Hello,
I have a quesion to all of you about surge protecting your structured phone and cable networks. We used to use the OnQ modules which had a phone distribution block that you could add an OnQ surge protect module directly to, however the phone modules we use now do not have that feature.

What products do you all put in your cans to protect the phone and cable system?

I have been looking for a module that you can mount in the can that would protect the phone and cable, but also does not cost a small fortune.

Jeff

Which module are you using now?

Here lately I have been using the Phone and cable modules from SquareD. I was just wondering if any manufactures made a module that the incoming phone and cable feeds could run through for surge protection before being sent to the distribution modules and that would mount easily into a structured wiring can.

Jeff

I believe Home Director offers them.

I think Bill with Homeautomationnet.com offers Home director maybe he will know more about them..

I thought SquareD had one as well.. but I don't know if its a module or not.

We use a Panamax CO-4/110 to protect 4 incoming phone lines. This product is not available with an OnQ/OpenHouse/Leviton bracket so we drill a couple of small holes in our panels and mount the Panamax with sheet metal screws. Be sure to PROPERLY ground this stuff or it will not give you any protection. They also make coax modules for CATV/Antenna and DSS modules that allow the power for the LNB
to pass. We stack 5 of these (4 DSS and one Antenna) and installed them ahead of an HDTV multi-switch.

I don't know what a "small fortune" is to you, but a Panasonic phone system and an HDTV 5x8 multiswitch ain't exactly cheap so the protection is worth it.

I wrote Panamax to see if I could get them to at least "look in to" the idea of selling these on a universal mounting bracket but they never responded.

FYI: Leviton just purchased OnQ and will market their structured panels under the "Leviton OnQ" name. This could be great news because (in my opinion) Leviton and OnQ both have some great modules and if they combine the best of both they'll have a great product. Also, Leviton and OnQ combined have a 50% market share which may bring the costs down.