If you use a dish network for your television, you should consider using a satellite surge protector to protect your coaxial line from receiving surges. This little device will save your television, your receiver, your DVD player, your VCR and your satellite dish, should a power surge hit your lines. Most satellite surge protectors will stop as much as a 27V surge. An average satellite signal between the receiver and the dish receives about 15 volts. Anything above 27 V will typically shunt to ground and prevent any damage to your equipment.
The kind of surge protector to look for will either be the small 3-inch, cylindrical type that connects to the coaxial line of your satellite, like the one by SurgeAssure, or it will come as part of a larger surge protector that has more outlets and modules for coaxial connections. As for which one is best, well that depends on your needs. It is recommended to protect each line individually to lower the risk of surges and power, channeling other access points in your equipment.
The reason you need a satellite surge protector in first place is that once a surge finds a blocking point on a line, such as through a surge protector, it will seek out other access points, which usually ends up being your coaxial lines. These could be phone lines, cable modem lines, and your satellite coaxial line. While the surge may not damage your equipment to where it won’t work anymore, it can disrupt signals and will ultimately cause your equipment to malfunction over the course of many surges.
Satellite dishes are extremely tricky to divert surges in power because of the many lines the dish requires to access the home. Because of this you need protection on both lines at the dish and within the home. Connecting at the dish will ensure minimal EMI and RFI interference.
You can use a satellite surge protector on other appliances that have coaxial lines. They’re very similar to cable surge protectors. You can use them with residential electronics and in light commercial applications. The main thing you are trying to accomplish is to keep transient damage off the coaxial lines. Most surge protectors for satellites use gas tube technology to prevent catastrophic failure. Most will have a 200 amps surge current rating, will be UL listed under the 497B category, are exclusively for indoor use, meaning they will be connected at the front of the line at the splitters or amplifiers. All will be grounded. And they are easy enough to install on your own. However, you can have a professional installer if you need it.
The main thing is finding the right satellite surge protection. In the end, be sure to pay for quality. Remember, you get what you pay for. If you spend $10 on a satellite surge protector, you’re going to get $10 worth of protection.
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