Several Power Questions

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  1. Posts : 1,024
    Windows 7 Ultimate
       #1

    Several Power Questions


    Hello,
    I am looking for some learned answers to some newbie basic computer power questions.
    1. Is it true that no power strip will protect the computer from a direct lightning strike?
    Having had a couple and lost a 17" Monitor to them, I am wondering.
    2. Is it best to unplug computer from wall outlet to be completely sure.
    3. How many of the members consider a UPS as necessary equipment and always use one?
    4. Finally, will a UPS add any protection from lightning strikes? I believe it will help in small outages that we get.
    Thanks for any opinions. Having just built this system I want to protect it.
    glennc
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 11,990
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       #2

    1. Absolutely true.
    2. Yes.
    3 and 4. I consider a UPS essential with all of the power surges and brief outages we have in Florida. But do not rely on it to protect your computer from a direct lightning strike. It will not do it. When the lightning is heavy, unplug your UPS.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 53,363
    Windows 10 Home x64
       #3

    Lightning current will rise in less than 3 microseconds, and would overpower any surge protector, not to mention do it's damage faster than a surge protector can sacrifice itself. But you must also remember the phone line if you are on dialup or DSL, and the cable if you have cable broadband. So you should disconnect cable and phone lines as well.

    Where I live we don't get lightning, and rarely have power outages, luckily. A UPS will allow you to save any data and turn off the PC in a normal matter. Neither will protect against a lightning strike. A Guy
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,476
    Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit)
       #4

    I quite agree with Carl with all the answers. Dell sells some UPS which has $ 1 million money back guarantee in case your PC gets damaged. Its cost is around $ 150.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 9,537
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #5

    Dinesh said:
    I quite agree with Carl with all the answers. Dell sells some UPS which has $ 1 million money back guarantee in case your PC gets damaged. Its cost is around $ 150.

    When in doubt!
    Unplugging it is free..........
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,487
    Win 7 Pro x64/Win 10 Pro x64 dual boot
       #6

    glennc said:
    1. Is it true that no power strip will protect the computer from a direct lightning strike?
    Lightning will actually bypass the protection mechanism in a UPS or surge arrestor if the strike is direct. It basically just blows through all of the electronics until it reaches ground.

    To a direct lightning strike, your surge protection is basically a big piece of wire, and your hardware is at the other end of it. It's best to unplug.
      My Computer


  7. NoN
    Posts : 4,166
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 - x64 [Non-UEFI Boot]
       #7

    Well, it might never happen to you get directly lightning striked or once in a million L strikes, hope so for you!

    But at home i do on ground plugged and got two surges protector before it reaches the computer and some hardwares.

    I'm on laptop, so powered battery is on use when electricity fail. Small UPS might be a good alternative for desktop.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,024
    Windows 7 Ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hello Gentlemen,
    Thanks for your time and replies. It seems we have a consensus here, cool. I like undiluted answers. Since I am in FL, I do believe I will get a ups. A small price to pay for the longevity of the hardware and the time to close down correctly. The bad thing is that in South Fl. we get storms almost every other day it seems.
    I would like to ask another question. I don't honestly know much about surge protectors but what is considered the minimum "joule" rating for the safety it does provide?
    Appreciate your answers.
    glennc
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #9

    glennc said:
    Hello,
    I am looking for some learned answers to some newbie basic computer power questions.
    1. Is it true that no power strip will protect the computer from a direct lightning strike?
    Having had a couple and lost a 17" Monitor to them, I am wondering.
    2. Is it best to unplug computer from wall outlet to be completely sure.
    3. How many of the members consider a UPS as necessary equipment and always use one?
    4. Finally, will a UPS add any protection from lightning strikes? I believe it will help in small outages that we get.
    Thanks for any opinions. Having just built this system I want to protect it.
    glennc
    I agree with CarlTR6.
    I'm a retired electrical engineer.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 11,990
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       #10

    glennc said:
    Hello Gentlemen,
    Thanks for your time and replies. It seems we have a consensus here, cool. I like undiluted answers. Since I am in FL, I do believe I will get a ups. A small price to pay for the longevity of the hardware and the time to close down correctly. The bad thing is that in South Fl. we get storms almost every other day it seems.
    I would like to ask another question. I don't honestly know much about surge protectors but what is considered the minimum "joule" rating for the safety it does provide?
    Appreciate your answers.
    glennc
    You are welcome, Glenn; and I thought you must be in Florida - the lightning capitol of the US.

    Perhaps KarlSnooks will answer your question about the joule rating. A surge protector is just that - protection against surges in the power that occur everyday. The intensity of these surges is tied to a whole lot of factors beginning with the power grid your house is on to the wiring in your house and what you have running in the house. Most of the name brand surge protectors will protect your electronics from the normal, everyday surges. No surge protector - at least no consumer surge protector that the average person can afford - will protect against a lightning strike. Even those the power company installs will not protect against a direct strike.

    If you are using a UPS, just power down as a lightning storm approaches and unplug the UPS. UPS's have built in surge protectors and there is no need to use an additional surge protector with a UPS.
      My Computer


 
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