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kkn, I would urge you to explore some quality power conditioning, as well as surge protection. Hi Def TVs are loaded with circuitry that lives longer with clean power.
We use the Monster Power 350 Power Conditioner/Surge Protection unit.
• Dual Mode Plus surge protection automatically disconnects and sounds an alarm
• HD Clean Power Stage 1 filters electrical noise and interference for better performance
• 2 side-entry outlets for easy installation behind furniture
• 1 pair coax connections for cable, satellite, or antenna lines
• 3240 joule rating provides a high level of surge protection
Circuit City has them on sale ... regularly $99, post 40% off, $59.
One thing to keep in mind is that an electrical surge can strike your device through any connected cable of any sort - not just the electrical plug. A few years back, I had a lightening strike that hit a downspout on our house and jumped to a cable TV line nearby. Many many devices connected to cable, directly or indirectly, and things connected to those devices, were fried - TVs, computers, router, scanner. (The strike also took out two air conditioners, one furnace, and a garage door opener.)
One option is to route cable, telephone, and ethernet connections to a device through a compatible surge protector. If your cable signal is already weak/flaky, that might make the problem worse, however.
CHtransplant is exactly correct. Surges come in through any unprotected line. When in Florida (lightning capital of the world) I had a rooftop antenna that had the cable looping in a circle, going through a lightning protector, looping again, and then going through a surge protector before it entered the tv. Co-ax from the cable or satellite feed went through a loop and surge protector. Cable is supposed to have a ground at or near the electrical entrance, and a satellite dish is supposed to be grounded.
I have used the Tripplite Isobar, Isotel, and Isowhatevers with good success. The toroidal coil cuts a lot of line interference down.
A simple power strip, will be enough surge protection, as those things are supposed to take up to thousands of volts as I remember reading on one of them, and they will give you a guarantee on some of them, if your appliance actually gets fried while using thier product...so, shop around!
May the LORD Bless each of you.
I wish you well...
Jesse
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