Surge Protectors

I don't get it. You had parts of your Mac replaced three times within 6 months?

 

buy and use a UPS, then a plug with surge protector in PH. all our equipments retired early when brought and used in PH, but that was before, now we use AVR or w/ surge protector

 

any good and not so expensive UPS that you guys can recommend?

 

Please note that a UPS does not necessarily give you surge protection - UPS means uninterruptible power supply, a source of power when normal electricity disappears. A surge protector limits the current spikes that might come through the power lines when there is a thunderstorm or other surges.

Another point to make, a power surge can come from many sources, not just the electrical lines: Telephone lines, DSL modems and Cable internet modems are other possible sources of power surges and they can get into your computers modem or ethernet connection to zap your motherboard.

Last point to make: if you do get surge protector, it will only work properly if it is connected to an effective grounding post. If you remove the third prong on the plug (grounding prong) or if the outlet you use is not properly grounded the surge protector is useless. Some outlets might have three prongs, but if you check the grounding socket is not connected.

Safest thing to do is to shut down when you hear the thunder rumbling.

 

Agree. I have an APC UPS. Thought it was the best. It conked out during a fluctuation. Good thing it was still under warranty.

 

I moved here to the Philippines for Med School in Manila in 2001 and have been here ever since. I've gone from a SONY VAIO desktop to a HP Laptop to another HP Laptop to my current MacBook. The electricity here is rather reliable. Just take the same precautions (I'll write them below) you'd take anywhere.

I've never had any power-related problems with any of the computers I've used (Each new computer was a system upgrade or a gift). I use a locally available (bought at Ace Hardware) Automatic Voltage Regulator and an APC surge protector here at home. When in the hospital or in public places like coffee shops, I've plugged directly into the power outlet. Haven't ever had any power related problems, although if a black/brownout occurs, I remove the plug from the electrical socket or the cord from the laptop as a precaution against spikes in voltage when the power comes back on in those public locations.

 

at home, i plug everything on a extension connector with surge protector then to an AVR... power surges here in the phils are real killers! especially during lightning storms... protect your MAChines bros

 

In addition to the advice given above, let me expand a bit. Compute the load before buying the approriate UPS/AVR plus 100%. So, if your computer's power supply is rated at 500 watts (normal for a desktop unit), get at least a 1000 watts UPS and/or power strip. Google "UPS calculator" for detailed, error-free, and idiot-proof computation. I'm a bit O.C. when it comes to electrical protection devices. Every device I use (even my iphone charger) goes through a ups/power strip.

 

Sir,

In my clinic, almost all of my equipments are with avr/ups, not being an OC, but just being good/polite with fellow clinicians. i dont want to be source of accidental fire. AVR/ups are good investment, problem is.... too big to carry with our MB,etc. So what Im doing i bought this little gadget from handyman (less than P500) called `power on delay`. its size is approx 2x2x2in. very handy. what it does is, when there is power interruption. it automatically shut done, and when the power supply is stable, around 3-5min it will turn on again. no power surge in your equipments. it is very handy. try it.

 

@danielmoses.....mmm.....the problem with those portable delay power unit is the wattage. The ones I've seen is rated at 60 watts. For best protection, it is still best to pair it with a proper AVR with power-on delay feature. What's the wattage capacity of your unit?

 

Hey all, I have a MacBook Alum (standard 2 prong plug with 3rd round grounding wire). Would like to avoid plugging straight into the wall.

Would also like to avoid paying 2k - 4k for a separate AVR, and was wondering if a PowerSurge protector would do (what specs, and how much?)

Any suggestions?

 

The product specs Input voltage 220 volts, max current load: 10amps. delay time 3-6min. sorry this specs are foreign to me. cant explain further. but as i told you sirs/maams. i used this practically for almost all of my medical equipments in our clinic and in my section in the hospital, also in our house. ref, tv, etc for more than two years. Correct me if im wrong as i dissect the scenario with this current thread, we cant bring along our avr w our Macbook. you`ll be very fortunate if a cafe will allow you to use theirs. pardon me, but i used this because of its liteweight. thanks for your comments and pls do correct me if what im doing is not proper. likewise im newbie with computers in general, muchmore with Mac in particular. God Bless and good health

 

try an Omni powerstrip with IC breaker. DIY, ACE or even Landmark Hardware has them. They have 2 multi-plug units. Anything above 500 watts rated capacity would be enough to put you in the safe zone.

 

Thanks! How much?

 

^ I think they're in between 300-600 pesos. Depends on the number of sockets.

 

sir, malaki po ba yun? portable ?

 

the omni power strip (2 socket unit) is approximately 4" x 2" (excluding the power cord itself. The one I bought is rated at 2200 watts (which is more than enough to take in any portable electronic device). The Price less than P600.00. For heavy duty use, they have a lightning protection series but it is not a portable unit. My recommendation still is for a proper AVR with surge and time delay like a Newstar (rated at 3,000 watts). This is the one I use to protect my audio equipment.