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From: wjm@whuxk.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Protect Your Stuff from Power Line Spikes
Message-ID: <293@whuxk.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Oct-83 08:54:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxk.293
Posted: Wed Oct 19 08:54:03 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 20-Oct-83 07:37:59 EDT
Lines: 23

One additional point about power line spike protection  that rabbit!jj
reminded me about (thankx).  Be sure to use devices that are UL approved (or
CSA approved if you are a Canadian reader of the net).  Both the GE and Radio
Shack devices I mentioned in my original article have UL approval (and I think
CSA approval as well but check for yourself to be sure).  For safety, it is
essential to only use approved devices in any electrical system, and the
National Electrical Code (as well as many local codes) requires that devices
be listed (approved) by a recognized testing laboratory (generally this is UL)
for the purpose that they will be used for.
While we're on the subject, one should check new audio equipment that one
is purchasing for UL, CSA, or equivalent (such as the German VDE) approval,
since this tells you that the gear passed safety checks for shock and fire
hazards before it left the factory and provides some protection for you and
anyone else near your equipment.
Also, be sure to check your equipment for leakage current after doing any
repairs on it - and make sure the technician checks it for safety after
it is repaired in the shop.  If you don't know how to do a leakage check,
DON'T fix your own stuff until you learn how - Its a very simple procedure
and is outlined in many books on audio and TV repair and only requires a
reasonably high impedance AC voltmeter and some small components.
Bill Mitchell
Bell Laboratories
Whippany, NJ  (whuxk!wjm)