First appreciate what the MOVs do. A transient coming down
black wire is shunted by MOV to all other wires. Now a
transient, seeking earth ground, has more paths to find earth,
destructively, via the adjacent appliance. Protection is
located in earthing; not inside a plug-in protector. An MOV
is effective if connected short from each utility wire to
earth ground. This is why 'whole house' protectors are so
effective and why plug-in protectors can even contribute to
damage of the adjacent appliance.

These concepts are often discussed in the newsgroup
rec.radio.amateur.antenna. Some protection systems use
MOVs. Some require no MOVs. But in every protection
'system', only one component that is always required. Earth
ground. Plug-in protector have no such earthing connection -
so they avoid the entire topic. Plug-in protector provide no
effective protection, so are even undersized - too few joules
sold overpriced.

MOVs are shunt mode protectors. Another type is series
mode. Series mode protectors will supplement a protection
'system'. A series mode protector alone must stop, block, or
absorb what three miles of sky could not. Will not happen.
Series mode protectors alone must act like a dam.
Insufficient. Series mode protectors used in conjunction with
a 'whole house' protector will act like a dike. Now we are
talking effective protection. Series mode protectors are
sold by Zerosurge, Surgex, and Brickwall. They can supplement
the primary and secondary protection 'systems'.

Notice that safety ground wire that bypasses a series mode
protector. So the Zerosurge, et al block a black (hot) or
white (neutral) wire transient that simply enters electronics
via the direct green (safety ground) wire. Where is the
protection? Just another reason why series mode protectors
can only be part of a protection 'system'.

'Whole house' protectors being so inexpensive and so
effective that the telco even installs one on your incoming
telephone line - for free. Notice what that telco protector
connects to? Earth ground. A protector is only as effective
as its earth ground.

Lucky wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
I am not a big fan of MOV over voltage protectors,
but it might be well worth the few dollars it will
take to add on between the Astron and the wall outlet.
Terry

Hi Terry
I was wondering about that. I've been using a surge protector all this time.
Can't hurt to plug the Astron into it right? With wall worts and other radio
PSU's, they tell you to unplug them so they last longer. I mean they still
are warm even if the radio is turned off.

Does it work that way with the Astrons? Even if you turn it off it's still
drawing some current and stays warm to some degree? Should I turn off the
surge protector or unplug it when not in use?

Lucky