Question Looking for a good surge protector..

[knowledge2121]

I am looking at this surge protector, it is rated 4500 joules with a clamping voltage of L-N 400V, L-G 500V, N-G 500V.

Is this a good surge protector ? Any other surge protectors that beat this ? My budget is 70cdn.

 

[Deleted member 14196]

This will blow yours out of the water and in case it does let something get fried if it ever gets hit with lightning whatever is plugged into it is covered up to $50,000 so basically they’ll replace whatever is plugged into it if it gets destroyed after a lightning strike which it usually doesn’t. These are the only kind I use

Tripp Lite Isobar 8 Outlet Surge... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000511U7?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[Karadjgne]

Stick with brand names like Tripp lite, Minuteman, APC etc. They've been around for years and specialize in surge suppressors and ups systems. Can't really say the same about an Amazon Basics item that's most likely made by a knockoff factory using out of Patent designs that has no clue about what they make, as long as it'll sell.

 

[knowledge2121]

I will go with the 12 outlet version....it is a rebranded APC P12U2. There is also a Monoprice version...

Objectively speaking, it is a very good surge protector with a rating of 4320 joules and clamping voltage of L-N 330V, L-G 400V, N-G 400V.

It also gets very good reviews on amazon and is very cheap too. Plus who knows whats inside the surge protector...it could actually be a very good surge protector...

And what could possibly be inside a surge protector ? Bunch of varistors, cables and plugs ?

 

[Karadjgne]

It's not rebranded APC P12U2. It's an out of Patent design now open to other companies to manufacture. It's made for Amazon in China. They even got rid of the USB ports to save on manufacturing costs.

"The heavy-duty surge protector power strip includes 12 outlets and will help safeguard your electronics in the event of power surges and spikes."

Complete garbage. There's a 15A breaker built into it, which is dangerous as most residential circuits are 15A total. That tiny automotive breaker does one thing only, stops you using more than 15A of plugged in equipment over an extended period of time, long enough for the filament to heat up and trip. That's besides the point that if you do have anything close to 15A plugged in and running, you can then no longer even turn on your overhead fan or lights as you'll then trip the house breaker.

It's a copy-cat POS. As is the Monoprice which is also a copycat, without the APC warranty or reliability.

For a true 'surge suppressor' that'll stop power surges that made it past the mains breaker, and the circuit breaker, you need a UPS. Anything less is just a power splitter strip with overload protection, unless specified it has the ability to Be a surge suppressor, and includes circuitry for such, not just a 15A automotive toggle breaker.

A 15A rated breaker does absolutely nothing for Voltage, it will not stop a 1000v spike at 14A.
4320 joules works out to be @ 290v at 15A per second. Or 580v at 15A per half second. Or 1160v per 1/4 of a second. Considering the speed of a lightning spike doesn't last anywhere near 1/4 of a second to hit over 1160v, that joule protection is in reality nothing more than additional marketing garbage designed to sound fancy. It'll not be due to any circuitry, but due to the failure point of either an internal strip, or the plastic parts of the breaker to withstand that kind of instant heat. But in that 1/4 of a second, 1100v has made its way through and toasted your psu and likely anything plugged into it.

You have a very expensive pc. Do NOT be cheap about protecting it.

Clamping voltage

L-N 330V, L-G 400V, N-G 400V.

Hot-neutral 330v. Hot-ground 400v. Neutral-ground 400v.
Neutral and ground are the same thing in a 120v single phase circuit. Both go back to the mains panel and are attached (bonded) together. The only thing that could possibly hit the pc on ground or neutral pathways would be anything plugged into that strip Before the pc. Basically at the far end of the strip. Otherwise that circuit will go back to the panel first, making any clamping voltage useless. The only surges will be due to the Hot wire and if you put 299v into a psu, it's going to trip, most psus auto switching between @ 90v-270v

 

[shaveski11]

@Karadjgne I found this SurgeX SA-82 Flatpak on amazon that looks legit, but is expensive. Is there any surge protector or UPS products you could provide some links or model numbers for? I would appreciate it.

 

[Karadjgne]

APC, TripLite, CyberPower. If looking for UPS systems. There's also surge protectors that don't have battery backups but you should be sure to check for joule ratings, warranty, replacements etc. There's a lot written up and explained about the differences in UPS, and the better ones aren't cheap, but balanced against the cost of replacing the pc... That then becomes cheap insurance.

 

[Deleted member 14196]

TrippLite only for me. I use the ISOBAR series for all surge suppressor needs