Help !

Phage · 23 Dec 2014 at 11:46

Yep went through two sticks, then two sticks with GPU and all still working !
I'm thinking that the power strip was knackered. I've replaced the peer strip and the box itself is now direct to the wall, and everything works.
Never heard of a surge protector wearing out before....

ED209 · 23 Dec 2014 at 11:50

glad to see its still working, maybe the surge protector is faulty which was causing the problems

Phage · 23 Dec 2014 at 11:59

I think so...I'm now posting from the PC and it seems fine. Turns out those surge protecting power strips wear out over time.
This one is at least 10 years old. I can hardly complain...

ED209 · 23 Dec 2014 at 12:09

its done well if its lasted 10 years.

at least it wasn't a issue with any PC parts and nothing needs to be sent back

Phage · 23 Dec 2014 at 12:14

Aye - was just thinking that !
Just before Christmas as well, so would have taken weeks to get anything sorted.

Karateyid · 23 Dec 2014 at 12:23

No problem. Glad to be able to help

Phage · 23 Dec 2014 at 12:29

Cheers. I never tought of the power strip. It was running the router and the NAS fine, so didn't check it.
Apparently over time their ability to supply the watts declines, and the main box was too much for it.
Learn something every day !

ED209 · 23 Dec 2014 at 12:39

that's very true so the protector was able to power the smaller things but the PC was just not happening lol

westom · 25 Dec 2014 at 00:04

Phage said:
Apparently over time their ability to supply the watts declines,

They do not work that way. But they do run power through PC board traces. A potential fire might have started inside that protector. Fire that partially burned PC traces. Try smelling inside the strip (ie near cracks) for an odor of something burned. These undersized protectors have a history of creating house fires. Maybe yours only partially burned.

Otherwise that protector should have made a direct and full connection from AC mains to the computer - even if protector parts disconnected due to a tiny surge.

That is a speculative conclusion based in facts as provided and how protectors are designed. You can confirm this with a simple test. Power an incandescent bulb directly from that power strip. Watch its intensity as a computer or something else draws 100 or 200 watts. If a protector strip has partially burned or melted, then that bulb will change intensity when other loads are connected.

Perform this experiment mostly to learn, for example, that power strip protectors can be dangerous. Strips with protector parts should never be located on a rug, behind furniture, or adjacent to other flammable materials (ie dust).