Power safety question

Jas1222 · 19 Jan 2012 at 12:25

Hello, putting my build together in two weeks but just have a question about the power and plugs. Right now I have two plug sockets (UK pins) with a Belkin surge protector connected to one of them, the surge protector has 6 sockets.

Right now I have my speakers, printer, modem, router, PS3 and monitor connected into the protector. The other main plug my Mac is connected to. I plan on plugging my power supply (Corsair TX650M) into the surge protector but just concerned if all of this electricity is going to 'overload' the plug sockets and cause a surge or not pull enough power from the plug.

Is it ok for my PC to be plugged into the surge protector or will that be too much? Just worried as I don't want anything to break. Thanks for any help in advance

beejjacobs · 19 Jan 2012 at 12:27

It'll be fine

None of the other items are particularly high power.

mish4444 · 19 Jan 2012 at 15:11

I second that should be fine I have a belkin surge protector with 1000watt amp 750watt psu for pc and 1100 watt coffee machine works fine

Tealc · 19 Jan 2012 at 15:26

You've got over 2000 spare Watts if that's all you have on there.

Jas1222 · 19 Jan 2012 at 15:47

Yeah that's all I have on there, to be exact:

- Logitech Z313
- HP Laserjet P1009
- PS3 Slim 320GB
- 27" iMac late 09 (not on the surge protector)
- BT Openreach Modem
- BT Home Hub 3.0 (Should change that I know)
- Samsung SA350 23" LED monitor

If that's all safe then it puts my mind at ease, thank you all!

Tealc · 19 Jan 2012 at 16:08

Z313 - 50 Watts (maybe)
P1109 - 350 Watts
PS3 - 100 Watts
BTO Modem - 10 Watts
BTHH - 10 Watts
23" LED Monitor - 50 Watts
PC - 300-400 Watts probably.

TheVoice · 19 Jan 2012 at 16:12

Would it not be more sensible to have the Mac plugged into the surge protector, rather than the cheap stuff like the printer or speakers?

jamesfreddie · 19 Jan 2012 at 16:16

Whats a BT Openreach Modem?

Jas1222 · 19 Jan 2012 at 16:17

jamesfreddie said:
Whats a BT Openreach Modem?

SGWills · 19 Jan 2012 at 16:27

i would take the printer off the surge, most people use the printer now and again, so plug it in when needed , unplug it when not in use

R.C.Anderson · 19 Jan 2012 at 16:49

TheVoice said:
Would it not be more sensible to have the Mac plugged into the surge protector, rather than the cheap stuff like the printer or speakers?

Meh, it's only a MAC

On a more serious note, as mentioned before, you have plenty of headroom, you can draw about 3kW from a single 13A fuse, if you do happen to go over that, all that'll happen, is the fuse blows, and you'll need to spend a few pence to get a new one.

FallshirmjAEger · 19 Jan 2012 at 20:36

SGWills said:
i would take the printer off the surge, most people use the printer now and again, so plug it in when needed , unplug it when not in use

Just grab an 8 way one when you run out of sockets. I think you get better protection with 8 way over the 6(Supposedly)

Jas1222 · 19 Jan 2012 at 21:48

Yeah i'll switch the printer and the Mac socket over (should have done that before!), then switch the printer with something else (probably the speakers) and plug the PC into the surge protector. I'll be down a socket but will pick up the 8 way one

Thanks again everyone.

P.S The build will have a 2500k and a GTX 570 (maybe a 600 series card if I decide to build without the GPU) but i've gathered that the PSU will only pull what it needs from the socket.

westom · 20 Jan 2012 at 01:04

Jas1222 said:
Is it ok for my PC to be plugged into the surge protector or will that be too much? Just worried as I don't want anything to break.

Useful answers come with reasons why. tealc's post with numbers is an example of a superior recommendation.

Connect a protector to any other power point on the same ring. Then a protection circuit is unchanged; as if appliances are plugged into it.

You can observe this. Break open any strip protector. Notice that the AC power cord connects direct to each receptacle. Nothing in between to stop, block, or absorb surges. This is not just a suggestion. Informed consumers waste no time learning by doing this. A protector anywhere on a ring main is, electrically, same protection as one directly powering a computer, printer, etc.

What is the most important protection device in any power strip? A circuit breaker or fuse. In your case, probably a 13 amp fuse inside an AC power plug. Any power strip (with or without protector parts) that does not have that fuse is a threat to human life. That fuse or circuit breaker is the most important part.