recommend a good surge protector?

On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:43:36 GMT, "liquidblue" <not RemoveThis @me.com> wrote:

>Greetings,
>
>I was wondering if you people could help me out. I want to purchase a surge
>protector for my home computer. I was looking to spend no more than $50 for
>one, and it needs to have at least six outlets. It doesn't have to have all
>the bells and whistles, just a good quality basic surge protector. Any
>suggestions?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>


I got a GE surge protector from Big Lots, less than $10. It has 8
outlets, will accommodates bulky transformers, and has 1 phone in--2
phone outs, ground and surge indicator lamps, and a cable management
bar that works well. Now I wish I bought a 10-outlet model.
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

Just because is it called a surge protector then automatically means
it provides surge protection? Well, let's assume that is true. Then
its numerical specifications list protection for each type of surge.
Oh. Neither the Belkin nor the Tripplite provide such numbers. Why do
they not even provide numbers for such protection?

Effective protectors do not stop, block or absorb what three miles of
sky could not. And yet that is what the Belkin or Tripplite must do?
Effective protectors instead earths before destructive transients even
enter a building. The protector is not protection. The protector is
effective when it connects short to protection.

For the same price of that Belkin, you get effective protection, a
connection to earth ground, AND protection for everything in the
building.

Notice that no recommendation even once mentioned joules. What is it
the difference between the $19 product from a grocery store and the
Belkin? If they have same joules, then they are equivalent.

Any protection that is effective on the power cord is already inside
the computer. Internal protection that can be overwhelmed IF you did
not earth a transient where it enters the building. That is what
'whole house' protectors do. Effective protection for everything in
the house for same price as that ineffective Belkin. 'Whole house'
protector made by manufacturers with responsible names such as Square
D, Intermatic, Leviton, Siemens, Cutler-Hammer, and GE. Products
available in Lowes, Home Depot, or electrical supply houses.

A protector is only as effective as its earth ground which is why
that dedicated earthing wire from protector to single point earthing is
so essential (and not discussed by plug-in protectors). Since earthing
is so critical, then building earthing should meet and exceed post 1990
National Electrical Code requirements. No earth ground means no
effective protection. Better is to have others recommend a protector
without even mentioning joules and without even mentioning the most
critical component in every protection system: earthing. Better to
have them recommend that plug-in protectors and not mention numerical
specifications. Better to remain mute about earthing so as to sell
plug-in protectors that have no dedicated earthing wire..

BTW, above discusses the 'whole house' solution: secondary
protection system. Inspect what others also did not mention: primary
protection system
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html

liquidblue wrote:
> "DaveW" <somewhere RemoveThis @zero.org> wrote in message
>> Belkin and Tripplite are two excellent manufacturers of heavy duty surge
>> protectors. The typical $19 surge protector you see in stores is of NO
>> value in protecting computer equipment from large voltage surges.
>
> CompUSA has a Belkin for $39.00. I guess that's the one *_*
>
> Thanks
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

"DaveW" <somewhere.TakeThisOut@zero.org> wrote in message
news:DO6dnS0Xk7uYi2vZnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Belkin and Tripplite are two excellent manufacturers of heavy duty surge
> protectors. The typical $19 surge protector you see in stores is of NO
> value in protecting computer equipment from large voltage surges.
>
> --
> DaveW
>
> ----------------
> "liquidblue" <not.TakeThisOut@me.com> wrote in message
> news:s%kJg.3316$xQ1.2964@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>> Greetings,
>>
>> I was wondering if you people could help me out. I want to purchase a
>> surge protector for my home computer. I was looking to spend no more than
>> $50 for one, and it needs to have at least six outlets. It doesn't have
>> to have all the bells and whistles, just a good quality basic surge
>> protector. Any suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>

CompUSA has a Belkin for $39.00. I guess that's the one *_*

Thanks
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

"w_tom" <w_tom1.TakeThisOut@usa.net> wrote in message
news:1157000011.560472.83650@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...
> Just because is it called a surge protector then automatically means
> it provides surge protection? Well, let's assume that is true. Then
> its numerical specifications list protection for each type of surge.
> Oh. Neither the Belkin nor the Tripplite provide such numbers. Why do
> they not even provide numbers for such protection?
>
> Effective protectors do not stop, block or absorb what three miles of
> sky could not. And yet that is what the Belkin or Tripplite must do?
> Effective protectors instead earths before destructive transients even
> enter a building. The protector is not protection. The protector is
> effective when it connects short to protection.
>
> For the same price of that Belkin, you get effective protection, a
> connection to earth ground, AND protection for everything in the
> building.
>
> Notice that no recommendation even once mentioned joules. What is it
> the difference between the $19 product from a grocery store and the
> Belkin? If they have same joules, then they are equivalent.
>
> Any protection that is effective on the power cord is already inside
> the computer. Internal protection that can be overwhelmed IF you did
> not earth a transient where it enters the building. That is what
> 'whole house' protectors do. Effective protection for everything in
> the house for same price as that ineffective Belkin. 'Whole house'
> protector made by manufacturers with responsible names such as Square
> D, Intermatic, Leviton, Siemens, Cutler-Hammer, and GE. Products
> available in Lowes, Home Depot, or electrical supply houses.
>
> A protector is only as effective as its earth ground which is why
> that dedicated earthing wire from protector to single point earthing is
> so essential (and not discussed by plug-in protectors). Since earthing
> is so critical, then building earthing should meet and exceed post 1990
> National Electrical Code requirements. No earth ground means no
> effective protection. Better is to have others recommend a protector
> without even mentioning joules and without even mentioning the most
> critical component in every protection system: earthing. Better to
> have them recommend that plug-in protectors and not mention numerical
> specifications. Better to remain mute about earthing so as to sell
> plug-in protectors that have no dedicated earthing wire..
>
> BTW, above discusses the 'whole house' solution: secondary
> protection system. Inspect what others also did not mention: primary
> protection system
> http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html
>
> liquidblue wrote:
>> "DaveW" <somewhere.TakeThisOut@zero.org> wrote in message
>>> Belkin and Tripplite are two excellent manufacturers of heavy duty surge
>>> protectors. The typical $19 surge protector you see in stores is of NO
>>> value in protecting computer equipment from large voltage surges.
>>
>> CompUSA has a Belkin for $39.00. I guess that's the one *_*
>>
>> Thanks
>

I appreciate your input, but I have no idea what your talking about and I
don't really want to know, no offense. I just want to get a decent surge
protector, not rewire the house and call bulldozers and phone the president
of wherever to get the "earth" ground. I just want a decent surge protector
*shrugs* I'm not a techie and I am not into the techie stuffies of the
computer thingie. Just want a decent surge protector.

BUT I do thank you for your input and concern. I'm glad there are people
like you who are informing people on these stuffies ^_^

Thanks
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

"liquidblue" wrote:
> I appreciate your input, but I have no idea what your talking about and I
> don't really want to know, no offense. I just want to get a decent surge
> protector, not rewire the house and call bulldozers and phone the president
> of wherever to get the "earth" ground. I just want a decent surge protector
> *shrugs* I'm not a techie and I am not into the techie stuffies of the
> computer thingie. Just want a decent surge protector.
>
> BUT I do thank you for your input and concern. I'm glad there are people
> like you who are informing people on these stuffies ^_^


"w_tom" has been pounding the NGs about "whole house surge
protection" and the ineffectiveness of power strip surge protectors
for years. In areas like Florida, which has frequent ferociaous thunder
storms and (seeing his website) inadequate utility company grounding,
whole house surge protection might be in order (I pass no judgement).
But my personal opinion is that there are other less energetic surges
that should also be shunted to ground, and in those instances, the
powerstrip Belkins and the Triplites at least provide *some* protection.

*TimDaniels*
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

"liquidblue" <not RemoveThis @me.com> wrote...
>>
>> I was wondering if you people could help me out. I want to purchase a
>> surge protector for my home computer. I was looking to spend no more than
>> $50 for one, and it needs to have at least six outlets. It doesn't have
>> to have all the bells and whistles, just a good quality basic surge
>> protector. Any suggestions?
>
> CompUSA has a Belkin for $39.00. I guess that's the one *_*

You can spend the $40 for a surge protector, or you can spend a few bux more
for a combination surge protector and low-power (350-500 VA) UPS. I bought
a small APC UPS for about $50 a while back. Just look around for sales and
specials.

The UPS has built-in surge protection equivalent to the stand-alone surge
protectors, with the bonus of keeping the computer running for a few minutes
during a brownout or giving you the option of an elegant shutdown during a
power outage.

APC and Belkin are the common ones.
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

If concerned with blackouts, then you don't need a surge protector.
Surge protection is for massive flooding. UPS is for a massive drought
called blackouts. They are two completely different events. The $39
Belkin is not for blackouts; will not protect data; does not even claim
to.

Meanwhile, a plug-in UPS does not claim to provide surge protection -
as demonstrated in numerical specs. Again, review those numbers.
Others who recommend a UPS for surge protection ignore spec numbers and
yet somehow know.

A UPS is for data protection from blackouts and extreme brownouts - a
'drought' of electricity. The UPS permits saving data to disk.

Thunderstorms are a most common source of surges - massive electrical
flooding. Most other surge problems are made irrelevant by surge
protection already inside appliances - as even required by Intel power
supply requirements. For blackouts, then solve data protection with a
battery backup (computer grade) UPS.

liquidblue wrote:
> It is good to know that there are people out there who care enough to inform
> the average person on matters like this. It's just for me, I have had maybe
> one blackout in five years and we never get thunderstorms ^_^
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

"w_tom" <w_tom1.DeleteThis@usa.net> wrote...
>
> Meanwhile, a plug-in UPS does not claim to provide surge protection -
> as demonstrated in numerical specs. Again, review those numbers.

You're just plain wrong here. From APC:

"Lightning and Surge Protection Protection from surges, spikes and even
lightning is guaranteed!"

"Surge energy rating 365 Joules" (for the bottom-of-the-line BACK-UPS 8
outlet 350VA model)

"Surge energy rating 420 Joules" (for a better BACK-UPS 1200 VA model)

"Surge energy rating 880 Joules" (for a better-yet BACK-UPS XL 3000 VA
model)


> Others who recommend a UPS for surge protection ignore spec numbers and
> yet somehow know.

....and others don't ignore numbers, but know that a home user with a $50
budget isn't going to get ultimate lightning protection.
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

> "w_tom" has been pounding the NGs about "whole house surge
> protection" and the ineffectiveness of power strip surge protectors
> for years. In areas like Florida, which has frequent ferociaous thunder
> storms and (seeing his website) inadequate utility company grounding,
> whole house surge protection might be in order (I pass no judgement).
> But my personal opinion is that there are other less energetic surges
> that should also be shunted to ground, and in those instances, the
> powerstrip Belkins and the Triplites at least provide *some* protection.
>
> *TimDaniels*

It is good to know that there are people out there who care enough to inform
the average person on matters like this. It's just for me, I have had maybe
one blackout in five years and we never get thunderstorms ^_^
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

"liquidblue" <not.RemoveThis@me.com> wrote in message
news:aiFJg.3656$xQ1.2113@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...

>> "w_tom" has been pounding the NGs about "whole house surge
>
> It is good to know that there are people out there who care enough to
> inform the average person on matters like this.
>
>
Yeah, but he borders on being a member of the tin-foil hat wearing crowd.
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

On Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:11:25 -0700, "Don Freeman"
<freemand.DeleteThis@sonic.net> wrote:

>
>"liquidblue" <not.DeleteThis@me.com> wrote in message
>news:aiFJg.3656$xQ1.2113@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
>>> "w_tom" has been pounding the NGs about "whole house surge
>>
>> It is good to know that there are people out there who care enough to
>> inform the average person on matters like this.
>>
>>
>Yeah, but he borders on being a member of the tin-foil hat wearing crowd.
>


Maybe, but it is called "surge protection", not "surge
mitigation".

IMO, the best form of protection is the connected-equipment
warranty that comes with one, and redundant gear & data
(because there is more than just surges that may cause need
for the redundancy and it covers that, too).
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

Smart Strip....Bits Limited.....

Automatically turns computer and peripherals on/off, 2225 Joules Protection,
Tel/Fax surge protector, separate AC power outlets, and more....

I use the 10 outlet Smart Surge.....bit expensive but worth it....
about 35 bucks each....

On Thu, 31 Aug 2006 03:12:07 GMT, "liquidblue" <not DeleteThis @me.com> wrote:

>"DaveW" <somewhere DeleteThis @zero.org> wrote in message
>news:DO6dnS0Xk7uYi2vZnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>> Belkin and Tripplite are two excellent manufacturers of heavy duty surge
>> protectors. The typical $19 surge protector you see in stores is of NO
>> value in protecting computer equipment from large voltage surges.
>>
>> --
>> DaveW
>>
>> ----------------
>> "liquidblue" <not DeleteThis @me.com> wrote in message
>> news:s%kJg.3316$xQ1.2964@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>>> Greetings,
>>>
>>> I was wondering if you people could help me out. I want to purchase a
>>> surge protector for my home computer. I was looking to spend no more than
>>> $50 for one, and it needs to have at least six outlets. It doesn't have
>>> to have all the bells and whistles, just a good quality basic surge
>>> protector. Any suggestions?
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance.
>>>
>>
>
>CompUSA has a Belkin for $39.00. I guess that's the one *_*
>
>Thanks
>
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector? 

"Don Freeman" <freemand DeleteThis @sonic.net> wrote in message
news:44f7345f$0$96177$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>
> "liquidblue" <not DeleteThis @me.com> wrote in message
> news:aiFJg.3656$xQ1.2113@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
>>> "w_tom" has been pounding the NGs about "whole house surge
>>
>> It is good to know that there are people out there who care enough to
>> inform the average person on matters like this.
>>
>>
> Yeah, but he borders on being a member of the tin-foil hat wearing crowd.
>

*LOL* Agreed
 >> Stay informed about: recommend a good surge protector?