How many here have seen a surge protector fail or get toasted?

[MWink]

Just wondering who has seen a surge protector or UPS get toasted and if it protected its load. If so, list the type (surge/UPS), brand, model (if you know), and if it died in the line of duty (protected its load) or failed (load got fried). Also tell if the company replaced any damaged components (if surge/UPS had protection policy).

This is a poll to determine who makes good surge protectors/UPSs. Also feel free to tell how it got toasted.

I will get it started:
Tripplite 420VA UPS: Failed, actually had an internal problem and SENT a surge through my speakers and toasted my favorite sound card . BTW, comp was off when surge hit. Heard loud pop from speakers. Turned computer on and smelled smoke. UPS died later that day (the outlet the speakers were on). Tripplite replaced the UPS but did nothing for the sound card.

Friend had Belkin protecting his comp: Failed. Lightning fried his modem. Belkin replaced modem.

Another friend had same Tripplite UPS as above: Died in the line of duty. Lightning hit the building while comp was on. UPS was blasted but powered the comp by battery. UPS never worked of AC again. Tripplite replaced UPS.

 

[MWink]

^

 

[MWink]

Well, I consider an APC line interactive to be a good unit. My APC Back-UPS Pro 650 has yet to let me down and my father loves his Smart-UPS 700. I consider APC to be the best.

 

[Jeff H]

I had an older Tripplite fried in a lightening storm, and it did it's job - no fried components. It was one of the metal boxed units, and they're difficult to find these days.

Just three weeks later I had a replacement unit, a Belkin SurgeMaster II fried by another lightening storm. It too did its job - no fried components.

After that experience I've taken to unplugging my system, and the phone connections, any time there's the threat of a storm. You know what they say - third times the charm! I don't want to press my luck <g>.

 

[THELAIR]

Ive had a 5 year old APC Smart UPS 1400
the big behemoth of a thing.. weighs like 90 lbs...

anyways, we have had several power disruptions and its kept 3 systems plugged into it going for 20 mins with no problems



go APC!

 

[Outfits]

I had a lightning surge(it hit my powerline)blow the varistors out of my Opti UPS and 4 surge supressors. All still worked but I was not sure how effective they were, so I just replaced the varistors(cost about $7.50 for half a dozen of them. UPS was still under warrenty
but the shipping would have cost much more than i spent and only takes a few minutes to replace those parts. If you take a direct hit nothing is going to save you except insurance.

 

[DarkWarrior2]

I had an &quot;el cheapo&quot; surge suppressor, &quot;Surge Patrol Basic Plus&quot; by EFI Electronics Corp.

Due to a problem with the underground power lines going to my place, that particular supressor got toasted. When I came home, I saw a ConEd truck out front, my landlord, and a few other people.

I was like, WTF! (before I became a Christian, hehe)

I saw black smoke stains on the floor around the suppressor, and the plastic was deformed (bulging in one spot).

But, it did its job by saving my tv, vcr, stereo, games, etc.

OTOH, I had (and still do) a Belkin surge suppressor on my computer, monitor, etc. that didn't seem to be affected at all. But it could have been just the one other circuit that was at fault, who knows.

Anyways, good luck!

 

[Crystal Bay]

Another APC.. vote here, UPS 500 pro usb ..$60 new. Tanks VA.

This sucker is just fine for my needs,been through many black and brown outs ,with 12 minutes left till death

 

[MWink]

My fathers boss had a TV get toasted a few days ago. It was protected by an SL Waber surge protector. Funny thing is the surge protector still says protection working. Though, it could have come in on the cable line.