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(someone at an office supply store said was typical on these units) I ended up returning the unit. This unit always seemed to have an electrical/ozone smell coming from it which made me concerned and also slightly nauseous.
So, other than monitoring my voltage and providing battery backup for the extremely rare power outage in my area, this is a $70 power strip. I was told that an uninterruptible power supply was the only thing that would protect my devices plugged into an ungrounded outlet, that a "line conditioner" like this one, that would even out any spikes, dips, or surges, was my only line of defense, that all the surge protectors and GCFI fixtures in the world wouldn't do what this thing does, epecially since most electricians wouldn't even bother with the job of ripping out 60 year old wiring and replacing it with grounded circuits, were anyone able to afford such an overhaul. But upon receipt of this device I noticed right away that the red light for "wiring fault" was lit up and the instructions said, to my shock and dismay, that this thing doesn't protect me either unless plugged into a grounded circuit.
This unit fit all of these criteria. I wanted a unit that had automatic voltage regulation (AVR) and a minimal time under power backup. I plan on buying another when I purchase a new flat panel TV (got my eye on a Sony XBR) and this is cheap insurance. I bought this because of the value and its full features. I connected it up to my iMac running Leopard and all the needed control was available in the energy preferences - no software to load or conflict.
The equivalent APC models stay cool by comparison. It works okay but runs quite hot even under minimal load, on AC power, which means it's something of a power waster.
It has a non-annoying buzz when the power supply is off and keep modem, router, Voip boxes and printer working for the time being.
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