If I have a TV, VCR and satellite system plugged into a surge protector and I plug the surge protector cord into the extension cord from my generator will this be sufficient to protect my equipment from any damage when it is being powered by the generator (3,000W).

This is a description of the surge protector I am considering: (or would you have any other suggestions)

Ideal for use with TVs, computers, stereos, VCRs, satellite systems, etc
Fail safe shut-off ensures equipment safety in case of surge protection depletion
On/off light & protection indicator light shows that equipment is being protected
Reset button restarts protection of equipment
6' (1.83m) long cord with slim right angle plug allows furniture to be place against plug
Eight electrical outlets with three widely spaced for transformer usage
Outlets/connections for fax/modem and satellite/cable
1900 joules of surge protection - maximum joule rating
15 amp

 

be careful of ext cord rating, waveform quality, be sure to have 3 wire cords, grounding of generator, no feedback from generator= items plugged only into generator, else need xfer sw Advise use of UPS for computer hard drive, else head may crash damaging drive!

 

One thing to remember when using a generator for electronics is never let it stall or run out of gas. Always unplug electronics before shutting down the generator. The surge protector might or might not help. But the most common surge from a generator is because when it dies the voltage goes down, but as the voltage goes down the amperage goes up proportionaly and this kills electronics.

 

Alternators are used in modern 'generators'. An alternator rotates the magnetic field with the prime mover and power is taken from the fixed stator windings. In a generator the magnetic field is created by the fixed stator and the prime mover drives the rotor inside the field. The main advantage of alternators is that only the magnetizing current must cross the slip rings. In a generator the entire outpt current must cross the slip rings. Alternators are constant current devices and if the electrical load is removed the voltage rises. This is refered to as a 'load dump'. In a cars 12 volt system disconnecting the battery from the alternator output can produce spikes over 120 volts. The spikes from a 120 volt generator will not be 10 times higher, but can still be very high. The output voltage regulator will decrease the magnetizing current to try and control the voltage rise, but changing the current in and of itself causes transient voltage changes.
Disconnect the loads before stopping the generator. A surge protector will protect against the transients, but every time a surge protector clamps a surge the MOV supressors are damaged. There life is not forever. Yo will know they have stopped working when something gets zapped by a surge.

 

Does your generator have a voltage regulator?
You biggest problem will be voltage sags. Surge protector will not help.

 

Definately use a cheap computer UPS. They buffer the electric during spikes, brownouts,etc to stop damage to electronics. You can get a cheaper one for under $50.

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_s...cfkjdgoodflh.0

There is a cheapy one like you would need.

 

Be carefule with cheapo UPS. Although during a voltage sag it will switch to batteries, the inverter output of the UPS is not so good (usually square wave instead of sin wave).

 

My generator is a Coleman Powermate Maxa 3000.
In the specs for this generator it says it does not have a voltage regulator but when I emailed Coleman they tell me the website is wrong and that it does have one. The big question is...what should I believe?

 

If it does not have a voltage reglator the outpout voltage will vary all over the place with load and motor speed. I cannot recall an engine operated generator that did not have some type of voltage regulator. The older ones may not be as accurate as newer ones, but they all had some type of regulator.