Surge Protectors/UPS

[420_247]

Looking into getting a new surge protector or UPS for my system. I'm rather interested in the "under-the-monitor" type. Anyone have an suggestions or experience with a particular unit?

[sharder8]

Most of the "under the monitor" types that I have seen, have minimal battery time and low joule ratings (which is fine if you're running a 375MHz system, with a 15" monitor).

Anything faster or larger, you should look into the larger UPS/surge protector. APC has a real good reputation and I have no problems recommending them, but I found the CyberPower 900AVR ($149 and up) to better fit my needs. It is a little less expensive than APC, but rates just as well or better. The way I look at it, if it saves one monitor/MoBo/CPU/HDD/etc., it will have paid for itself! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Don't forget, you need to run your telephone line/cable/sattelite modem through a surge protector/UPS as well.
(I saw $12,000 of damaged computers after the storm last week and the owner had all of them on UPS's, but had the tele. line running from the wall directly into the modem. The UPS manufacturer stated the warranty was voided by by-passing the tele. line protection and the owner was in tears.) http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

Harder

[RamonGTP]

I've got two UPS's... One being a CyberPower 900AVR which i've been very pleased with. I was able to run my 19" monitor, T-bird 1.333ghz, cable modem, hub, cordless phone, computer speaker system, my Dreamcasst, Playstation 2 and a 31" TV set all at the same time. I don't have all that stuff running now, I just did it temporarily to test it and it powered up all that stuff, although it was only going to last for less than 5 minutes with all that stuff. The other one I have is an APC 500 that I use for my 31" tv set, Playstation 2 and Dreamcast just incase I'm in the middile of a game and the power goes out!!!

-Ramon

[This message has been edited by RamonGTP (edited 07-27-2001).]

[AuraEdge]

My setup is a 960J under the monitor surge (for ease of switching) with phone passthru, and comp, 19" monitor, printer, speakers, Playstation, desklamp and one alarmclock all connects all to that. Dad told me lightning was around 1000J of surge or more, so i bought this other ~2100J surge protector, and made the existing surge plug out to that (Phoneline too, so it gets surged protected twice) with cable pass thru (when I get that), and that goes out to the wall. I also have an second alarm clock plugged into the 2100+J surge protector.

Is there anything wrong with this setup? it seems to have worked for me but i havent had any violent storms lately. Thier both Newpoint units. Im not too versed on surge protection. Also I'm not sure if your allowed to daisy chain surge protectors or not, and what the problems with doing that are. My understanding is that if a 2000J surge comes through, the first surge protector will stop it in its tracks, and it never gets past there....Am I right?

[RamonGTP]

One thing to remember about surge protecters is that many times they only have ONE life. Depending on the quality of the surge protector and how powerful the surge was. The surge protector may only protect your system from that ONE surge, and after that its just a power strip, not a surge protectoor anymore. However a good quality protector should last a while, and will probebly have some kind of alarm or indicator light if something isn't right.

-Ramon

[Scorpio69]

That's an interesting point that a lot of people probably don't know. Does anyone know of a way to test surge protectors? (Other than with a bolt of lightning.)

[sharder8]

AuraEdge --

My understanding of electricity and Surge Protectors is that if you daisy chain them, they negate each other. In other words, 2 or more in series equals none. I do know, everything I've ever read on the subject says to never do that!

Harder

[Ed_S]

I'll 2nd what sharder8 said. I've always heard you never plug one into another, although I've never seen an explanation why.
I know this for sure, my APC unit's instructions specifically say it is to be plugged directly to a grounded wall outlet, NOT into a power strip or extension cord.

If you want an under monitor unit, why not get one of the cheapies which have NO protection, then plug IT into a proper UPS? I've seen some for around $15 that are just switchboxes, basically. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[420_247]

If you want an under monitor unit, why not get one of the cheapies which have NO protection, then plug IT into a proper UPS?


That sounds like a pretty nifty idea, thanks...I think that I'm probably gonna get a diesel under monitor surge protector from APC. The area that I'm from doesn't really get many power outages and I'm not really gonna be doing any work that is sensitive enough that I'd need an uninterruptible power supply. I usually just save & power down anyway at the first sign of thunder or lightning. Anyhow, thanks for the info, good thread...peace...

[AuraEdge]

oh wow
Good stuff
okay
so If you plug a powerstrip (non surge protecting) under the monitor box into my 2100j surge protector, ill still get the 2100j protection to all my devices? and if i leave it as it is, i get none?

Looks like I gotta make a trip to CompUSA tommorrow...

[AuraEdge]

Ive googled about 10 links, and everything Ive read said not to daisy chain them (doing so voids warrenty) but I read nothing about canceling protection. Ive read about possible overloads, or something bout not being a direct connection to the ground, making it so it cant ground directly, possibly weakening effectiveness.
Also ive read that when the box says 960Joules of protection, thats the max it starts with. like if you get a 10J surge, then it eats away at it to 950J remaining, and Surge protectors may drain if you get big or frequent surges.
Knwoing that, im wondering if my 960J under the monitor is enough. If it is, ill just take it out of the 2k Joule surge and plug it into the wall.

I also read that Coaxial and phone surging doesnt matter daisy chained, only electrical.

[This message has been edited by AuraEdge (edited 07-29-2001).]