Surge Protectors?
zombiewhacker
Posts: 683
Recommendations for a good brand surge protector for my i5 PC and monitor? I'm in the US. Thanks.
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Comments
I tend to invest in UPS systems instead of just surge protectors. UPS with line conditioning will give you consistent power and protect your equipment for a long time.
UPS all the way! I have used CyberPower UPS systems for years. They have been reliable. The one time I needed customer service because of one that had a dim LCD display, the customer service was excellent. UPS is not cheap, but neither was the computer you are trying to protect. I currently have 1350PFCLCD. What you need will depend on what you have installed in your computer, what else you attach to the UPS, and how long you want it to run before the battery gives out.
Agreed. for some odd reason i get power outages often where I live and have used a UPS for years. I have an APC-Sinewave-Battery-Protector-BR1000MS right now and it works great
Agree with all. I use several APCs as well.
But beware that for 100% surge protection likely to protect your digital devices from something like a lightning strike nearby, you have to put EVERYTHING electrically connected to your computer on it that is also plugged into the wall, or else you may as well not use it at all. This means your router and modem if you use Ethernet, your monitors, printer, scanner, and everything they touch as well, so any other computers plugged in to your router as well, and everything they touch, too.
Electrons will instantly explore every path trying to get to ground and will happily use all of your web of electrical connections to do so.
APC, I have three in the house. I lose power 5 times a day in the summer storms, along with many brown-outs, and the computer doesn't notice.
I use this one.
I'm happy with it.
The most important feature is that it's capable of properly shutting down your pc automatically in case of power failure.
Besides the surge protect the included battery keeps the pc running for 10/15 minutes and then, if nothing is done, begins the shutdown.
Where I live, thunderstorms are an extreme rarity, so I don't worry about lightning strikes. I just want to make sure the power coming in is consistent. Inconsistent power will kill many parts of your system over time, especially hard drives. I have two PCs, a laptop, and an Xbox. I have two UPS' to protect them and my USB peripherals. I have two CyberPower sets: a CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD Intelligent LCD UPS System, 1500VA/900W, and a CyberPower CP685AVRLCD Intelligent LCD UPS System, 685VA/390W. The first is 2 years old, the latter is 6. No problems with either.
I used to use APCs, nothing against them really, just got into the CyberPowers and liked them. And, when the batteries go bad, you can change them yourself.
Thanks to all. Heeding your advice, I opted for a UPS instead of a surge strip. Went with Cyberpower.
Yes, battery changing is easy on a CyberPower UPS. We just changed one a week ago. We ordered it on Amazon at a reasonable price - much less than buying a new UPS!
I live in France, so things may be different.
In my place there are frequent and unexpected thunderstorms.
We installed a surge protector in front of the electric input of the whole house (it's relatively cheap).
One thing is particularly prone to failure : it's the internet connection, we're still on ADSL copper aerial lines. Generally the "modem" literally fries instantly.
Be aware that your network is also a thing to protect. Most UPS/APS do have in and out jacks for RJ11 or RJ45 : it's really important to use them.
I agree with a UPS system. Either way, if it comes with insurance for any appliances damaged while plugged into it, it should be fine - I am not brand specific. My biggest piece of advice is get the biggest you can afford. The first time I bought one, it said it was good for 15 minutes ... should be enough time to shut down a computer safely. No ... these are made for light duty processors. A graphics card during a render will drain it almost immediately. I later bought a 150 minute backup ... when the power goes out during a render it says I have about 28 minutes left. When I turn the render off, I get many more minutes, but not the full count as a larger processor and memory also consume things faster.
Yeah I made the same mistake lol. When I hear that thing beeping gotta run and shut her down lol. Only have 10 minutes tops.
Being the son of an electrician and an IT guy myself, I can only agree that a good power regulator with a built-in battery system is essential. However, don't ever forget that nothing can stop the lightning to get to wherever it wants to go if any circuit at all is avazilable to course through. Let's face it guys: if you stick a metal pole on top of a hill and a lightning hits it, there won't be much of it left afterwards, if anything at all. I have seen places where copper wiring had vaporized inside the the rubber insulant during storms. All that was left was hollow, hardened and crispy rubber on the outside. So...
So the first and only true lightning protection out there is the Might Unplug-That-Shit-Immediately Hand of Doom. For more casual current variations and power cuts, a good Infosec PSU with permanent battery feed will do just fine.