Electrical question

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Author Message   VU Citizen Username: Emwarden Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2006 Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 12:48 pm:        We have moved an electrical outlet midway up the wall to use for a plasma TV. this way the electrical plug is hidden behind the TV. they sell surge protectors that will fit into the mounting bracket which are not inexpensive, I was also told that instead of using a surge protector you could use a GFCI outlet to protect the TV from an electrical surge. Is that the case?   gj1 Citizen Username: Gj1 Post Number: 307 Registered: 11-2003 Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 1:38 pm:        No. Also, a surge protector MUST be grounded or it will not work.   Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1137 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 1:55 pm:        If its a really expensive TV, you could have a surge protector put on the main electrical panel. I am doing that for some of my servers here. Let me know if you want some details!   Smarty Jones Citizen Username: Birdstone Post Number: 352 Registered: 10-2005 Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 2:02 pm:        How is a Surge protector "Grounded"? What exactly do Surge protectors do? SImply plug into a 3 prong outlet?   Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1140 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 2:06 pm:        Its a PFM system as far as I'm concerned, but here you go.... http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/surge-protector1.htm   gj1 Citizen Username: Gj1 Post Number: 308 Registered: 11-2003 Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 2:56 pm:        Smarty: Most plug-in surge protectors work by diverting excess electricity to ground (the "3rd prong") and will not work effectively without ground. These surge protectors will likely have a "No Ground" indicator light. I guess my point about the ground was that--especially if you live in an older house--you shouldn't necessarily assume any "3 prong outlets", including GFCI's, are actually grounded.