Surge Protector Help
- Thread starter Biz.Kid09
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Surges are unlikely to happen, I have one and plug all valuables into it like computer ps3 etc
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buy a double plug thing? 
buy a double plug thing?
The multi socket block things? I would never use those with any sort of extension lead. AFAIK the fire service recommend against full stop.
plus 1
There have been an increasing number of power surges recently I've found. Quite a few make it into the local papers, especially when there are fires involved. I've got surge protectors on most of my more expensive equipment these days, whereas a few years ago I wouldn't have even considered it.
Which wouldn't you mind spraying with a fire extinguisher? If none, it's probably best to get another surge protector!
Out of interest, why exactly are those so bad?
Well i am considering taking it back to get one with more plugs....i got a 4 plug surge protector/4 plug extension lead for £5 or i can get a 10 plug surge protector for £15....It worth me spending more on one?
Well im thinking both hdds,tv and ps3,Will the surge blow my laptop if its not plugged in the surge protector? or will it simply just jump to battery?
I have also just purchased a 19'' lcd...do these need a surge protector?
Well im thinking both hdds,tv and ps3,Will the surge blow my laptop if its not plugged in the surge protector? or will it simply just jump to battery?
I have also just purchased a 19'' lcd...do these need a surge protector?
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From what I recall someone telling me during a fire inspection, they aren't very good at handling the loads people tend to put on them these days, so they are prone to overheating and potentially failing (in a catch fire sort of way).
Also people tend to use them with other socket extensions and overload in that way too. The other problem, which I have seen myself, is if used directly in wall socket they can be dislodged by the weight of the plugs attached. That obviously can expose connections that shouldn't be accessible.
If you really believe that little 2 cm part stops what 3 kilometers of sky could not, well, then use prayer. It will work better.
Plug it into any receptacle on the same ring. The electric circuit is unchanged.
Reality: any protector that stops or absorbs surges as you have assumed, is ... well view the spec numbers. How many joules will it absorb? Hundreds? Meanwhile surges that can actually overwhelm protection are hundreds of thousands of joules.
If you want protection, then go find protectors that actually do effective protection from all types of surges such as Keison:
http://www.keison.co.uk/furse/furse06.htm
http://www.keison.co.uk/furse/pdf/mains_supplies/m2_m4.pdf
Or just buy more of those power strips that do not even claim to do protection in numeric specs. Your choice. Do what BT does to have direct lightning strikes without damage. Or buy the profit center (a £2 power strip with some five pence protector parts) for £5 or £15 that does not even list protection is its numeric specs.
Yes, get a reputable brand and one with a published specification for the level of protection it gives. I wouldn't pay less than £15/20 for a 10 plug surge protector personally, especially considering the value of the equipment you have plugged into it.
It's impossible to tell what level of damage will be caused by a power surge. Minor surges occur every few hours and will do absolutely nothing. Equipment is built to withstand that kind of thing. Then again, a major power spike could kill the whole laptop. At that level, there's very little technical to it really. High voltage ==> circuits boards get fried, battery or otherwise. You're either protected or not. I guess that goes for your second question as well. With all respect, there's only so far we can spoon feed you! You need to decide what value you place on these items and whether you're prepared to take the risk or not. That being said, the risk is low, but it's a risk all the same.
Fair enough, makes sense
Bit OTT there mate? A good surge protector sourced from a decent brand will give the majority of protection that is needed in the home. I doubt any consumer surge protector would protect against lightning strikes. But I don't think that is what the OP is really looking for!
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Have you thought about using an ethernet or telephone line surge protecter. Chances are if your house does get struck by lightning that will be the way it gets to your electricals (our skybox died a couple of years back from this). If the surge is something from outside your house chances are your fusebox will stop it and trip a switch. if the surge does get past your fusebox the surge protecter definatly wont. I also remember some members on here saying that if the surge is large enough to get past your fusebox that the surge protecter wont be able to handle it and possibly catch fire.
Edit: im not too clued up on this leccy stuff so dont take my word for it, im just going by assumptions and word of mouth.
Edit: im not too clued up on this leccy stuff so dont take my word for it, im just going by assumptions and word of mouth.
I remember one year in a particularly bad thunder storm, there were actually visible sparks of static flashing in the empty fireplace, and you could really hear them making little pops. This went on for a little while, until there was a big bang, and lightening hit one of those pole mounted transformers, about half a mile away from our house.
1 laptop got fried, and the ISDN socket on the wall was fried.. took BT 3 days to sort that one. The TV/Hifi, several other computers, and the fusebox all survived just fine.
I have to say that the popping and visible sparks in the fireplace were pretty freaky! I cant say I was very comfortable during that storm
1 laptop got fried, and the ISDN socket on the wall was fried.. took BT 3 days to sort that one
. The TV/Hifi, several other computers, and the fusebox all survived just fine.I have to say that the popping and visible sparks in the fireplace were pretty freaky! I cant say I was very comfortable during that storm
Those other surges (as you noted) are really nothing more than noise. Long before the PC existed, electronics were designed to withstand 600 volts surges without damage. Today, that numbers is above 1000 volts. IOW the only purpose of a protector is so that lightning (and other major) surge are made completely irrelevant.
Names such as Belkin, Monster etc are not reputable names. Their only reason for credibility is sales propaganda. To further promote a myth, those protectors may be so grossly undersized as to fail during a surge too small to overwhelm protection already inside the computer. That protector failure during a tiny (irrelevant) surge gets a majority to recommend it.
An effective protector means nobody knows a surge even existed. That means the protector even remains functional after a direct lightning strike.
Those who know only by feelings will deny it. So the numbers. A typical lightning strike is 20,000 amps. Therefore a minimally sized 'whole house' protector starts at 50,000 amps. Why? Because effective protectors make even direct lightning strikes irrelevant. And because effective protectors must remains functional after that surge.
Posted is not popular when a majority have only learned from advertising. But BT was doing it even 100 years ago. Operators, with headsets connected to overhead wires all over town, need not disconnect and leave the room during every thunderstorm. Protection has always been about making even direct lightning strikes irrelevant.
Plug-in protectors are about selling a £2 power board with some 5p protector parts for how much? At what point does the profit margin get called obscene? And yet so many call that a reputable company rather than learn how protection always worked even 100 years ago.
A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. That has never changed. No plug-in solution has that dedicated earthing wire. Will not even discuss it. Otherwise obscene profits might be at risk.
What gets damaged? Which appliance made a better connection to earth. Sometimes one appliance acts like a surge protector for all other appliances because it make the better earthing connection.1 laptop got fried, and the ISDN socket on the wall was fried.. took BT 3 days to sort that one
Meanwhile protection always means harmlessly earthing that energy before it can enter the building. A concept well understood even 100 years ago. And ignored if advertising becomes a source of science.
To be damaged, it must have been in a path that connected overhead clouds to earthborn charges maybe kilometers distant. Since a better conductive path was inside the building, then you had surge damage. Effective protection means forming a better path to earth outside the building - ie from every AC electric wire and telephone wire less than 3 meters to earth ground.
Interesting about the fireplace. Smoke also has a history of forming a more electrically conductive path.
westom, I don't think a surge protector is designed to withstand a bolt of lightning They're for spikes you can get through the mains during normal use. The national grid power lines are designed to be hit by lightning, if anything that might cause a blackout in an area for a few seconds.
They're for spikes you can get through the mains during normal use. The national grid power lines are designed to be hit by lightning, if anything that might cause a blackout in an area for a few seconds.Right....so im a bit confused as to what everyone is talking about lol.....I took that surge protector back today and grabbed a phillips one and it was all fine until i unplugged my phone charger and everything cut out,so i turned off at the wall and then back on again and then only one thing would work?? Any ideas what happened? So it looks like im back to square one, I have plugged everything in individually and they work fine so i dunno what happened to the surge protector.
I guess im going to have to get another today =(
I guess im going to have to get another today =(
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Don't know about anyone else, but I'd put Philips near the bottom of the 'reputable' list.
For mainstream surge protection, go with Belkin (reliable and usually have good availability). Avoid any budget surge protection that doesn't incorporate a connected equipment warranty. I know it's marketing but if the manufacturer won't back it up with cold hard cash, you should draw the obvious conclusion.
Definitely make sure you've protected your phone line. We've lost a dial up modem (long time agonow!) and a DSL modem to electrical storms, so it's worth an extra couple of quid.
For mainstream surge protection, go with Belkin (reliable and usually have good availability). Avoid any budget surge protection that doesn't incorporate a connected equipment warranty. I know it's marketing but if the manufacturer won't back it up with cold hard cash, you should draw the obvious conclusion.
Definitely make sure you've protected your phone line. We've lost a dial up modem (long time agonow!) and a DSL modem to electrical storms, so it's worth an extra couple of quid.
The belkin ones are pretty expensive 
.....but could i get one of the surge cubes? (1 plug) then plug a extension lead into it?
What do you mean by protecting my phone line?
I dont think that will be possible as the wireless box is in another room?
I just found this one:
Technical Specification
Specifications:
Voltage: 240Vac
Current: 13A
Max surge: 2,500A
430Vac: 1mA
Any good?
.....but could i get one of the surge cubes? (1 plug) then plug a extension lead into it?What do you mean by protecting my phone line?
I dont think that will be possible as the wireless box is in another room?
I just found this one:
Technical Specification
Specifications:
Voltage: 240Vac
Current: 13A
Max surge: 2,500A
430Vac: 1mA
Any good?
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