Surge plug socket protection

[kingerton]

I was in Homebase one day and asked a member of staff if they could tell me if "x" plug could protect my computer from a surge, he confirmed it but was interrupted by another customer who pointed out that he was wrong, offering another product instead.

Apparently he was an electrician by trade. So I went with his recommendation and do not trust the staff any longer, in any of the DIY stores.

But not being an electrician myself I am not sure which one to buy again? This time I need a longer version with more sockets; I need it for my main computer (iMac), an external HDD, some wireless headphones, a Laptop and a fish tank water filter.

Will this work?:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Masterplug-...F8&qid=1418425246&sr=8-1&keywords=surge+guard

I have one already, but it's too short. The only problem is that I have something similar to this which I cannot tell if it was the recommendation or the other one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Masterplug-...F8&qid=1418425246&sr=8-4&keywords=surge+guard

It's a very weird plug in that the other two sockets keep turning off, but I used both just in case, would that actually confuse the system, should I just stick to one?

Thanks!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What sort of surges do you wish protection from, why do you think you need it, and why do you think the surges happen?

 

[skotl]

Must admit that was my thought, too. Seems a bit like snake-oil to me; "Protect your sensitive electronics from horrible, dangerous, malevolent power surges" ... that never happen.

If you genuinely do have power surges then a call to your electricity supplier should be the first action.

 

[winston1]

You don't generally get surges on UK mains. Any small ones are protected by equipments built in protection, and big ones (lightning strikes) will blast straight through those surge protector sockets. Some surge protectors are also a source of random RCD tripping.

Surge protectors are a product of clever marketting like that other pet hate of mine bottled water.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I thought it was "transformers"

 

[bernardgreen]

Some "surge suppressing" multiway socket strips are so badly made that they are a serious hazard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzP6OPK9zSI

was the Astra BT311 but there are many similar dangerous low cost imports which have no "surge suppression" components fitted.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Surge protectors are a product of clever marketting like that other pet hate of mine bottled water.

Please arrange for a tap in my kitchen to deliver Vichy St. Yorre.

 

[kingerton]

Thanks guys but none this really helps very much. I am sure they must do something to protect your hardware and have not heard of this before, but of course that doesn't mean that your concerns are not true.

I have normal computing equipment and would like to protect it from any spikes or surges from a normal 240v mains socket thanks.

 

[winston1]

Thanks guys but none this really helps very much. I am sure they must do something to protect your hardware and have not heard of this before, but of course that doesn't mean that your concerns are not true.

I have normal computing equipment and would like to protect it from any spikes or surges from a normal 240v mains socket thanks.

Read my post above or the copy below:

"You don't generally get surges on UK mains. Any small ones are protected by equipments built in protection, and big ones (lightning strikes) will blast straight through those surge protector sockets. Some surge protectors are also a source of random RCD tripping.

Surge protectors are a product of clever marketting".

If you really want to be safe run it off a car battery and inverter. Charge the battery with a cheap charger which won't mind the non existsnt surges.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Thanks guys but none this really helps very much.

It does.

I am sure they must do something to protect your hardware

Why are you?

I have normal computing equipment and would like to protect it from any spikes or surges from a normal 240v mains socket thanks.

What sort of spikes and surges from a normal 240V mains socket do you wish protection from, why do you think you need it, and why do you think the surges happen?

 

[kingerton]

Well, I don't know, but that's what the advertising says. So, can it be false?

I'd just feel safer with one, but now I have to find out if they actually matter or not.

 

[RF Lighting]

I fitted a transient voltage surge suppresser (TVSS) into my consumer unit after seeing the damage a lighting strike did to a customers installation who lives a few streets from me. I'm not sure wether it will actually work, and hope I never find out, but it might just make the difference.

 

[JohnW2]

Well, I don't know, but that's what the advertising says. So, can it be false?

Advertising for useless, or fairly useless, products tends to be pretty clever these days, in an attempt to stay on the right side of the advertising and Trading Standards legislation. In this case, it may well be true the devices afford some 'protection' against certain types of 'surge' (they probably even have evidence for that) - but what they fail to tell you is that the sort of 'surges' they protect against are very rare in the UK, and, even if/when they do happen, are probably very unlikely to damage connected equipment.

I'd just feel safer with one, but now I have to find out if they actually matter or not.

I think you'll find that the evidence that they afford useful protection against real-world 'surges' is very lacking, not the least because you'll probably find that any real evidence of electronic equipment having been damaged by such 'surges' is also very lacking or, at least, that it happens only incredibly rarely.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

I fitted a transient voltage surge suppresser (TVSS) into my consumer unit after seeing the damage a lighting strike did to a customers installation who lives a few streets from me. I'm not sure wether it will actually work, and hope I never find out, but it might just make the difference.

If you're talking about a true lightning strike on the supply network, then that's a rather different kettle of fish from the alleged 'surges' against which these devices are claimed to protect. What sort of 'damage to a customer's installation' are you talking about?

Kind Regards, John

 

[winston1]

Have a look around Currys, Maplin etc and see if the computers on the tills are plugged in via surge suppressors. When you find they are not ask why as they sell them.
No company I have ever worked for used surge suppressors on the computers, nor do IT departments.