View Full Version : Surge Protector
mikehbkwm
03-12-2003, 05:25 PM
Can anyone gimme a good idea on what a GOOD surge protector is. I read about Joules and has this much voltage etc. Im not an electrician so dont make fun of me if I sound stupid. But what manufacturers make good surge protectors and what is a good price range to not be spending money on just the name HUH HUH HUH HUH MONSTER HUH HUH HUH.............................
davor
03-12-2003, 07:28 PM
>>>Can anyone gimme a good idea on what a GOOD surge protector is. I read about Joules and has this much voltage etc. Im not an electrician so dont make fun of me if I sound stupid. But what manufacturers make good surge protectors and what is a good price range to not be spending money on just the name HUH HUH HUH HUH MONSTER HUH HUH HUH.............................
TripLite is a good brand, APC is another. There are many. I paid $45.00 for my surge protector, and for added protection, I added a UPS (Under $70), that hopefully will keep it safe.
mikehbkwm
03-12-2003, 07:29 PM
whats a UPS other then the mailing company.........:p
davor
03-12-2003, 07:49 PM
>>>whats a UPS other then the mailing company.........
Well, it stands for Universal Power Supply. They come in all sizes, power requirements, and have battery backup.
They will keep your computer going via battery in the event of a power outage and give you enough time to shut down without losing data. Generally 10-15 minutes. One good factor is that they isolate the computer (or tv) from the power lines, IIRC.
Some will automatically shut down your computer when the power fails.
The "U" stands for "uninterruptible" power supply.
I use an APC Back-UPS (500VA). It was about US$70 and will do the job about as well as any.
mikehbkwm
03-12-2003, 08:15 PM
ohhhhhhhhhhhhh cool. now I understand......
aj327
03-12-2003, 11:40 PM
Let me introduce you all to my favorite site on the internet:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/surge-protector.htm
Howstuffworks.com has been a source of many wasted...er invested hours. I've went from knowing next to nothing about electronics to at least being able to talk intelligently about it. And I can attribute most of it to this site, and the wealth of links that they provide. I hope this site never dies, and that they continue to add cool stuff.
Just for kicks, do a search on their site for sky cars, space elevators, and jet packs if you want a really cool window into the not too distant future...FAA approved flying cars by 2005, an elevator into space in 10 years...best case scenario that's what we're looking at. Realistically it'll take a while longer, but it's amazing what we're capable of right now.
mikehbkwm
04-29-2003, 05:40 PM
What kinda brands would you all suggest as far as a surge protector or power supply and could I get a really good one at like a CC or BB or would I have to stick with a high end store.. other then Monster..........
xtremxterra
04-29-2003, 09:22 PM
I found this to be a good cheap option. Ive seen them from up to $20. This guy seems to sell them at a very reasonable price.
http://www.geocities.com/bulletbuster1/
picklgreen
04-29-2003, 10:05 PM
The most important thing is that the company that you buy one form offers a complete repalcement warranty for the gear plugged into it! Dont go with any of those cheap ones that don't offer it!
Go with Monster, APC, Tripplite or Panamax. I own surge protectors from every one of these brands and have never had a problem with any of them. I also own several Belkin ones for my office equipment and laptops.
chure
06-20-2003, 01:00 PM
Where did you go to pick up the surge protector? $80-$150 for monster seems a little pricey if I can skip it
A good UPS is going to cost at least $50. Office Depot or similar places should carry some of the brands mentioned by picklgreen. Monster may be a bit more expensive because of the name.
A surge protector can cost from $5 to hundreds depending on how quickly they react and how good they are. I'd recommend a UPS for $50-100 because they "condition" the power, perform a power bar function, protect phone and cable (on some), etc. I recommended one model in my previous post in this price range...
Cheap power bars should never be used for electronic equipment. You simply cannot expect a $5-10 device to provide a good clean distribution of power. That's why when you call a CSR with problems on your equipment, the first thing they ask is if you're using a power bar and if you are, to plug the offending equipment directly into the wall.
Cheap power bars and UPS are not the same thing...
chure
06-20-2003, 01:22 PM
so there is no need to "clean" the power like monster says?
Somewhat, but it's more like not making it "dirty". The stuff that comes into your house is usually pretty good, unless you live in one of the major thunderstorm areas that we hear about on this forum.
Many problems arise because houses don't have proper wiring, or people plug too much into one circuit, or the lights dim when the A/C kicks in, etc. None of that is the power company's fault.
One of the best things to do for electronic or computer equipment is to supply it using a dedicated, isolated outlet (orange). These might cost a bit more to put in initially, but they are well worth it. Put them in whenever you renovate or build new.
mikehbkwm
06-20-2003, 02:19 PM
57 I have another ? for ya do these UPS devices also act as the surge protector. I mean I understand they clean the power up but do the act as the surge protector also. I would be willing to get rid of the stupid Monster surge protector that I stupidly bought 2yrs ago when I didnt know anything and get a UPS......
UPS typically also protect from surges. The good ones have "written guarantees" that will pay you for replacing your equipment, should it be damaged by power surges.
mikehbkwm
06-20-2003, 02:49 PM
cool thank you
