I have a ceiling mounted projector that I would like to protect with a surge suppressor/battery backup unit. Is there any way to protect the entire circuit from the electrical box? I had a surge destroy my projector lamp and I would like to try to prevent it from happening again. Thanks.

Blaine Canfield

A panelboard surge protection is recommended, called Level C. Do a web search for "whole house surge protection" and you will find many products available.

It is a tough fight . I just went through it turning up 10,000 hits for the same junk I can buy at Big Lots. Check your breaker box and include your breaker type. I had a lot better luck looking for one for my GE box including THQL in my search. Belt and suspender types will still have a regular one at expensive equipment. The directions for mine said to use them too.

Look for equipment warranties such as these products.

Tripp Lite Audio Video Surge Suppressors (http://www.tripplite.com/products/suppressors/audiovideo.cfm).

But, I do agree a whole house surge suppressor is worth considering as well.

There is a lot more to this than a warranty with surge protector. If they didn't manage to weasel out of it, you could take the warranty payment and go buy a new projector, likely a better one than the old. What about the data on your hard drive? Videos of the kids? The GE THQL surge Pro I bought and installed in my breaker box doesn't activate until the voltage reaches 600. What it is really meant to do is to stop the big stuff at the box that would fry any of the plug in types. Its warranty is void if you don't have additional protection. It is kind of like the shield you have between you and your work. You then wear goggles too.

Anybody know much about what I have read at Surge Protectors, Surge Protector Manufacturers - Brick Wall (http://www.brickwall.com?) What they are saying sounds good, but is it more than marketing hype? I concluded a whole house series surge protector was nothing I wanted to try to install myself. I am thinking of sticking some inductors in places such as the feed to my pump. A new pump at Lowe's wouldn't run that much, but submersible pumps are a pain to replace.