What is the best surge protector out there?

Status
Not open for further replies.
moon

moon

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 28, 2007
As I wrote on another thread, I lost (another) PC to a power surge. ow can I stop this from happening again?
 
There is no "best" really unless you're talking uber expensive stuff that would be used by data centers.

But for home use, there's plenty of good quality stuff by APC and Belkin. Most notably it would be useful to have one that indicates if the protection is still active. The protection circuits slowly degrade when they protect from little spikes all the time, and eventually offer no more protection.

Some include battery backups. This one seems pretty good:

https://www.apc.com/shop/us/en/prod...ionid=py9uf0oqTpjgyRKAi0UA1Zf+.prod_store02-2
 


NYCgrrl said:
Sounds like you need the right kind of power surge protector strip:
Click to expand...
Recommendations made without reasons why and specification numbers are routine from English majors without technical knowledge. Those wirecuttrer and cnet.com citations are classic examples of scam.

For example, a plug-in protector must either 'block' or 'absorb' a surge. How does its 2 cm protector part 'block' what three miles of sky cannot? It cannot.

How many joules does each have? Hundreds? Thousand? Potentially destructive surges can be hundreds of thousands of joules. But if promoting for high profit protector manufacturers, then promote a 1000 (near zero) joule protector to naive consumers.

What happens when a tiny joule protector tries to absorb hundreds of thousands of joules? Usually a thermal fuse disconnects protector parts while that surge remains connected to appliances. No problem. All appliances already have robust internal protection. A surge too tiny to damage an appliance also destroys that profit center protector. That gets the most naive consumers to make more conclusions only from observation. "My protector sacrificed itself to safe my computer." Total bull. But it works on the most naive who did not see through those bogus wirecutter.com and cnet.com citations ... that never said why and ignore all relevant numbers.

Informed consumers always demand reasons why that recommendation is honest. With numbers. All learned in elementary school science that a conclusion only from observation (demonstrated in a previous paragraph) is classic junk science.

An effective solution always answer this question. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Only something completely different - called a surge protector - answers that question. As demonstrated by Franklin over 250 years ago. Either a surge is inside hunting for earth ground destructively via household appliances. Or it is harmlessly absorbed outside. But that means a protector connects low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to earth ground. Only then does that surge not need find earth ground destructively via any household appliance.

Did those articles forget to mention this? If anything needs protection, then everything (dishwasher, clocks, furnace, GFCI, refrigerator, recharging electronics, TV, garage door opener, dimmer switches, door bell, central air, clock radios, smoke detectors) everything needs that protection.

Neither cnet nor wirecutter discussed any of this. None of those products have any earth ground connection. Never mentioned are relevant numbers - ie hundreds of thousands of joules.

Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. Protectors must not fail. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Effective protection must protect from lightning. To even protect tiny joule plug-in protectors from this: https://imgur.com/hwCWHMW .

Plenty more to learn. But start with what is obvious. Those wirecutter.com and cnet.com citations are clearly bogus. For so many reasons including this one. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. None of those high profit, tiny joule, ineffective protectors have an earth ground connection. But they sure are profitable.
 
Wasn't an English or electrical engineering major in college or university but am a proponent of critical thinking:).
When I'm in doubt about technological/technical matters I take it from as far needed to the beginning and go forward.

You seem to have a greater technical knowledge of the subject but I'm missing your easy to comprehend conclusion/recommendation that a lay person such as I might understand. Some of us do w/o the inate ability to explain and others explain w/o the practical possibilites. Oh right and some of us are best at teaching.

Most regions have ground earth building requirements near me yet I comprehend that some areas of the US might not. Does that make it a "scam" or an area that does or does not adhere to the National Electrical Code's highest standards?
 


NYCgrrl said:
Most regions have ground earth building requirements near me yet I comprehend that some areas of the US might not. Does that make it a "scam" or an area that does or does not adhere to the National Electrical Code's highest standards?
Click to expand...
Every building in every nation must have an earth ground. It must exist for human protection. For appliance protection, that same ground must both meet and exceed code. Does every wire inside every cable connect to that earth ground before entering? Only one AC wire does.

Best protection is already on TV cable - for free. Inspect it. Where that cable enters, a hardwire must connect from that cable to an earth ground electrode. It must be *low impedance*. That means it must be less than 10 feet. It must not have sharp bends or splices. It must not be inside metallic conduit.

Telephone must also have effective surge protection - for free. But phones do not work if connected directly to earth. So the telco installs a protector - for free. Again, inspect it. That hardwire from telco protector to earth ground must be low impedance. Same above requirements (ie less than 10 feet) apply.

That telco protector is only doing what a TV cable's hardwire does better. Because no protector does protection (ie absorbs hundreds of thousands of joules). Earth ground does the protection. And it must be single point earth ground.

Inspect your breaker box. A bare copper quarter inch hardwire must go from breaker box to that same earthing electrode. However, if that wire goes up over a foundation and down to the electrode, then impedance is excessive. That wire is too long. It has sharp bends over the foundation. Is not separated from other non-grounding wires. Better is to route through a foundation and down to that earthing electrode.

AC electric is what - 3 wires? All three must connect low impedance to earth. One connects directly. Other two must make that connection via a 'whole house' protector. Critical parameters already posted. This superior protector (from other companies of integrity) costs about $1 per protected appliance. Yes, that is tens of times less money.

If any one wire (ie invisible dog fence) enters without making that low impedance connection, then all protection is compromised.

Did you know any of this? If not, then like anything new, it makes no sense until at least a third reread.

Apparently only point that confuses is an always required connection to single point earth ground, Based upon your post, everything else is understood. Everything posted was layman simple for anyone educated by high school science. Nothing requires any advanced education. However and again, it is new. Nothing new in life is understood in a first read.

So, if anything else is confusing, then cite it, say what you think it means, and then ask for clarification. Otherwise nobody can help understand what was well overstood and implemented over 100 years ago. Since this was originally demonstrated by Franklin over 250 years ago.
 
Dan Murphy said:
I use this APC unit. ... Amd if power goes out, about 30 minutes before it powers the devices down.
Click to expand...
Topic is surge protection. No relationship exists between a blackout and surge. Knowledge means numbers. A blackout is 120 volts dropping to zero. A surge is 120 volts approaching or exceeding 1000 volts.

Post one UPS specification number that defines surge protection? And good luck. Does not matter what you feel works. If numbers do not support your recommendation, then that recommendation is irresponsible (or useless).

To do protection, that UPS must somehow 'block' or 'absorb' a surge. As bluntly stated previously. How many joules does that UPS claim to 'absorb'? How does its 2 cm protector part 'block' what three miles of sky cannot?

How many surges have occurred? IOW how many dishwashers, clocks, furnaces, TVs, refrigerators, GFCIs, and smoke detectors were replaced due to surge damage? None? Then why would anyone assume that UPS did any hardware protection? '*Why*' is simple. Lies in advertising are automatically believed. They did not say *why* a UPS does protection and did not include spec numbers. A scam probably exists.

Scams 'everywhere in life' are promoted when one does not always demand reasons why with numbers. This is what layman must learn - in advance or the hard way. So many, unfortunately, promoted those myths and lies.

Did you know smoking cigarettes increases health? Almost everyone knew that. Most all Americans knew it because advertising said so .... in the 1950s. One would think we learn from history. Nope. A majority still recommend surge protectors that claim no effective protection ... such as that APC.

A blackout and a surge are different and unrelated anomalies. Tiopc here is surges.
 
westom said:
Recommendations made without reasons why and specification numbers are routine from English majors without technical knowledge. Those wirecuttrer and cnet.com citations are classic examples of scam.

For example, a plug-in protector must either 'block' or 'absorb' a surge. How does its 2 cm protector part 'block' what three miles of sky cannot? It cannot.

How many joules does each have? Hundreds? Thousand? Potentially destructive surges can be hundreds of thousands of joules. But if promoting for high profit protector manufacturers, then promote a 1000 (near zero) joule protector to naive consumers.

What happens when a tiny joule protector tries to absorb hundreds of thousands of joules? Usually a thermal fuse disconnects protector parts while that surge remains connected to appliances. No problem. All appliances already have robust internal protection. A surge too tiny to damage an appliance also destroys that profit center protector. That gets the most naive consumers to make more conclusions only from observation. "My protector sacrificed itself to safe my computer." Total bull. But it works on the most naive who did not see through those bogus wirecutter.com and cnet.com citations ... that never said why and ignore all relevant numbers.

Informed consumers always demand reasons why that recommendation is honest. With numbers. All learned in elementary school science that a conclusion only from observation (demonstrated in a previous paragraph) is classic junk science.

An effective solution always answer this question. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Only something completely different - called a surge protector - answers that question. As demonstrated by Franklin over 250 years ago. Either a surge is inside hunting for earth ground destructively via household appliances. Or it is harmlessly absorbed outside. But that means a protector connects low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to earth ground. Only then does that surge not need find earth ground destructively via any household appliance.

Did those articles forget to mention this? If anything needs protection, then everything (dishwasher, clocks, furnace, GFCI, refrigerator, recharging electronics, TV, garage door opener, dimmer switches, door bell, central air, clock radios, smoke detectors) everything needs that protection.

Neither cnet nor wirecutter discussed any of this. None of those products have any earth ground connection. Never mentioned are relevant numbers - ie hundreds of thousands of joules.

Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. Protectors must not fail. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Effective protection must protect from lightning. To even protect tiny joule plug-in protectors from this: https://imgur.com/hwCWHMW .

Plenty more to learn. But start with what is obvious. Those wirecutter.com and cnet.com citations are clearly bogus. For so many reasons including this one. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. None of those high profit, tiny joule, ineffective protectors have an earth ground connection. But they sure are profitable.
Click to expand...

westom said:
Every building in every nation must have an earth ground. It must exist for human protection. For appliance protection, that same ground must both meet and exceed code. Does every wire inside every cable connect to that earth ground before entering? Only one AC wire does.

Best protection is already on TV cable - for free. Inspect it. Where that cable enters, a hardwire must connect from that cable to an earth ground electrode. It must be *low impedance*. That means it must be less than 10 feet. It must not have sharp bends or splices. It must not be inside metallic conduit.

Telephone must also have effective surge protection - for free. But phones do not work if connected directly to earth. So the telco installs a protector - for free. Again, inspect it. That hardwire from telco protector to earth ground must be low impedance. Same above requirements (ie less than 10 feet) apply.

That telco protector is only doing what a TV cable's hardwire does better. Because no protector does protection (ie absorbs hundreds of thousands of joules). Earth ground does the protection. And it must be single point earth ground.

Inspect your breaker box. A bare copper quarter inch hardwire must go from breaker box to that same earthing electrode. However, if that wire goes up over a foundation and down to the electrode, then impedance is excessive. That wire is too long. It has sharp bends over the foundation. Is not separated from other non-grounding wires. Better is to route through a foundation and down to that earthing electrode.

AC electric is what - 3 wires? All three must connect low impedance to earth. One connects directly. Other two must make that connection via a 'whole house' protector. Critical parameters already posted. This superior protector (from other companies of integrity) costs about $1 per protected appliance. Yes, that is tens of times less money.

If any one wire (ie invisible dog fence) enters without making that low impedance connection, then all protection is compromised.

Did you know any of this? If not, then like anything new, it makes no sense until at least a third reread.

Apparently only point that confuses is an always required connection to single point earth ground, Based upon your post, everything else is understood. Everything posted was layman simple for anyone educated by high school science. Nothing requires any advanced education. However and again, it is new. Nothing new in life is understood in a first read.

So, if anything else is confusing, then cite it, say what you think it means, and then ask for clarification. Otherwise nobody can help understand what was well overstood and implemented over 100 years ago. Since this was originally demonstrated by Franklin over 250 years ago.
Click to expand...

westom said:
Topic is surge protection. No relationship exists between a blackout and surge. Knowledge means numbers. A blackout is 120 volts dropping to zero. A surge is 120 volts approaching or exceeding 1000 volts.

Post one UPS specification number that defines surge protection? And good luck. Does not matter what you feel works. If numbers do not support your recommendation, then that recommendation is irresponsible (or useless).

To do protection, that UPS must somehow 'block' or 'absorb' a surge. As bluntly stated previously. How many joules does that UPS claim to 'absorb'? How does its 2 cm protector part 'block' what three miles of sky cannot?

How many surges have occurred? IOW how many dishwashers, clocks, furnaces, TVs, refrigerators, GFCIs, and smoke detectors were replaced due to surge damage? None? Then why would anyone assume that UPS did any hardware protection? '*Why*' is simple. Lies in advertising are automatically believed. They did not say *why* a UPS does protection and did not include spec numbers. A scam probably exists.

Scams 'everywhere in life' are promoted when one does not always demand reasons why with numbers. This is what layman must learn - in advance or the hard way. So many, unfortunately, promoted those myths and lies.

Did you know smoking cigarettes increases health? Almost everyone knew that. Most all Americans knew it because advertising said so .... in the 1950s. One would think we learn from history. Nope. A majority still recommend surge protectors that claim no effective protection ... such as that APC.

A blackout and a surge are different and unrelated anomalies. Tiopc here is surges.
Click to expand...
:confused3
 
westom said:
Recommendations made without reasons why and specification numbers are routine from English majors without technical knowledge. Those wirecuttrer and cnet.com citations are classic examples of scam.

For example, a plug-in protector must either 'block' or 'absorb' a surge. How does its 2 cm protector part 'block' what three miles of sky cannot? It cannot.

How many joules does each have? Hundreds? Thousand? Potentially destructive surges can be hundreds of thousands of joules. But if promoting for high profit protector manufacturers, then promote a 1000 (near zero) joule protector to naive consumers.

What happens when a tiny joule protector tries to absorb hundreds of thousands of joules? Usually a thermal fuse disconnects protector parts while that surge remains connected to appliances. No problem. All appliances already have robust internal protection. A surge too tiny to damage an appliance also destroys that profit center protector. That gets the most naive consumers to make more conclusions only from observation. "My protector sacrificed itself to safe my computer." Total bull. But it works on the most naive who did not see through those bogus wirecutter.com and cnet.com citations ... that never said why and ignore all relevant numbers.

Informed consumers always demand reasons why that recommendation is honest. With numbers. All learned in elementary school science that a conclusion only from observation (demonstrated in a previous paragraph) is classic junk science.

An effective solution always answer this question. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Only something completely different - called a surge protector - answers that question. As demonstrated by Franklin over 250 years ago. Either a surge is inside hunting for earth ground destructively via household appliances. Or it is harmlessly absorbed outside. But that means a protector connects low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to earth ground. Only then does that surge not need find earth ground destructively via any household appliance.

Did those articles forget to mention this? If anything needs protection, then everything (dishwasher, clocks, furnace, GFCI, refrigerator, recharging electronics, TV, garage door opener, dimmer switches, door bell, central air, clock radios, smoke detectors) everything needs that protection.

Neither cnet nor wirecutter discussed any of this. None of those products have any earth ground connection. Never mentioned are relevant numbers - ie hundreds of thousands of joules.

Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. Protectors must not fail. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Effective protection must protect from lightning. To even protect tiny joule plug-in protectors from this: https://imgur.com/hwCWHMW .

Plenty more to learn. But start with what is obvious. Those wirecutter.com and cnet.com citations are clearly bogus. For so many reasons including this one. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. None of those high profit, tiny joule, ineffective protectors have an earth ground connection. But they sure are profitable.
Click to expand...

westom said:
Every building in every nation must have an earth ground. It must exist for human protection. For appliance protection, that same ground must both meet and exceed code. Does every wire inside every cable connect to that earth ground before entering? Only one AC wire does.

Best protection is already on TV cable - for free. Inspect it. Where that cable enters, a hardwire must connect from that cable to an earth ground electrode. It must be *low impedance*. That means it must be less than 10 feet. It must not have sharp bends or splices. It must not be inside metallic conduit.

Telephone must also have effective surge protection - for free. But phones do not work if connected directly to earth. So the telco installs a protector - for free. Again, inspect it. That hardwire from telco protector to earth ground must be low impedance. Same above requirements (ie less than 10 feet) apply.

That telco protector is only doing what a TV cable's hardwire does better. Because no protector does protection (ie absorbs hundreds of thousands of joules). Earth ground does the protection. And it must be single point earth ground.

Inspect your breaker box. A bare copper quarter inch hardwire must go from breaker box to that same earthing electrode. However, if that wire goes up over a foundation and down to the electrode, then impedance is excessive. That wire is too long. It has sharp bends over the foundation. Is not separated from other non-grounding wires. Better is to route through a foundation and down to that earthing electrode.

AC electric is what - 3 wires? All three must connect low impedance to earth. One connects directly. Other two must make that connection via a 'whole house' protector. Critical parameters already posted. This superior protector (from other companies of integrity) costs about $1 per protected appliance. Yes, that is tens of times less money.

If any one wire (ie invisible dog fence) enters without making that low impedance connection, then all protection is compromised.

Did you know any of this? If not, then like anything new, it makes no sense until at least a third reread.

Apparently only point that confuses is an always required connection to single point earth ground, Based upon your post, everything else is understood. Everything posted was layman simple for anyone educated by high school science. Nothing requires any advanced education. However and again, it is new. Nothing new in life is understood in a first read.

So, if anything else is confusing, then cite it, say what you think it means, and then ask for clarification. Otherwise nobody can help understand what was well overstood and implemented over 100 years ago. Since this was originally demonstrated by Franklin over 250 years ago.
Click to expand...

westom said:
Topic is surge protection. No relationship exists between a blackout and surge. Knowledge means numbers. A blackout is 120 volts dropping to zero. A surge is 120 volts approaching or exceeding 1000 volts.

Post one UPS specification number that defines surge protection? And good luck. Does not matter what you feel works. If numbers do not support your recommendation, then that recommendation is irresponsible (or useless).

To do protection, that UPS must somehow 'block' or 'absorb' a surge. As bluntly stated previously. How many joules does that UPS claim to 'absorb'? How does its 2 cm protector part 'block' what three miles of sky cannot?

How many surges have occurred? IOW how many dishwashers, clocks, furnaces, TVs, refrigerators, GFCIs, and smoke detectors were replaced due to surge damage? None? Then why would anyone assume that UPS did any hardware protection? '*Why*' is simple. Lies in advertising are automatically believed. They did not say *why* a UPS does protection and did not include spec numbers. A scam probably exists.

Scams 'everywhere in life' are promoted when one does not always demand reasons why with numbers. This is what layman must learn - in advance or the hard way. So many, unfortunately, promoted those myths and lies.

Did you know smoking cigarettes increases health? Almost everyone knew that. Most all Americans knew it because advertising said so .... in the 1950s. One would think we learn from history. Nope. A majority still recommend surge protectors that claim no effective protection ... such as that APC.

A blackout and a surge are different and unrelated anomalies. Tiopc here is surges.
Click to expand...
Do you have suggestion to make or?
 
wenrob said:
Do you have suggestion to make or?
Click to expand...
Previously posted:
An effective solution always answer this question. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Only something completely different - called a surge protector - answers that question. ... Either a surge is inside hunting for earth ground destructively via household appliances. Or it is harmlessly absorbed outside. But that means a protector connects low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to earth ground. Only then does that surge not need find earth ground destructively via any household appliance.
Click to expand...

Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. Protectors must not fail. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Effective protection must protect from lightning. To even protect tiny joule plug-in protectors from this: https://imgur.com/hwCWHMW .
Click to expand...

AC electric is what - 3 wires? All three must connect low impedance to earth. One connects directly. Other two must make that connection via a 'whole house' protector.
Click to expand...

If not yet obvious, it is called a properly earthed 'whole house' protector. With numbers that define effective protection. 50,000 amps means a protector remains functional for many decades after many direct lightning strikes. That essential and low impedance connection to single point earth ground defines protection during each surge. Then every household appliance (and all plug-in protectors) is protected for about $1 per protected appliance.
 
Last edited:
OP did you have a surge protector before?

We just use run of the mill from Home Depot. According to my DH who’s not an electrician but plays one on TV (kidding but he does make power for a living) the best thing you can do is cut power which is what a surge protector is supposed to do. If you didn’t have one before I would get one now.
 
OP, the first thing I'd question is how you know it was a surge and not another electrical anomoly? Irregular line voltages cause more computer failures than surges.

As previously noted, albeit a bit long winded, a surge from a lightning strike isn't going to be stopped by anything but can be absorbed by a proper ground. It won't 100% protect all your electronics but it will swing the idds your way.

If you really want to know what is happening to the electricity your computer is reciving get a UPS that has reporting. I'm on my phone so can't link right now but an APC and network card iswhwre I would go. You'll see if the UPS is compensating for over or under voltage that will slowly fatigue your computer's electronics and is a more common cause of electronic failure than a surge.

It will also trim some of the fluctuations that naturally occurring, especially in areas with older over the ground wiring.
 
I'm not westom but I did stay at a Holiday Inn recently so I would say buy the one with protection for 2000+ joules, the higher the better.
Also if there is warning before a bad storm you could unplug appliances you want to protect.
 
GreatLakes said:
If you really want to know what is happening to the electricity your computer is reciving get a UPS that has reporting. I'm on my phone so can't link right now but an APC and network card iswhwre I would go. You'll see if the UPS is compensating for over or under voltage that will slowly fatigue your computer's electronics and is a more common cause of electronic failure than a surge.
Click to expand...
No over/under here but do get noise regularly. My APC intervenes and never a problem.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Share this page


GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!


New DISboards Threads

jf256
Solo Trip - March (Easter 2024) - Allergies
Replies
0
Views
1
jf256
jf256
rideswithchrist
Any bloggers here?
Replies
0
Views
1
rideswithchrist
rideswithchrist
T
Dominica rsu08 questions
Replies
0
Views
1
TN_mom5
T
T
Rainbow at Aulani this morning
Replies
0
Views
1
TDK44
T
katallo
Alamo Error Code
Replies
0
Views
1
katallo
katallo
FLCA026
Grad nite
Replies
0
Views
1
FLCA026
FLCA026
NEWS & UPDATES



Latest posts







facebook twitter
Top