Better care of your AV equipment

Did you know that the cheap multi sockets and extension cords into which we plug our AV equipment have the potential to cause expensive damage? If you didn’t, then read on to find out why and what to do about it.

Most electronic (and even electrical) equipment draw a starting current which is several times higher than a normal operating current. This high current is drawn only at the initial moment that the equipment is plugged into a power outlet and is not indicative of a fault in the equipment. The internal components in such equipment are designed to cope with this high starting current, but not on a frequently recurring basis.

Frequent interruptions in the electricity supply to such equipment can cause component failure due to the recurring high current every time power is reapplied. Multi sockets and extension cords with loose or tarnished contacts can create just that kind of situation. To make matters worse, this type of failure is usually blamed on fluctuations in the national electricity supply and the true cause often goes undetected.

Precautions
* Minimise the use of multi sockets and extension cords by plugging each piece of equipment in to a separate wall outlet wherever possible, Doing so will also reduce the risk of overloading a wall outlet. If this is not practical, such as in a home cinema system with many pieces of equipment in one location, consider getting a competent electrician to wire additional wall outlets to that location.

* If you must use multi sockets and extension cords, ensure that they are reputed products of good quality which make firm and constant contact with every pin of the power plugs of your equipment. Avoid the universal types with sockets that are designed to accept any type of plug. These are inherently defective and banned in countries which take safety seriously. Sometimes a plug may seem to fit firmly in to a socket but not all the pins make proper contact. Visually inspect all plugs carefully; burn marks on the pins are an indication of poor contact and sparking.

* Make sure that you are using the right type of socket to suit your plugs. Don’t force plugs in to sockets that are not designed for them. If the power plug of an appliance has an earth pin, make sure that it actually gets earthed. Avoid inserting Schuko plugs into standard Sri Lankan sockets - the earth won’t make contact. Get the plug changed if necessary.

* Ensure that the total electrical load on a wall outlet, multi socket or extension cord is within its rated limits. Overloading and overheating a socket is a good way to ruin it and maybe start a fire as well.

(This is a public service message from the writer who owns Megatronics, an AV firm at Kohuwela. He could be reached at email -rehan@megatronics.lk).