What is the best surge protector out there?

[westom]

Why do you keep bringing up lightning strikes? OP didn't say they had a lightning strike. They had a power surge (they're guessing). Can happen for many reasons OTHER than lightning strikes.

Those other surges act just like lightning. A surge (from lightning or other sources) is an electrical current hunting for earth ground. Either it is connected to earth BEFORE entering. Or finds earth ground destructively via some appliance. Does not matter if lightning, a failed transformer, due to a stray car, or created by linemen errors. It is still a surge - a current hunting for earth ground. That easily blows through a near zero joule UPS.

Pathetic is wild speculation that a major appliance power cycling causes a surge. If true, then surges are happening 120 times every second. It is called AC electricity. Power goes from maximum to zero 120 times. So 120 surges occur every second? Another classic example of the electrically naive inventing lies and myths using wild speculation.

If appliances are creating surges, then all were replacing clocks, GFCIs, TV. dishwasher, and smoke detectors hourly. Obviously anyone (who asks damning questions) could see through that fabrication.

Voltage can change so much that an incandescent bulb doubles intensity or dims to 50%. That fluctuation remains an idea voltage for all electronics. However that same variation is problematic for less robust motorized appliances. Therefore what needs battery backup protection? A refrigerator, furnace, and dishwasher. Why are those not harmed? Because AC utilities must maintain voltages to protect motorized appliances. Or cut off power. Destructive fluctuation only exists when propaganda has brainwashed those want to be ordered how to think.

If destructive voltage variations exist, then one is constantly replacing a washing machine and central air. Obviously those destructive voltage variation do not exist. So nobody is putting a UPS on a garage door opener.

UPS has one purpose. Temporary power so that unsaved data can be saved (and to avert pesky reboots). UPS does nothing to protect saved data or hardware. But the so many automatically believed lies from advertising, hearsay, and wild speculation. Why are those so many unprotected appliance not replaced every day? Because spikes even from power cycling appliances is another example of bad fiction.

OP, ignore people who were told by spin (advertising) to fear an invented threat. He could not even post one number to support his fable. That wirecutter.com and cnet.com citations obviously are lies. Not one required fact or numbers ... so it was written by Mad Men.

If one does not properly earth a 'whole house' solution, then damage is directly traceable to human mistakes. All over the world (and over 100 years ago), direct lightning strikes and similar surges create no damage. In part, because they do not make damage easier by spending tens of times more money on magic plug-in boxes. Or spend much more on less protection inside a UPS.

 

[westom]

I found a pretty good article on this. It does mention "whole-house surge protection" but says it in language that most people can understand. The conclusion of the writer is that plug-in surge protectors are needed for surges that occur as a matter of things within the home, such as big appliances shutting down quickly.

Since "major appliances shutting down quickly" occur frequently daily, then GFCIs, CFL & LED bulbs, garage door opener, microwaves, and clock radios are replaced daily. Why is nobody doing that? We all must be confused. All appliances are destroyed repeatedly each day. A plumber says so.

If any appliance is creating a destructive surge, then a 'whole house' protector also eliminates that.

If any appliance is creating a destructive surge, then it is first destroying itself.

If any appliance is creating a surge, then a surge protector must be on that appliance - not on its victims.

If any appliance is creating a surge, then one posts numbers that define how much.

Oh, numbers. That plumber said surges are a voltage above 170. Strange. Spec numbers for plug-in protectors say it does nothing until a voltage well exceeds the let-through voltage - well over 330 volts. So if any appliance is creating a surge, then a protector does nothing while 200+ volts destroy all appliances.

Anyone can read previously posted text to learn how this stuff really works. Instead, one is asking his plumber to teach him. No wonder scams are so easily promoted and believed here.

 

[bcla]

Since "major appliances shutting down quickly" occur frequently daily, then GFCIs, CFL & LED bulbs, garage door opener, microwaves, and clock radios are replaced daily. Why is nobody doing that? We all must be confused. All appliances are destroyed repeatedly each day. A plumber says so.

If any appliance is creating a destructive surge, then a 'whole house' protector also eliminates that.

If any appliance is creating a destructive surge, then it is first destroying itself.

If any appliance is creating a surge, then a surge protector must be on that appliance - not on its victims.

If any appliance is creating a surge, then one posts numbers that define how much.

Oh, numbers. That plumber said surges are a voltage above 170. Strange. Spec numbers for plug-in protectors say it does nothing until a voltage well exceeds the let-through voltage - well over 330 volts. So if any appliance is creating a surge, then a protector does nothing while 200+ volts destroy all appliances.

Anyone can read previously posted text to learn how this stuff really works. Instead, one is asking his plumber to teach him. No wonder scams are so easily promoted and believed here.

Dude. Nobody is paying attention to what you have to say. Nothing personal, but your attitude and smugness that you're right and everyone else is wrong is a major turnoff.

 

[EveDallas]

It takes a certain kind of person to spout a bunch of technical jargon and then imply that everyone who doesn't understand is stupid.

 

[cabanafrau]

OP, you say you lost "another" PC to power surge. You might want to put some thought into where you're plugging in your PC's and what shares that circuit. When we moved into our home we had to replace the electrical service and at the same time we had whole house surge suppression installed. My husband still insists that we do not ever plug in a PC into certain outlets because a refrigerator or freezer is on the circuit and that we are mindful of where we plug in a vacuum in relation to where a PC is plugged in.

 

[Floridaman999]

Since "major appliances shutting down quickly" occur frequently daily, then GFCIs, CFL & LED bulbs, garage door opener, microwaves, and clock radios are replaced daily. Why is nobody doing that? We all must be confused. All appliances are destroyed repeatedly each day. A plumber says so.

If any appliance is creating a destructive surge, then a 'whole house' protector also eliminates that.

If any appliance is creating a destructive surge, then it is first destroying itself.

If any appliance is creating a surge, then a surge protector must be on that appliance - not on its victims.

If any appliance is creating a surge, then one posts numbers that define how much.

Oh, numbers. That plumber said surges are a voltage above 170. Strange. Spec numbers for plug-in protectors say it does nothing until a voltage well exceeds the let-through voltage - well over 330 volts. So if any appliance is creating a surge, then a protector does nothing while 200+ volts destroy all appliances.

Anyone can read previously posted text to learn how this stuff really works. Instead, one is asking his plumber to teach him. No wonder scams are so easily promoted and believed here.

Seems as if electricity is very important to you. Would you like to talk about anything else?

 

[westom]

. Nobody is paying attention to what you have to say.

Then why do you and others keep replying - albeit only with your emotions. With nothing useful or informed to contribute? Well, you have no idea how electricity works. Since you were so easily brainwashed, then an ego must be protected. An ego cannot admit how easily you have been scammed.

Posted is common knowledge routinely implemented in facilities over 100 years ago when appliance damage must never happen. Because you never learned this stuff, then you have an emotional opinion? There is not attitude in science. There are facts with numbers that have been well understood over 100 years ago and that are routinely implemented in every town. You could ask for examples. But you only want to argue like a child having a temper tantrum. Why not instead ask logical questions to learn?

What technical jargon? Everything posted is layman simple, common knowledge to adults. But it has numbers that cause an innocent child's eyes to glaze over.

99.5% to 99.5% of appliance protection is provided by one earthed 'whole house' protector. That is hard for a child. Or a naysayer who is protecting an ego.

Shameful are the ignorant who foolishly recommended APC or Belkin as best protectors. Since neither claim to protect from destructive surges. Since both are marketed to consumers most easily scammed.

Anyone can learn others. For example: http://imgur.com/hwCWHMW . Yes a least informed consumer recommended that tiny joule APC protector.

Or view what Sarah Q reported (On 13 Jan 2016). What a Belkin can do when a surge happens. It did exactly what its specification numbers said. Read it:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J2EN4S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
> It caught on fire and burned my carpet, but it didn't burn the whole house down since I was sitting right next to it.

A nasty naysayer, who has nothing to contribute and who fears to admit his mistakes, is constantly reading this stuff. He cares. But he cannot learn.

 

[westom]

Seems as if electricity is very important to you.

Do you know how to stay on topic? Or just want an excuse to personally attack someone? Topic is obvious:
What is the best surge protector out there? Do you have anything useful to contribute?

 

[westom]

My husband still insists that we do not ever plug in a PC into certain outlets because a refrigerator or freezer is on the circuit and that we are mindful of where we plug in a vacuum in relation to where a PC is plugged in.

Urban myth. If that refrigerator or vacuum damaged other appliances, then it is first destroying itself. All appliances (even refrigerators and vacuums) have internal electronics. Spikes from household appliance are classic urban myths.

Some numbers. Some appliance generate electrical noise that might even be heard on a radio or stereo. That is tens of volts - or less. 120 volt electronics, long before PCs existed, withstood up to 600 volts without damage. Today's electronics are more robust. Computers are some of the most robust appliances. For example, one Seasonic power supply defined its internal protection up to 1800 volts.

What happens inside a PC? That 120 volts is filtered, converted to DC, filtered again, and then converted to well over 300 volt radio frequency spikes. If that does not harm 3 and 5 volt semiconductors, then why would any vacuum or refrigerator cause damage? Protection inside electronics is so robust that internally generated 'well over 300 volt' spikes' cause no electronics damage. What is intentionally created inside electronics is far more dangerous than any refrigerator or vacuum.

Meanwhile, one 'whole house' protector (only if connected low impedance - ie less than 10 feet - to earth) makes all surges irrelevant. Somebody in your household is informed.

 

[cabanafrau]

Who would have guessed the source of the real knowledge is in anonymous internet product reviews?

That must mean the real news is hiding in all of those comments after the news articles!

 

[cabanafrau]

Urban myth. If that refrigerator or vacuum damaged other appliances, then it is first destroying itself. All appliances (even refrigerators and vacuums) have internal electronics. Spikes from household appliance are classic urban myths.

Some numbers. Some appliance generate electrical noise that might even be heard on a radio or stereo. That is tens of volts - or less. 120 volt electronics, long before PCs existed, withstood up to 600 volts without damage. Today's electronics are more robust. Computers are some of the most robust appliances. For example, one Seasonic power supply defined its internal protection up to 1800 volts.

What happens inside a PC? That 120 volts is filtered, converted to DC, filtered again, and then converted to well over 300 volt radio frequency spikes. If that does not harm 3 and 5 volt semiconductors, then why would any vacuum or refrigerator cause damage? Protection inside electronics is so robust that internally generated 'well over 300 volt' spikes' cause no electronics damage. What is intentionally created inside electronics is far more dangerous than any refrigerator or vacuum.

Meanwhile, one 'whole house' protector (only if connected low impedance - ie less than 10 feet - to earth) makes all surges irrelevant. Somebody in your household is informed.

Hmm, I find myself on the horns of a dilemma. Does one mindlessly swallow down information from a pompous stranger on the internet with no indication as to any basis in credibility or listen to a known source with proven experience and actual education and training to back up their opinions?

What to do, what to do.

 

[GreatLakes]

OP, you say you lost "another" PC to power surge. You might want to put some thought into where you're plugging in your PC's and what shares that circuit. When we moved into our home we had to replace the electrical service and at the same time we had whole house surge suppression installed. My husband still insists that we do not ever plug in a PC into certain outlets because a refrigerator or freezer is on the circuit and that we are mindful of where we plug in a vacuum in relation to where a PC is plugged in.

The problem with putting your computer on the same breaker as large appliances is the amp draw. A residential 20 AMP breaker is going to quickly become overloaded if you start to adding a PC, monitor, printer, and other peripherals to the same breaker you have your large appliances on. As a general shortcut (which isn't exact as I'm sure we will all be told shortly) for a 120v house you need to divide watts by 100 to get amps. So 100 watts = 1 AMP at 120v for simplicity. If you want exact you divide watts by voltage to get the amp draw so 120 or 240 depending on your homes voltage.

It isn't so much the surge that is the problem but if you try to draw more amps than the breaker is rated for you can cause a fire. If you have a 20 amp breaker go add up the wattage of everything you have plugged into that breaker. If it adds up to 2400 you have too much on it. This is usually only a problem if something like a microwave or portable heater is part of the equation because they draw a lot.

DISCLAIMER: All this is very general and not the result of an EE thesis as I'm sure we are all about to read.

 

[Floridaman999]

Do you know how to stay on topic? Or just want an excuse to personally attack someone? Topic is obvious:
What is the best surge protector out there? Do you have anything useful to contribute?

Sorry if you felt attacked. That clearly wasn't my intention.
No, I can't contribute anything useful right now. My contributor is currently on the charger.

 

[bcla]

What happens inside a PC? That 120 volts is filtered, converted to DC, filtered again, and then converted to well over 300 volt radio frequency spikes. If that does not harm 3 and 5 volt semiconductors, then why would any vacuum or refrigerator cause damage?

Who says that doesn't harm semiconductors? Certainly a rock-solid power supply minimizes spikes, but they're not foolproof. There are blown power supplies often enough. I've tried to figure out why my PC at work stopped working, and I found the shell of an electrolytic capacitor that blew off from the body. Semiconductor products I worked on had issues with latchup from transient spikes that were caused in part by bouncing power supplies. The positive feedback loop would at very least cause a device to stop working, or worst case completely destroy itself unless it was detected early and power cycled. So yes there are issues with power spikes in semiconductors. And many semiconductors these days operate at 1.2V, such as DDR4L.

Don't confuse glossing over what you have to say with paying attention. Nobody is going to follow your advice because it's kind of hard to filter out what you have to say with your long, drawn out responses.

 

[bcla]

It isn't so much the surge that is the problem but if you try to draw more amps than the breaker is rated for you can cause a fire. If you have a 20 amp breaker go add up the wattage of everything you have plugged into that breaker. If it adds up to 2400 you have too much on it. This is usually only a problem if something like a microwave or portable heater is part of the equation because they draw a lot.

DISCLAIMER: All this is very general and not the result of an EE thesis as I'm sure we are all about to read.

Biggest single current draw in a house is usually a hair dryer. Many US hair dryers are rated right at 1875W, which is 15A at 125V. A lot of bathrooms only have 15A breakers or fuses. I lived in a house where all the bathrooms outlets (in 3 bathrooms) shared the same 15A GFCI breaker. You can imagine what happened when more than one hair dryer was being used at a time. Fortunately, the breaker will usually trip first before there's a fire.

 

[GreatLakes]

Biggest single current draw in a house is usually a hair dryer. Many US hair dryers are rated right at 1875W, which is 15A at 125V. A lot of bathrooms only have 15A breakers or fuses. I lived in a house where all the bathrooms outlets (in 3 bathrooms) shared the same 15A GFCI breaker. You can imagine what happened when more than one hair dryer was being used at a time. Fortunately, the breaker will usually trip first before there's a fire.

That is the hope but you can't really be 100% sure. Of course that is also assuming you didn't have someone swap out a lower AMP breaker for a larger one without bothering to check that the gauge wire used could handle the higher current. That is not an uncommon occurrence if you bought a house that had previous electrical work done by someone that wasn't sure what they were doing.

 

[bcla]

That is the hope but you can't really be 100% sure. Of course that is also assuming you didn't have someone swap out a lower AMP breaker for a larger one without bothering to check that the gauge wire used could handle the higher current. That is not an uncommon occurrence if you bought a house that had previous electrical work done by someone that wasn't sure what they were doing.

That could be an issue. I remember an episode of All in the Family where Archie sets his bathroom on fire by jamming a penny in the fuse box. I wouldn't recommend it myself.

However, wiring recommendations should include a safety margin. But then again you're right that there are all sorts of nonstandard jobs done out there - often DIY.

 

[Hikergirl]

So OP, which Surge protector did you choose?

 

[westom]

What to do, what to do.

One can be emotional and only entertain hearsay from strangers (who are speculated as friends and informed). Or one can do what is always necessary to separate lies from facts. Where is one honest fact in wirecutter.com and cnet.com? None provided. Those articles are so similar to what was broadcast on Radio Moscow from the Soviet Union. Articles order one what to think. Never once says why. And worst upon worse - it will not even discuss specification numbers.

How do those tiny thousand joules 'absorb' a surge that can be hundreds of thousands of joules? It does not have to. By failing on surges too tiny to damage any appliances, it get promoted here by the emotional.

How does its 2 cm protector parts 'block' what three miles of sky cannot? Only the emotional know otherwise.

Most only post their emotions (ie pompous) rather than realize the exact same sentence is only 100% technical (ie facts with numbers posted bluntly). Naysayer post tiny responses - also called soundbytes or executive summaries. And somehow foolishly associate their emotional attachments to honesty. That is why myths and lies live on.

Posted repeated were numbers that anyone with high school science can comprehend. But the more easily brainwashed, instead, ignore them, get emotional to deny those numbers, and intentionally ignore every professional citation. Or the so many fires crated by those near zero, magic box, protectors..

Every denial is only based in the emotions. Personal attacks (in the tradition of a lying president) replace facts with numbers.

Where does one person post a single fact that confirmed what wirecutter.com and cnet.com have posted? Yes that means the reply must quote it. Which explains so many lies - not one post with tens pf paragraphs that discuss science, facts, and numbers.

Where does wirecutter.com or cnet.com discuss any surge protectors from the so many other companies that every guy knows for integrity? They don't. Only advertising and myths from near zero joule (plug-in) protectors are parroted. Obviously those same people also knew Saddam had WMDs - when facts with numbers also said otherwise.

IEEE is quite clear about what does protection. Where did one person quote the IEEE, so many other professional sources, or research papers. No. Articles that only appeal to emotional are worshipped. Not once did the brainwashed ask for reasons why with numbers. Not once. So many here are apparently also manipulate by extremist political rhetoric. That explains so many personal attacks and no technical facts.

Elementary school science discussed how mouldy bread had maggots. Observation proved that mouldy bread breeds life - maggots. That is what someone else said. It was observed. So it must be true. Classic junk sciences.

Elementary school science discussed how stagnant water would be filled with insects. Obviously proving that stagnant water breeds life - mosquito larvae. Someone else said that. It was observed. So it must be true. Classic junk science.

My surge protector failed but an attached computer did not. Observation proved that protector worked. wirecutter.com and cnet.com said that. So it must be true. Classic junk science.

Any recommendation that does not say why using facts (ie from high school science) and does not cite numbers is the first indication of a scam. Who recites facts obviously is irrelevant. Only facts and numbers are relevant and live on their own merit. Not one naysayer has provided even one fact or number. The classic example of how easily so many can be brainwashed and why classic junk science lives on.

bcia is the classic example of someone who uses a penny to fix a fuse only because he saw it done Ignores the consequences. A classic example of a wacko extremist who knows only what the Central Committee of the Party has ordered him how to think. He rationalizes just like his hero Archie Bunker.

What to do? What to do? Read professions citations. Ignore advertising propaganda that promotes $3 power strips with ten cent protector parts selling for obscene profits. If Monster is selling the equivalent product, then it probably is a scam. Even APC admitted some 15 million protectors must be removed immediately due to so many hundreds of house fires only due to APC product alone. One can learn from professionals who say why with numbers ( https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/...ge_protector_how_else_do_you_protect/dq8qkdf/ ). Or one can automatically believe the so many brainwashed naysayers who only post emotions and personal attacks here.

If a wirecutter.com protectors is discovered in your luggage, a Disney cruise ship will probably confiscate it. Those protectors do nothing useful. And have a nasty habit of creating fires. Cruise ships take that fire threat from near zero joule protectors very seriously. Obviously a majority hear ignore such facts. Since facts constantly contradict what was the first thing they were told - also called brainwashing.

Any effective solution will always answer this question. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Emotional extremists will again ignore that damning question. Because a protector is only as effective as its earth ground. wirecutter.com, et al did not say that. Numbers make one angry. So brainwashing proves it must not be true.

 

[soccerdad72]

Get this one:

https://www.amazon.com/CRST-6-Outle...spons&keywords=surge+protector+with+usb&psc=1

No real reason, it was just the first one that popped up on Amazon. Hey, it got 4 stars, so it must be good, right?