Best surge protector

[drewjn]

Sorry if the question seems a bit foolish or if this should go to a different area of the forum, but what are the better surge protectors to protect your gaming rigs and other electronics?

 

You see everything from cheapo pos powerstrips with tacked on surge protection to 200-300 overpriced monstrosities with extra battery to keep things running during a poweroutage for an hour or two.

 

 

What do you suggest and what is actually worth getting?

[Albatross]

I got this a while ago, it works great and saved me three times so far when my power went off.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Outlet-Pivot-Surge-Protector/dp/B000JE9LD4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1421315137&sr=8-3&keywords=surge+protector

 

What is your budget?

[RevoltTrain]

You're talking about a UPS

 

We use this at work (Local Radio Station) and we have enough to keep the station on air for a total of 5 minutes for On-air staff to sign off before we have dead air

 

http://www.amazon.com/APC-BE750G-Saving-Battery-Back-UPS/dp/B000Z80ICM/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1421304401&sr=8-10

[drewjn]

I just want something that will not let my stuff die due to a surge. I do not necessarily need the battery backup but it isn't a negative.

 

My price range would be up to 80 usd as anything more seems a complete waste, but if I can get something decent for far cheaper, even better. Wouldn't mind being able to get two.

[Darkstar101]

APC have it all.

[westom]

I just want something that will not let my stuff die due to a surge.

Most only know from hearsay.  The fewer and informed will also provide numbers that demonstrate knowledge.  For example, a UPS is for decreased (low or no) voltage.  A surge is when voltage increases to maybe thousands of volts.  And still so many will recommend a UPS as if it was a surge protector ONLY because that was the first thing they were told.

 

A UPS does claim some surge protection.  And again, we view its spec numbers.  Hundreds of joules will somehow absorb destructive surges that are hundreds of thousands of joules?  Of course not.

 

Protection means hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate.  Even many power strips (clearly superior to a UPS) only claims to absorb hundreds or thousands of joules.  Also a near zero protector.   Does not matter.  They are selling a $3 power strip with ten cent protector parts for $25 or $80.  Profits are obscene.  So it need not do protection.

 

Any protector recommendation says where hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate.  Once that surge is anywhere inside your building, then it hunts for earth ground destructively via appliances.  Anything inside (adjacent to appliances) does not even claim to protect from the other and destructive surge.  Solution for so many products is simple.  Don't discuss the other and destructive surge.  Only claim to protect from a surge already made irrelevant by protection inside every appliance.

 

Your concern is the other surge that can overwhelm superior protection inside appliances.  Again, where do hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate?  Cable TV already has that protection as required by industry standards and code - a hardwire from that cable that connects low impedance (ie 'less than 10 feet') to single point earth ground.  Again, another critical requirement - low impedance.

 

Facilities that cannot have damage always earth a 'whole house' protector.  One example of a destructive surge, lightning, can be 20,000 amps.  So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps.  Again, a number only provided by the fewer who know this stuff.  Nobody should know a surge even existed.  50,000 amps means even direct lightning strikes do not damage the protector.

 

These superior and tens of times less expensive devices come from manufacturers with better integrity.  Including Leviton, Ditek, General Electric, Syscom, Polyphaser, Siemens, ABB, Square D, and Intermatic.,  Names that any guy would know from other reliable equipment already inside houses. APC is not listed.  A Cutler-Hammer (Eaton) protector sells in Lowes and Home Depot.

 

No protector does protection.  Best protection for cable is a hardwire from that TV cable to earth.  Then energy connects to earth without being inside; without hunting for earth destructively via appliances.  But AC electric and telephone cannot connect directly to earth.  Telcos install a 'whole house' protector (for free) to do what a hardwire would do better.  For AC mains, the above 'whole house' protectors always have one critical feature - a dedicated wire to connect low impedance (ie 'less than 10 feet') to earth. Any protector without that earthing connection is ineffective.

 

All this is new meaning multiple rereads are necessary.  However a bottom line is simple.   A protector is only as effective as its earth ground.  That UPS and other bogus recommendations do not have that low impedance connection to earth.  Will not discuss where energy dissipates.  Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate.  Best protection costs about $1 per protected appliance.

[drewjn]

@westom

Well I got that cheaper belkin, though that just means I use it for it's power strip functionality and the warranty when it fails to protect. Out of curiosity,how is the leviton surge supression for their outlets?

[Mushious]

Belkin are good and their warranties are bulletproof. The 8-port surge guard has a life-time up-to $21000 replacement of anything that dies due to it failing.

[westom]

 Out of curiosity,how is the leviton surge supression for their outlets?

 

How many joules does it claim to absorb?  How many joules must it absorb to provide protection? Those numbers answer your question.  Any protection adjacent to an appliance is already done better inside that appliance.

 

Its warranty is bogus.  So many have learned the hard way that its warranty will only replace that protector.

 

If you do not properly earth a 'whole house' protector, then a Belkin does not add additional protection.  In some cases, an adjacent protector has even made damage easier by bypassing protection inside nearby computers.