Originally posted by: randay
they are if youre not concerned about surge protection.
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?
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?
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
Originally posted by: Judgement
They are not the same but the average person probably uses the terms interchangeably
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
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.
Originally posted by: MotionMan
It does not matter since many people just plug the damn thing into itself anyway.
MotionMan