets if there are no spare
outlets?

If this is an ultra cheap surge protector the most likely cause is a
poor contact between the TV plug and the metal strip in the outlet.

Granted, it's only a cable box and a TV that could be replaced by
picking up a free one on Craigslist, but using an inexpensive surge
protector is a little like buying the cheapest parachute for
skydiving. And no, I'm not suggesting buying a $50 Monster AV800.

PlainBill

On 9/24/2010 11:26 AM, Jo wrote:
I have a very inexpensive surge protector with my digital cable box
and 19" CRT tv plugged into it. Last night, about 1 min after I turned
the tv on, it turned off and would not turn back on. I unplugged it
and plugged it back in and the same thing happened again. So I got out
a power strip and plugged it into the same wall outlet. I plugged the
tv into the power strip and the tv worked normally. What does this
mean? Is something wrong with the surge protector or the tv? The cable
box works fine plugged into the surge protector.
Some of these cheap surge protector strips have an indicator showing the
protection circuit is now dead and they cease to operate. presumably
because too many spikes have wiped out the protection device. I had a
couple, they lasted less than 6 months, so I ripped them apart and
rewired them as standard power strips.
JC

Does the cheap surge protector have a circuit breaker, or similar device?
These can gradually develop a high series resistance. This will cause the
breaker to heat up and open.

I was warned some years ago by a fire marshal that such cheap surge
protector often cause fires by overheating.

On 9/24/2010 4:49 PM, William Sommerwerck wrote:
Does the cheap surge protector have a circuit breaker, or similar device?
These can gradually develop a high series resistance. This will cause the
breaker to heat up and open.

I was warned some years ago by a fire marshal that such cheap surge
protector often cause fires by overheating.


Its a while back now but I think it had a MOV inside and some crappy
little circuit board. I didn't spend much time looking at it, it annoyed
me as I needed to use the equipment connected to it and didn't have a
spare strip available. So very hasty hatchet job.
JC

On Sep 24, 4:57 pm, Archon wrote:
Its a while back now but I think it had a MOV inside and some crappy
little circuit board. I didn't spend much time looking at it, it annoyed
me as I needed to use the equipment connected to it and didn't have a
spare strip available. So very hasty hatchet job.

Any protector damaged by a surge was never doing any protection. In
any facility that can never have damage, the protector is always
located at the service entrance (ie breaker box) with the always
required shot connection to earth.

TV connects directly to AC mains if plugged into that cheap
protector. Only thing between the TV and AC mains a 15 amp circuit
breaker. CB exists on every power strip - with or without protector
circuits. Nothing inside a power strip protector changes electricity.

If the wall receptacle is worn (must be replaced), then a two prong
TV plug can be intermittent. A three prong power strip plug would be
held firmly. TVs also have internal protector circuits. That
safety lockout is reset only by unplugging the TV. Two possible
reasons for TV failure.

Any protector damaged by a surge was never doing
any protection.

Not according to APC, et al. Most equipment-replacement warrantees require
that the surge protector be damaged. By the manufacturer's reasoning, if the
protector wasn't damaged, then it must have absorbed the surge -- and
therefore the equipment could not have been damaged.

On 9/24/2010 7:54 PM, westom wrote:
On Sep 24, 4:57 pm, wrote:
Its a while back now but I think it had a MOV inside and some crappy
little circuit board. I didn't spend much time looking at it, it annoyed
me as I needed to use the equipment connected to it and didn't have a
spare strip available. So very hasty hatchet job.

Any protector damaged by a surge was never doing any protection. In
any facility that can never have damage, the protector is always
located at the service entrance (ie breaker box) with the always
required shot connection to earth.

TV connects directly to AC mains if plugged into that cheap
protector. Only thing between the TV and AC mains a 15 amp circuit
breaker. CB exists on every power strip - with or without protector
circuits. Nothing inside a power strip protector changes electricity.

If the wall receptacle is worn (must be replaced), then a two prong
TV plug can be intermittent. A three prong power strip plug would be
held firmly. TVs also have internal protector circuits. That
safety lockout is reset only by unplugging the TV. Two possible
reasons for TV failure.


Read up on MOV's

From Belkin :

So what does this mean with regard to surge protection? Well, a typical
surge protector (PowerSquid included) utilizes Metal Oxide Varistors
(MOVs) to redirect electric currents above a specified voltage (clamping
voltage) instead of allowing the surge to enter the connected equipment.
The MOV absorbs the excess electrical energy - here is where the joule
comes in - and dissipates it as heat energy. MOVs are rated by the
number of joules that they can absorb, which is a finite number.
Ultimately, after the MOVs absorb all of the joules that they can, the
surge protector will activate its Tripwire Circuit and sacrifice itself
for the betterment of the connected equipment. In other words: you will
have to replace your surge protector,

JC