Power surge!!!

If you want just a surge protector, this is the one I've posted many times, and many of us use....very good specs too:

http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Is...2543053&sr=8-1&keywords=tripp+lite+ultra+blok

 

Some extra info on surge protectors:

http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_lin...d_t=201&pf_rd_p=2033310062&pf_rd_i=B008C4FZE2

 

Since we're talking surge protectors, this is the one I've had for about 5 years on my flat screen TV/cable box/BluRay player/sound bar.....about $24:

Protect It Surge Protector 6 Swivel Outlets Direct Plug In 1200 Joules Coax Tel Modem Protection (HTSWIVEL6) | Tripp Lite

Tripp Lite HTSWIVEL6 Home/Business Theater 1200 Joules Direct Plug-in Surge Suppressor - Newegg.com

 

That's the one I got on my p43

 

One of the biggest Eff ups at the factory level is that the fuses they install in these boards will NOT protect the board from much.

The fuse should go poof long before the board turns into a fuse itself.

Even if a draft fan motor on some units shorts out the board will fry and not take out the fuse.

Very poor thinking

A simple overload breaker on the incoming side of the board would stop most issues.

Now if the lightning itself comes a haulin on in, ahhhh, all bets are off.

 

I admire the DIY attitude Liam66 . Welcome aboard
Should be a standard 220V MOV. Little alcohol to clean up the tracking - that transformer is fine most likely, but you can ohm it out.

Just a heads up for those of you with high dollar surge protectors, this very same part, a Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV), is what fails when your surge protector takes a hit

 

No it's not.
Your ground runs above the hot feeder, which should catch fingers of a lightening strike.
All design standards are off when it hits a pole/line that's why MOV's are designed to drop surge voltages to ground.

Think of an MOV like a pressure relief valve, but instantaneous - when it sees excess it dumps to ground...when it sees surge voltage it explodes