Is a power strip and a surge protector the same thing?

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
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No. A power strip provides multiple outlets using one plug. A surge protector protects a device or devices from surges.
 

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: randay
they are if youre not concerned about surge protection.

Except you'll probably be wasting a considerable amount of money if you don't care about surge protection and get a surge protector. You can get as many as 3 power strips, sometimes more, for the price of even the most basic surge protectors.
 

Judgement

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
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They are not the same but the average person probably uses the terms interchangeably
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
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It does not matter since many people just plug the damn thing into itself anyway.

MotionMan
 

austin316

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Dec 1, 2001
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Ok, I have a PS2, Logitech Z5500 Receiver and a flat panel tv. I should definitely switch to a surge protector, correct? Can someone point me in the direction of a cheap one that works well?
 

ahurtt

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2001
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A power strip is essentially an extension cord with multiple outlets on the end. A power strip in and of itself offers no surge protection. If you add a surge protector to the power strip then what you have is a surge protecting power strip.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
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Originally posted by: austin316
Ok, I have a PS2, Logitech Z5500 Receiver and a flat panel tv. I should definitely switch to a surge protector, correct? Can someone point me in the direction of a cheap one that works well?

define cheap
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
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Originally posted by: austin316
Ok, I have a PS2, Logitech Z5500 Receiver and a flat panel tv. I should definitely switch to a surge protector, correct? Can someone point me in the direction of a cheap one that works well?

Just hit up target, circuit city, etc... and get one that says surge protector. Something with 2000+ joules protection should be ok.
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
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No - a power strip just allows you to plug more devices into a standard outlet.

A surge protector has more components - cheap ones an MOV which is designed to clamp at a specific voltage (usually over 340VAC) to prevent damaging spikes and CW overvoltage from long term faults from reaching your equipment.

Better ones include LC filtering (a has filter comprised of inductors/chokes and capacitors ) to reduce RF noise and harmonics from entering and/or leaving your equipment. The MOV's on better ones will have a larger rating (in joules) and lower clamping voltage with faster response times. They can snub spikes from the back emf of a hermetic compressor starting on the same line (fridge, water cooler, etc.).

The next step up would be a line conditioner which can be a combination of the above with transverse rejection to a full blown transformer such as a ferroresonant transformer. These provide full galvanic isolation from the utility grid and superior protection against 6.6kV flashover spikes from lightning line strikes, for example.
 

austin316

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Dec 1, 2001
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Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
Originally posted by: austin316
Ok, I have a PS2, Logitech Z5500 Receiver and a flat panel tv. I should definitely switch to a surge protector, correct? Can someone point me in the direction of a cheap one that works well?

define cheap

I paid like $12 for the power strip. So maybe $20 for a surge protector?
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
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Originally posted by: Judgement
They are not the same but the average person probably uses the terms interchangeably

That's what I was thinking... I'll regularly call a surge protector a power strip simply because most "power strips" you buy today have surge protection in them... unless they're very, very cheap.

Originally posted by: austin316
Ok, I have a PS2, Logitech Z5500 Receiver and a flat panel tv. I should definitely switch to a surge protector, correct? Can someone point me in the direction of a cheap one that works well?

I use a UPS on my main PC and my sub PC/DLP TV. Although there tend to be more electonics for a TV so it's harder to find a UPS that has enough room. I'm actually tempted to plug a power strip into my UPS to get more ports supported by battery back-up, but I don't know if this is a bad idea or not :p.

EDIT:

Looks like I found the answer to that one:

In case you are wondering, UPS manufacturers recommend against plugging a power strip into a UPS to increase your number of outlets, as an overload may occur and trip the built-in circuit breaker.
 

ahurtt

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2001
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Originally posted by: Rubycon
No - a power strip just allows you to plug more devices into a standard outlet.

A surge protector has more components - cheap ones an MOV which is designed to clamp at a specific voltage (usually over 340VAC) to prevent damaging spikes and CW overvoltage from long term faults from reaching your equipment.

Better ones include LC filtering (a has filter comprised of inductors/chokes and capacitors ) to reduce RF noise and harmonics from entering and/or leaving your equipment. The MOV's on better ones will have a larger rating (in joules) and lower clamping voltage with faster response times. They can snub spikes from the back emf of a hermetic compressor starting on the same line (fridge, water cooler, etc.).

The next step up would be a line conditioner which can be a combination of the above with transverse rejection to a full blown transformer such as a ferroresonant transformer. These provide full galvanic isolation from the utility grid and superior protection against 6.6kV flashover spikes from lightning line strikes, for example.

Do you think a guy who doesn't know the difference between a power strip and a surge protector has any idea what the fuck you are talking about here?
 

ahurtt

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2001
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Originally posted by: austin316
Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
Originally posted by: austin316
Ok, I have a PS2, Logitech Z5500 Receiver and a flat panel tv. I should definitely switch to a surge protector, correct? Can someone point me in the direction of a cheap one that works well?

define cheap

I paid like $12 for the power strip. So maybe $20 for a surge protector?

Most often you buy a power strip that indicates it already has a surge protector built into it. I can't say that I've ever seen a surge protector sold alone as a separate unit although I guess such a thing could exist. . .

When you say $20 for a surge protector do you actually mean a surge protecting power strip or are you actually thinking of the surge protector as a separate thing? Usually the surge protector is "part of" a power strip. If the power strip has a surge protector unit in it, then it will say so in the specifications on the box somewhere. You can also kind of tell if the power strip has a surge protector in it because there is usually some kind of "reset" button on it usually near the on/off switch.
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
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Originally posted by: ahurtt
You can also kind of tell if the power strip has a surge protector in it because there is usually some kind of "reset" button on it usually near the on/off switch.

The reset button is not part of the surge protection - it's a circuit breaker.

 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
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Surge protectors include about 1.00 of MOV they use for 'protection'.
Funny how a 1.00 part makes the price go up 20x :)
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
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Originally posted by: Modelworks
Surge protectors include about 1.00 of MOV they use for 'protection'.
Funny how a 1.00 part makes the price go up 20x :)

Especially when the things they are protecting have better ones inside! (usually)
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
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Power strips are splitters, while surge protectors are units that come with equipment protection such as $25,000 guarantees in case they fail to protect your equipment due to a defect in the surge protector, that most likely not a single surge protector manufacturer has ever reimbursed a victim of fried equipment for his losses.
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
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Originally posted by: jjsole
Power strips are splitters, while surge protectors are units that come with equipment protection such as $25,000 guarantees in case they fail to protect your equipment due to a defect in the surge protector, that most likely not a single surge protector manufacturer has ever reimbursed a victim of fried equipment for his losses.

Improper wiring (ie grounding faults) render surge protection useless. Strips/UPS' that have a wiring fault light on there for a reason. If it glows when plugged in, FIX IT NOW!
 

austin316

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
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Originally posted by: ahurtt
Originally posted by: austin316
Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
Originally posted by: austin316
Ok, I have a PS2, Logitech Z5500 Receiver and a flat panel tv. I should definitely switch to a surge protector, correct? Can someone point me in the direction of a cheap one that works well?

define cheap

I paid like $12 for the power strip. So maybe $20 for a surge protector?

Most often you buy a power strip that indicates it already has a surge protector built into it. I can't say that I've ever seen a surge protector sold alone as a separate unit although I guess such a thing could exist. . .

When you say $20 for a surge protector do you actually mean a surge protecting power strip or are you actually thinking of the surge protector as a separate thing? Usually the surge protector is "part of" a power strip. If the power strip has a surge protector unit in it, then it will say so in the specifications on the box somewhere. You can also kind of tell if the power strip has a surge protector in it because there is usually some kind of "reset" button on it usually near the on/off switch.

whoa. now, I'm getting completely confused. I would like to protect against a sudden "surge" of electricity, so that my electronic equipment doesn't get ruined. I would also need to be able to plug in at least 4 cables.