Anybody heard of this?

[j.handsome]

A couple of weeks ago both my comp. monitor and TV started going dark. Very dark. On the same day in fact. Now the monitor was a second hand piece of shit, that was already on it's last legs, but my TV is only 3 yrs. old (Toshiba 36HFX71).

Chalking it up to bad luck, I got a new monitor (Samsung 19" 997df), and sent my TV into the shop. My new monitor's been working great, and the TV guy said that it was a loose connection on the CRT board, and I should get it back tomorrow. Great. Problems solved right? Well, now this morning I've woken up to darkening Comp. monitor. WTF?

Anybody heard of this? Could it be as simple as a power surge? I mean, my video card is less than a year old...

Any advice would be great. Thx. (Hopefully I'll be able to read it)

[Wirehed]

Sounds like you're having a power problem. I would get your power company out to check your lines pronto.

[j.handsome]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

Sounds like you're having a power problem. I would get your power company out to check your lines pronto.

Thanks...

I put a call into my landlord and he's sending an electrician by.

My next question is for my Home Theatre stuff is it practical (or necessary) to have a UPS as well as a Surge Protector?

[plissken99]

A UPS is overkill I think. I forget what their called, but there is a device like a surge protector, but it takes the power it recieves, and regulates it to stay at 60hz. Unfiltered power jumps all over the place from 30hz to 100hz, but keeping it at 60hz cleans up the signal and makes things more stable. Many say it improves video noise in your picture, and audible noise from your speaker when the reciever is plugged in.

They have fancy versions of these that blend in with your electronics, and has a big red LED face to tell you what the power is doing, but all you need is the version that looks like a surge protector. These can be found at Ultimate Electronics if you have one of those near by.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by plissken99

A UPS is overkill I think. I forget what their called, but there is a device like a surge protector, but it takes the power it recieves, and regulates it to stay at 60hz. Unfiltered power jumps all over the place from 30hz to 100hz, but keeping it at 60hz cleans up the signal and makes things more stable. Many say it improves video noise in your picture, and audible noise from your speaker when the reciever is plugged in.

This sounds like a "line conditioner", I believe. A line conditioner "cleans up" the incoming power, providing a "clean" stream of power to the components that need it.

Peace...

[Sycho]

Originally Posted by plissken99

A UPS is overkill I think. I forget what their called, but there is a device like a surge protector, but it takes the power it recieves, and regulates it to stay at 60hz. Unfiltered power jumps all over the place from 30hz to 100hz, but keeping it at 60hz cleans up the signal and makes things more stable. Many say it improves video noise in your picture, and audible noise from your speaker when the reciever is plugged in.

the power will always be a 60hz, but the line voltage jumps from 80V AC to 160V AC a line conditioner will adjust the incoming voltage to either 110V or 120V, and a UPS will do that for you and allow you to run a few things during a black out

[j.handsome]

Thanks for the advice guys...

I'm thinkin' about a UPS, or maybe one of these... http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...46&newdeptid=2

[plissken99]

Originally Posted by Sycho

the power will always be a 60hz, but the line voltage jumps from 80V AC to 160V AC a line conditioner will adjust the incoming voltage to either 110V or 120V, and a UPS will do that for you and allow you to run a few things during a black out

Right, right, it's been a while since I looked into these. Anyway, yes that Monster Power Center is what I've seen, and should do nicely(assuming the power really is the cause of this problem).

[j.handsome]

Originally Posted by plissken99

Right, right, it's been a while since I looked into these. Anyway, yes that Monster Power Center is what I've seen, and should do nicely(assuming the power really is the cause of this problem).

Hey... it's either that or gremlins...

[Wirehed]

Originally Posted by Sycho

the power will always be a 60hz, but the line voltage jumps from 80V AC to 160V AC a line conditioner will adjust the incoming voltage to either 110V or 120V, and a UPS will do that for you and allow you to run a few things during a black out

Yup. I've got one myself. It's a big block, about 150lbs with four plugs in it. I have my receiver and my CD player plugged into it.

I have a UPS for my projector because in the event of a power outage I want the fan to be able to run.

You would need a pretty large (read: expensive) UPS to be able to run an amp/receiver with, and I doubt you really need such a thing at all. But always have some kind of surge protector plugged in. You can go with one of the cheap ones, just check to see if it has a good replacement deal in the event the surge protector doesn't work, most say they will replace up to $50,000 in lost equipment, and you should be able to pick one of these up in the $10-20 range.

[fivetom]

You guys are actualy blending two different items into the term "line conditioner".

A line conditioner reduces line noise. Line noise comes from just about anything you plug in for power. Everything plugged in at your house will cause some sort of distortion to your ac power. Like, if you turn on a blow-dryer or a vac-cleaner and you get instant "snow" on your screen or hum thru your speakers. Basic line conditioners, like the $80-100 monster power surges, will kill most line noise from your outlet to your gear. Thats a great start, but all of your gear creates noise of its own. Thats where the big boys come in. The bigger "componet size" line conditioners also clean between the gear. Some as simple as audio to video. And others that seperate outlet to outlet with different filtering for different componet types.

The other componet you'er talking about is a voltage regulator. This is the componet that regardless of the voltage comming into your outlet, 120v is comming out (+ or - 10 to 80v depending on the unit). Your gear's power supply can get very stressed if the voltage going to it is too weak or too strong. Think of a car takeing off in 5th gear or doing 55 down the road in 1st. Your car won't las long doing either.

By adding one or both of these, you should be able to notice a difference in the quality of your system. Some times a vast improvement and others null. But, all and all your system should last longer regardless.


P.S.
If you go to the power companys web site, they typicaly say that they suck, are not responsable for noisy or varrying voltages, and tell you to buy these products.