Starting computer with power strip

Layback Bear · 23 May 2013

The folks around here who do government installations, schools, police, fire department, ect. have found that using surge protection of any kind in a series connection has caused early power supply failure to increase. They have no idea why but they do keep track of such things. They no longer do such things.
Of course I didn't adhere to the good advice.

I use to do two surge protectors in series and blew up a Antec 500W power supply. When I say blew up I mean the top of every capacitor blew off and fire shot out the back of the computer. I use a single surge protector now. One for each computer.

linnemeyerhere · 23 May 2013

I use two non surge type power strips plugged into my UPS and the whole set up works great. I was unaware of the suggestion to not plug surge protected models in but it kind of makes sense that the redundant protection is unnecessary but didn't know it could be dangerous.

Layback Bear · 23 May 2013

I can't prove that the surge protectors in series caused the problem. I just don't want to take the chance again.

linnemeyerhere · 23 May 2013

The UPS does such a superior job of suppression along with smoothing out the under voltages, spikes and then battery back up in brown or black outs there's no reason for the surge strip.

westom · 23 May 2013

linnemeyerhere said:

The UPS does such a superior job of suppression along with smoothing out the under voltages, spikes and then battery back up in brown or black outs there's no reason for the surge strip.

If it does that, then post the manufacture spec numbers (ie %THD) that define smoothing. Some of the 'dirtiest' power seen by computers comes from a UPS in battery backup mode. That 'dirty' power causes power strips to degrade. In rare cases, a fire resulted.

A computer must be so robust that ideal voltage is even when incandescent bulbs dim to 40% intensity. So what does smoothing accomplish? Nothing since better 'smoothing' is already inside every computer. A UPS is temporary and 'dirty' power during a blackout. If it does something else, then a manufacturer specification number defines it. Post that number.

Best strip is a non-protector strip that also costs multiple times less money. Critically important and rerely discussed are two features. A UL listing and a 15 amp circuit breaker.

linnemeyerhere · 23 May 2013

Here's some features and benefits associated with quality UPS's:

Smart-UPS - Product Information

linnemeyerhere · 23 May 2013

Here's my spec's though my unit is old and I've replaced the battery twice it does a great job. Unsure why voltage stabilization with the added convenience of the battery power would ever be a liability, maybe you could educate me?

APC Smart-UPS C 1500VA LCD 120V

dist3allaround · 23 May 2013

LOL, well apparently I was wrong. We are not totally ridiculous. There is only two stations in the office that have battery backup. I would think this is the biggest problem with our current setup that needs to change.

linnemeyerhere · 23 May 2013

In the Insurance office I managed every single computer and especially the server had a properly sized UPC. When power went out from time to time we had at least 15-20 minutes to finish save and shut down without those UPC's I just wonder the amount of data that could have been lost.