Power conditioner needed in satellite closet?
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:51 am
Quick question on satellite closet. I'm in the process of cleaning up ours. It looks like one of those systems that was always added onto and never streamlined or taken away from.
My question is specifically about a power unit that is in there that I think is a power "conditioner". Sorry if I'm using the wrong term here, but the purpose of the unit is to bring up or bring down the power so it's at just the precise 110v. I see two sets of LEDs on the front which show whether the incoming power is coming in under power or over power, and another set which shows the output voltage (whether its under or over - it stays in the dead center at 110v).
This unit is placed downstream of a regular surge protector. The only units attached to this device are my two gray satellite receivers. They are attached using AC to DC power transformers.
My question is: is this power conditioner necessary to protect the receivers or is it just wasting space? My thinking is that the surge protector is the first line of defense in case of a power surge. If it doesn't do its job then at worst the AC to DC power transformer would blow before it caused any harm to the satellite receivers.
The transformers themselves are able to handle small fluctuations in current without issue - the DC out remains steady - so I don't need to worry about the current being slightly under 110v either.
I personally don't see the use for this. It isn't one of the nice, compact rackmount power conditioners... it's a big bulky box with one input cord and one output cord that is sitting in the back of the rack preventing it from closing all the way.
Anyone want to try to convince me to keep it?
My question is specifically about a power unit that is in there that I think is a power "conditioner". Sorry if I'm using the wrong term here, but the purpose of the unit is to bring up or bring down the power so it's at just the precise 110v. I see two sets of LEDs on the front which show whether the incoming power is coming in under power or over power, and another set which shows the output voltage (whether its under or over - it stays in the dead center at 110v).
This unit is placed downstream of a regular surge protector. The only units attached to this device are my two gray satellite receivers. They are attached using AC to DC power transformers.
My question is: is this power conditioner necessary to protect the receivers or is it just wasting space? My thinking is that the surge protector is the first line of defense in case of a power surge. If it doesn't do its job then at worst the AC to DC power transformer would blow before it caused any harm to the satellite receivers.
The transformers themselves are able to handle small fluctuations in current without issue - the DC out remains steady - so I don't need to worry about the current being slightly under 110v either.
I personally don't see the use for this. It isn't one of the nice, compact rackmount power conditioners... it's a big bulky box with one input cord and one output cord that is sitting in the back of the rack preventing it from closing all the way.
Anyone want to try to convince me to keep it?