This is only a preview of the November 2011 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 26 of the 104 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments. For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues. Articles in this series:
Items relevant to "Build A G-Force Meter":
Items relevant to "The MiniMaximite Computer":
Items relevant to "Ultra-LD Stereo Preamplifier & Input Selector, Pt.1":
Items relevant to "2.2-100V Zener Diode Tester":
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SILICON
SILIC
CHIP
www.siliconchip.com.au
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD
Production Manager
Greg Swain, B.Sc. (Hons.)
Technical Editor
John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.)
Technical Staff
Ross Tester
Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc
Nicholas Vinen
Photography
Ross Tester
Reader Services
Ann Morris
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Glyn Smith
Phone (02) 9939 3295
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glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au
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Brendan Akhurst
Rodney Champness, VK3UG
Kevin Poulter
Stan Swan
Dave Thompson
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2 Silicon Chip
Publisher’s Letter
Mains surge suppressors are not a
condition of electronic product warranties
Because my friends and acquaintances know that
I am involved with the production of an electronics
magazine, they sometimes ask me what is my recommendation of brand and model of TV, video projector,
DVD player, audio amplifier, loudspeaker or in fact, just
about any electronic or electrical equipment. Now unless one spent all day, every day checking the specs and
performance of such equipment, it is just not possible to
make specific recommendations; the models seem to change on a daily basis!
On the other hand, if they ask about a particular brand and model, I can perhaps be more helpful and possibly guide them in their purchase by asking what
features they need, suggesting that they might look at an alternative approach,
such as a high-quality BluRay player instead of a CD player or maybe look at
a home-theatre receiver with 5.1 channels rather than a run-of-the-mill stereo
amplifier. Sometimes I can refer them to the makers’ websites or to government
websites for more detailed info they should have before making a decision.
And often I won’t hear anything more about it. Sometimes they will tell me
what they finally purchased and sometimes the product is far more expensive
and up-market than they were originally intending to buy. If they are happy
and the product performs as they expect, then all is well.
But then those same people will tell me that they also purchased an extended
warranty, an HDMI cable or two and a surge suppressor, with the comment that
the surge suppressor was necessary to get the extended warranty. And that’s
when I feel that the whole process has gone awry.
Now I know that retail is a tough scene and that retailers often seek to up-sell
as much as they can, in order to survive. Nor do I disagree with the concept
of extended warranties. Given that service charges can be a major proportion
of a replacement TV, then an extended warranty can be worthwhile. But the
idea that a surge suppressor is required for a warranty to be valid is just false.
If any retailer tried that on with me, I would demand to see where it was in
the warranty document. Of course, it won’t be there.
Nor can there be any suggestion that the manufacturer’s warranty specifies
the need for a surge suppressor. If that was a condition of the warranty then
it would be arguable that the product was not “of merchantable quality”. In
other words, the product would not work reliably unless it was plugged in via
a particular surge suppressor. Well, that’s just nonsense. If a product is sold in
Australia, then it must work in Australia and cope with the normal range of
AC mains voltages present in Australia. To suggest otherwise is an indication
that the retailer concerned is selling dodgy products.
In any case, while a surge suppressor may do no harm and may provide
some protection against transient voltages on the AC mains supply, it will be
no help in the case of a lightning strike. As any appliance serviceman can attest, the most effective way to protect electronic equipment from lightning is
for it to be switched off and unplugged from everything: the 230VAC mains,
modem and ethernet connection, TV and cable and so on. Even then, there is
no guarantee that equipment won’t be damaged – lightning is like that.
So if you do decide to buy a big-ticket electronic item, just be aware that the
retailer may try to “up-sell” you. Don’t be caught. And shop around for those
HDMI cables and other accessories; the chances are that you can purchase
them much cheaper elsewhere.
Leo Simpson
siliconchip.com.au
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