APC Surge Protectors and Extenders Overview

In an unstable power grid, it is important to reliably protect consumer devices from possible power surges. Traditionally, surge protectors are used for this purpose, combining the functionality of an extension cord with an electrical protection unit. Therefore, it is worth considering an overview of the popular models of surge protectors and extension cords from the famous APC company, as well as familiarizing yourself with advice on their selection and correct use.

The APC brand is owned by American Power Conversion, which was founded in 1981 in the Boston area. Until 1984, the company specialized in solar energy, and then repurposed to design and manufacture UPS for PCs. In 1986, the firm moved to Rhode Island and expanded production significantly. Gradually the assortment of the company was replenished with different types of power electrical equipment. By 1998, the company's turnover reached $ 1 billion.

In 2007, the firm was acquired by the French industrial giant Schneider Electric, which has retained the brand and production facilities of the company.

APC surge protectors have such differences from most analogs.

• Reliability and durability - APC equipment has a rich history and has long been considered the quality standard in the field of equipment protection against voltage surges. After the change of management, the position of the company in the world market was slightly shaken, but even today the company can boast of the highest quality of its products and a long service life. APC filter is almost guaranteed safety of your equipment even in the most unstable power grid. The warranty period for different filter models is from 2 to 5 years, however, if used correctly, they can work without replacement for up to 20 years. Depending on the length of the cord, different models cover an area of ​​20 to 100 square meters.
• Affordable service - the company has a wide network of partners and certified service centers in all regions of Russia, therefore, warranty and post-warranty service of this equipment will not be a problem.
• Use of safe materials - the production uses a new generation of plastic, which manages to combine fire safety and resistance to mechanical damage with environmental friendliness. Thanks to this, APC filters, unlike the models of Chinese companies, do not have a pronounced "plastic smell".
• Modern design and rich functionality - the company's products follow fashion trends both in ergonomics and in meeting the current needs of modern users, therefore, many models are equipped with USB sockets.
• The difficulty of self-repair - to protect against unauthorized access and ensure the safety of users, the screw connections in the filters are designed for disassembly in a workshop, so it is very difficult to repair this technique yourself.
• High price - American-made devices can be attributed to the premium segment of the market, so they will cost significantly more than Chinese and Russian counterparts.

Currently, the company produces two types of products intended for the protection and switching of electrical appliances, namely: stationary surge protectors (in fact, adapters for the outlet) and extension filters. There are no “ordinary” extension cords without a filtration unit in the company's assortment. Let's consider the models of devices produced by the company that are popular in the Russian market in more detail.

Currently, the most popular of these are the APC Essential SurgeArrest series filters without an extension cord.

• PM1W-RS - budget protection option, which is an adapter with 1 connector plugged into an outlet. Allows you to connect a device with a power of up to 3.5 kW with an operating current of up to 16 A. Provides protection against surges with an instantaneous current of up to 24 kA. The LED on the case indicates that the output characteristic of the mains does not allow the filter to guarantee the protection of the device included in it, so the power must be temporarily turned off. Equipped with a reusable auto-fuse.

• PM1WU2-RS - a variant of the previous model with 2 additional secure USB ports.

• P1T-RS - a variant of the PM1W-RS filter with an additional RJ-11 standard connector, which is used to provide electrical protection for a telephone or modem communication line.

Among the extension cords of the budget Essential SurgeArrest series, such models are most popular in the Russian Federation.

• P43-RS - standard filter of "classic design" with 4 euro sockets and a switch, as well as a 1 m long cord. The maximum power of consumers is up to 2.3 kW (current up to 10 A), the maximum peak interference current is 36 kA.

• PM5-RS - differs from the previous model in the number of connectors (+1 European standard socket).

• PM5T-RS - a variant of the previous filter with an additional connector for protecting telephone lines.

Among the semi-professional line of SurgeArrest Home / Office such filters are the most popular.

• PH6T3-RS - a model with an original design, 6 euro sockets and 3 connectors for protecting telephone lines. Maximum consumer power 2.3 kW (current up to 10 A), peak surge current 48 kA. The length of the cord is 2.4 meters.

• PMH63VT-RS - differs from the previous model by the presence of connectors to protect the coaxial data transmission line (audio and video equipment) and Ethernet networks.

The SurgeArrest Performance Professional Series is represented by these extenders.

• PMF83VT-RS - model with 8 Euro sockets, 2 telephone line connectors and 2 coaxial connectors. The length of the cord is 5 meters. The maximum power of consumers is 2.3 kW (at a current of 10 A), the maximum peak overload is up to 48 kA.

• PF8VNT3-RS - differs in the presence of connectors for protection of Ethernet networks.

In order to choose exactly the model that is best suited for your conditions, it is worth considering these characteristics.

• Required rated power can be estimated by summing up the maximum power of all possible consumers that must be connected to the filter, and then multiplying the resulting value by the safety factor (about 1.5).
• Effectiveness of protection - in order to choose the right model, it is worth assessing the likelihood of overvoltages in your power grid, as well as the amplitude and frequency of noticeable high-frequency interference.
• Number and type of sockets - it is important to know in advance which consumers will be connected to the filter and which plugs are used in them. It's also worth deciding in advance if you need a secure USB port.
• Cord length - to evaluate this parameter, it is worth measuring the distance from the planned location of the device to the nearest outlet.

When installing and using protective equipment, it is worth adhering to the recommendations set out in the instructions for its operation. The main precautions to take are as follows.

• Do not try to install the filter if there is a thunderstorm outside.
• Always use this technique indoors only.
• Observe the manufacturer's restrictions on the microclimate of the premises in which the device is used (it cannot be used in conditions of high humidity and temperature, and also cannot be used to connect equipment for aquariums).
• Do not include electrical appliances in the device, the total power of which exceeds the value specified in the filter data sheet.
• Do not try to repair broken filters yourself, this can lead not only to the loss of the warranty, but also to the failure of the devices connected to them.

The following video explains how to choose the right surge protector.