Question:
Is it appropriate to use a surge suppressor (the kind you get at Radio Shack for computers) with a solid state guitar amp (specifically a California Blonde), or would the amp draw too much current? !-- end question -->
Answer:
Solid state electronics are typically quite robust. So robust that a computer grade UPS (in battery backup mode) can even damage small electric motors. But that same 'dirty' electricity does not harm electronics. 'Dirtiest' electricity comes from a computer grade UPS because electronics are so robust. Does that surge protector stop or absorb what three miles of sky could not? That is the myth to promote power strip protectors. Review their specifications. Where is each type transient listed and numbers for protection in their numerical specifications? Unavailable when a protector does not claim to protect from transients that typically damage electronics. So many use word association to know otherwise: surge protector sounds like surge protection. Therefore it must protect? A protector is not protection. Protection is earth ground. Some incoming utilities connect directly to earth ground - no protector required. Others make that earthing connection via a protector. The protector is not protection. Protection is earth ground. When promoting a grossly overpriced product to the naive, power strip manufactures avoid all mention of earthing. Why? Earthing is the protection - not the protector. To promote the myth, then don't discuss earthing. All household electronics already contain internally the protection that would be effective on its power cord. Protection so effective that spikes even from that 'dirty' UPS would not harm electronics. Internal protection that assumes you have earthed before massive transients enter a building. Effective protectors have a dedicated earthing wire - and do not claim to stop what three miles of sky could not. Where is the dedicated earthing wire on that power strip protector? Does not exist. The effective 'whole house' protector costs about $1 per protected appliance. $25 for a power strip that ... well look at its numeric spec ... does not even claim to provide the amp protection requested.
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