Surge Protectors

[El Prez]

Jay, Ive got a Belkin 8 plug, earthed, phone line surge protector fitted to this pooter. Will it work as advertised, or have I wasted my cash. Should it be left switched on at all times, or can I power down at night when I switch off the computer? Got to ask as I really respect the power of thunderstorms. Has Buck Rogers still got a thing going with Wilma Dearing?

[Beast]

Rob, yes i would well recommend anyone getting a surge protector for there pooter's!
It will work as advertised, and it's a well earned investment.
When you power down your computer you can then switch of the surge protector, as it's now protecting... erm... nowt taken out.
Don't get jealous now Rob, only because you liked her tight shiny suit!

[Andy O'Pray]

Hi Jay, Yes, surge protectors work 99.99% of the time. Several years ago I had the main transformer opposite my house blow, really big bang. It fried my surge protector. That was the 00.01% of the time that they don't work.

A surge protector is definately a wise investment.

Aye - Andy

[Tab]

Well you have one on your mains but do you have one on your telephone line. In a thunderstorm a surge down your telephone line can knock out
your computer as quick as any thing.

[Beast]

You should know by now to always unplug your telephone lines during a thunderstorm.

[El Prez]

This Belkin has a telephone cut out as well, but whenever the bangy clouds are around everything, TV inluded gets unplugged.

[harry hackedoff]

Lightning strikes can be very damaging, not just to your pc.
Mate of mine had a strike to his TV aerial; every electrical socket in the house blew off the wall. Any appliance that was plugged in exploded. Any cables in the house melted the insulation along their complete length; blowing plasterboard across the rooms they were in, Lucky for them they were all in bed. Oppo rolls out of bed and onto the floor, quickly diving under the bed thinking wtf, we’re under attack. Next thing he hears several loud bangs in rapid succession, which he assumed to be gunfire (remember, he was half asleep). Roof tiles landing on his neighbour’s car caused the loud bangs. Temp tarps were placed on the roof the next day and they held water for a week before they gave way, flooding the house. The lightning got into the pipe work and blew several sanitary appliances and most of the radiators of the walls.
Oppo moved into a rental property whilst his insurance sorted out builders, etc The house was a right-off, all carpets, soft furnishings, clothes, domestic appliances, kids toys, everything was ruined, either by the strike, or subsequent rain damage. Complete re-wire, re-plumb, re-plaster the upstairs, new I'M A SCAMMER SPAMMER!!!, even the patio doors were damaged by cables running near them, most of the upstairs flooring had to be changed, re-carpet throughout.
Nine months later, they moved back in. This isn’t a joke, it really happened.

[soldierblue]

Lightning strikes took out my computer i now have a Belkin to protect my computer worht every penny has a phone socket as well

[Archie]

You may want to consider an Uninterruptable Power Supply. UPS prices have plummeted over recent years. Many have telephone protection as well as the 240volt DC inverter/charger doohicky,(you can tell I'm a Techie)

My firm uses them for all critical equipment, and they have saved us from several power outage and brown out situations.

We sourced ours from Advance Galatrek, in Welsh Wales, they apparantley make them for many firms who then re-badge them as their own product, they also have a good spares backup for replacement batteries etc.

I reccomend them to the house.

[Twenty One]

Piece of advice with reference to surge protectors, make sure that they are earthed eg plugged into the wall and not an extension.

BIG TAM.

[rigger]

I installed a surge protector last year. Two weeks later lightning hit my shed out back and blew the crap out of my protector and pooter! I agree with Archie re the UPS, (although I haven't fitted one). Most of the techies I know have a low opinion of the value of surge protectors and opt for a UPS. Every time after I shut down now, I pull the 240 plug out the socket, I reckon that is the cheapest and most effective surge protector!
My dog has a special bark when he hears thunder, so if I'm on the pooter and hear this bark, a rapid shutdown/disconnect follows!

[Andy O'Pray]

Hi rigger,

I am glad that you are keeping up the old Scottish tradition in looking for the cheapest way out. A man after my own heart. I did not realise that Oz was still on a 240 system.

Aye - Andy.

[rigger]

As far as I know it's always been 240-250 Andy, none of that mickey mouse 115-125vac down here. When we get zapped, boy do we get zapped! :crazyeyes: :crazyeyes: