Surge Protection Question for the techies

Anne_Marie_2 · 12 July 2006 at 7:19PM

I always have advised everyone with a computer, whether it be home pc or laptop to have a surge protector. Nagged at my family and friends for years, until one got modem fried due to storm, then believed me, so told that story and all my immediate family got themselves sorted out.
This was absolutely years ago.
Dread to think how long I have had my old faithful Belkin Surge Master for home pc! They don't do Model F5C100u anymore! Was expensive at the time, but well worth the money, as never had any problems with computer due to electrical surges, or in a storm.
My hubby and I both have laptops, so have bought travel sized surge protectors for both. He works on a ship abroad - came home and told me surge protector was broken. Explained reason that it had taken the surge, but at least his laptop was fine - much cheaper to replace than a new laptop! (Wasn't so happy when he told me he then used laptop without it.......grrr! He got a lecture & promised never to do it again).
Anyway, on reading the techie board quite frequently, no one seems to mention surge protection at all. Am I wrong nowadays.....or is it that people assume that everyone has surge protection?

Browntoa · 12 July 2006 at 7:58PM

you are right to suggest surge protectors ans hands up !! I have bot got one

nickmack · 12 July 2006 at 7:59PM

I certainly have Surge Protection for my PC and all associated peripherals.

The one I use is the black Belkin Surgemaster with power, telephone, network and aerial (coaxial) sockets.

Luckily power supplies are generally good in this country, but you only need a large spike and as with any sensitive electronic equipment, you risk frying it!

Anne_Marie_2 · 12 July 2006 at 9:31PM

Thank you both Browntoa and Nickmack for replies. I thought I must be going mad, as people I have met getting new computers, or worse, folk with computers for years, don't seem to use them.
Nickmack, as you say, power supplies in this country are generally good...well my friend's modem got fried in a storm.......least I had warned her first, but she didn't take it on board..........then moaned at me when it happened - tough! As I said in original post, it's cheaper to replace surge protector than a computer.
Thing is nowadays, surge protectors are really quite cheap.
Just wish it would be highlighted that computer users need such a device.

toastydave · 12 July 2006 at 10:32PM

Maaannnn do you ever get out?

I mean I am a nerd, I learnt to accept that, but really, surge protectors???;)

Why not talk about the kind of noise your fridge makes!!! :rotfl:

Zahc · 12 July 2006 at 11:13PM

Always be surged protected; for everything in life!! My fridge growls when it needs to be defrosted:rotfl:

Little_John · 12 July 2006 at 11:39PM

Surge protectors are like backup drives, its only when you need it you realise why you should have it. and regret not doing it.
I am forever telling customers they need a UPS or at least a surge protector but when you tell them the price of a decent UPS they go very quiet so you then tell them the price of a surge protector and that they need 1 per PC they think I have maintenence I am ok if it goes wrong you will fix it, yeah thanks. Everything I recomend is in the long run as a benifit for the customer in either stopping things going wrong or when they do go wrong they can be replaced or repaired with as little downtime as possible.

I myself do have a backup drive, I fitted it after my 2nd hard drive died when I installed the replacement for the 1st failed drive yes 2 drives failed within about a month and I lost everything even paid for data recovery.
Surge protector nope I dont have one yet my PC hasnt blown up once it does I will buy one.

quoia · 13 July 2006 at 1:47AM

Anne_Marie wrote:

Dread to think how long I have had my old faithful Belkin Surge Master for home pc! They don't do Model F5C100u anymore! Was expensive at the time, but well worth the money, as never had any problems with computer due to electrical surges, or in a storm.

My monitor is sitting on exactly the same unit at this minute.
Got mine for FREE about a year ago courtesy of Freecycle !
Also run everying from a UPS that would give at least a couple of hours before I would need to shutdown etc.

Anne_Marie_2 · 13 July 2006 at 3:09AM

Toasty - glad that you read my post. Yes I do get out ....just got back in actually - it was nice of you to ask though, thank you.
Sorry to hear that you are a nerd - hope you get better.
AM

Grumpysally · 13 July 2006 at 4:53PM

Excuse my ignorance, but what is UPS ? I do use a surge protector by the way. How do you know if they have protected your computer and how do you know they are no longer working properly? ( apart from the obvious when your machine dies)

albertross_2 · 13 July 2006 at 4:56PM

it's a battery, and you don't..

Surge Protection Question for the techies

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