Surge Protector Recommendations?

[paulyron]

I have an old surge protector bought years ago and it is 600 joules I believe.  Not long ago, there was thunder and because of that sparks came out of my old dell xps 15 9550 laptop where the hdmi port fried and a cable matters ethernet adapter cable also fried.  Besides that, this old laptop works fine.  However, will not be using it as my main laptop anymore.

 

 

I bought a new dell xps 15 9520 laptop and will be planning to use it as my main machine.  Because of that incident, I also bought a new ethernet adapter and ethernet cable and even a new sabrent 4 port usb a hub.  The sabrent 4 port usb a port hub works fine but I didn't want to try it.  The 1 port where the ethernet fried still works though.  But you recommend not using it anymore with the new laptop?

 

 

Now, I should get a new surge protector because of this incident right?  I know it still works but I should definitely get a new one because it might cause damage to anything I connect to?  I would be connecting my laptop charger to it, 2 external monitors, modem/router and charger for iphone etc.  If so, how many joules should be the minimum?  Is there any specific ones to avoid?  Does it need to say grounded or whatever is the name?  Thank you.

[lgcas]

On 10/23/2022 at 7:11 PM, paulyron said:

I have an old surge protector bought years ago and it is 600 joules I believe.  Not long ago, there was thunder and because of that sparks came out of my old dell xps 15 9550 laptop where the hdmi port fried and a cable matters ethernet adapter cable also fried.  Besides that, this old laptop works fine.  However, will not be using it as my main laptop anymore.

 

 

I bought a new dell xps 15 9520 laptop and will be planning to use it as my main machine.  Because of that incident, I also bought a new ethernet adapter and ethernet cable and even a new sabrent 4 port usb a hub.  The sabrent 4 port usb a port hub works fine but I didn't want to try it.  The 1 port where the ethernet fried still works though.  But you recommend not using it anymore with the new laptop?

 

 

Now, I should get a new surge protector because of this incident right?  I know it still works but I should definitely get a new one because it might cause damage to anything I connect to?  I would be connecting my laptop charger to it, 2 external monitors, modem/router and charger for iphone etc.  If so, how many joules should be the minimum?  Is there any specific ones to avoid?  Does it need to say grounded or whatever is the name?  Thank you.

If available in your country, something by APC or tripp lite would be good, I see a lot of places recommend 2k+ joules for anything "gaming pc related". My APC, a surge arrest essential was relatively cheap and has, if I remember correctly, 1900 joules of protection.

Many, such as the APC surge arrest line, come with a ground and/or fault indicator (however their models with USB ports don't, or at least mine didn't); keep in mind they will tell you in the manual to connect the surge protector to a grounded socket. I'd presume the warranty cannot be claimed if it is not - your sockets really should be grounded anyway.

[paulyron]

8 hours ago, lgcas said:

If available in your country, something by APC or tripp lite would be good, I see a lot of places recommend 2k+ joules for anything "gaming pc related". My APC, a surge arrest essential was relatively cheap and has, if I remember correctly, 1900 joules of protection.

Many, such as the APC surge arrest line, come with a ground and/or fault indicator (however their models with USB ports don't, or at least mine didn't); keep in mind they will tell you in the manual to connect the surge protector to a grounded socket. I'd presume the warranty cannot be claimed if it is not - your sockets really should be grounded anyway.

https://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP1500AVRLCD-Intelligent-Outlets-Mini-Tower/dp/B000FBK3QK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=cyberpower+1500va&qid=1666827817&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjcwIiwicXNhIjoiMi4xMiIsInFzcCI6IjEuOTgifQ%3D%3D&s=electronics&sr=1-1

 

 

I have this Cyberpower UPS that I bought years ago.  However, rarely used it.  I just keep it plugged in wall outlet but do not even power it on because I used a regular surge protector.

 

 

The UPS battery doesn't work anymore because the moment the UPS is unplugged from wall outlet and I connect my laptop to it... the UPS immediately powers off.  That means the battery went bad right?  When UPS is plugged into wall outlet and I power it on... you do see numbers on the screen etc.  But why does the numbers on screen even show up if battery is bad?  Shouldn't it not show anything?

 

 

So I could use this Cyberpower UPS as a surge protector then if I wanted to all the time?  It works just as good or better than a regular $10-$60 surge protector right?  So use it as a surge protector and later on if I want, buy the replacement battery and now it will act as what it's normal function is... surge protection and battery backup right?

[PineyCreek]

4 hours ago, paulyron said:

https://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP1500AVRLCD-Intelligent-Outlets-Mini-Tower/dp/B000FBK3QK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=cyberpower+1500va&qid=1666827817&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjcwIiwicXNhIjoiMi4xMiIsInFzcCI6IjEuOTgifQ%3D%3D&s=electronics&sr=1-1

 

 

I have this Cyberpower UPS that I bought years ago.  However, rarely used it.  I just keep it plugged in wall outlet but do not even power it on because I used a regular surge protector.

 

 

The UPS battery doesn't work anymore because the moment the UPS is unplugged from wall outlet and I connect my laptop to it... the UPS immediately powers off.  That means the battery went bad right?  When UPS is plugged into wall outlet and I power it on... you do see numbers on the screen etc.  But why does the numbers on screen even show up if battery is bad?  Shouldn't it not show anything?

 

 

So I could use this Cyberpower UPS as a surge protector then if I wanted to all the time?  It works just as good or better than a regular $10-$60 surge protector right?  So use it as a surge protector and later on if I want, buy the replacement battery and now it will act as what it's normal function is... surge protection and battery backup right?

UPS batteries last between 3 and 5 years usually, just like car batteries...they both use the same battery tech (lead acid).  They should be replaced every few years.  Most UPS include software options for self-testing.  Yes, a UPS can have a bad battery and still power on, but you'll lose power pretty much immediately in any scenario where it tries to switch to battery power, even if it's just trying to intervene because the power quality is bad.

 

Usually you'll see higher joule ratings on regular surge protectors if that's what you're looking for.  APC and Belkin make good surge protectors.

[paulyron]

47 minutes ago, PineyCreek said:

UPS batteries last between 3 and 5 years usually, just like car batteries...they both use the same battery tech (lead acid).  They should be replaced every few years.  Most UPS include software options for self-testing.  Yes, a UPS can have a bad battery and still power on, but you'll lose power pretty much immediately in any scenario where it tries to switch to battery power, even if it's just trying to intervene because the power quality is bad.

 

Usually you'll see higher joule ratings on regular surge protectors if that's what you're looking for.  APC and Belkin make good surge protectors.

HI.  But at the moment, I can use it strictly as a surge protector without any issue right?  That is until I get a new UPS battery?  

[PineyCreek]

20 hours ago, paulyron said:

HI.  But at the moment, I can use it strictly as a surge protector without any issue right?  That is until I get a new UPS battery?  

I don't see why not.  Some protection is better than none.  If you have one that has one side of ports for surge protector and the other side for surge protector + battery, I would stay on the surge protector only side just so you don't lose power if it tries to switch to battery.