Topband: Hospital Grade Outlets and Surge Suppressors

[Jim Brown]

On Mon, 2 Nov 2009 09:47:37 -0500, Paul Christensen wrote:

>I did purchase several 20A Hubbell hospital-grade outlets with 
>integrated secondary-type surge suppressors.  

They are almost certainly MOVs. Shunt mode surge suppressors (MOVs) on 
branch circuits are a very bad idea -- If equipment plugged in at those 
outlets are connected to anything plugged in at a different outlet, the 
differential voltage between the green wires can blow up that equipment in 
the event of a strike. 

>The hospital-grade outlets do in fact have a better gripping mechanism, and 
>both the Hubbell and Leviton models provide an excellent straight-wire 
>insert to a screw-down clamp -- instead of a J-hook or pressure-contact 
>connection. 

I agree. Hospital grade outlets are a good thing. But buy them without MOVs.

73,

Jim Brown K9YC