Power strips / surge protectors

[benenglish]

Sometime the things we prep for are far from life changing. They're just crap that goes wrong in everyday life.

A power surge last night took out some of my electronics. Luckily, some of the damage was prevented by power strips that acted as surge protectors. Now I must replace them.

I'm tired of generic power strips that don't provide protection and frequently have one or more plugs go dead. I want to buy the best quality I can find. I need to buy today, in person, so we're talking big box stores, office supply, and home supply places. I need 4 plugs per strip minimum but 6 or more is much preferred. I do not need an UPS.

Any recommendations?

 

[deemus]

 

[Ausländer]

If there's a music store near you (big box is better) you can look for power strips (floor or rack mount) made by Furman. Their gear has protected my tube amps even when playing outdoor gigs with generator (dirty) power. Just check the specs to make sure it meets your needs.

 

[Brains]

Great recommendation.

Most power strips only have a MOV to protect against short duration, transient high voltage spikes. Power conditioners are the real deal, and Furman, ART, etc. make some nice gear.

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

Deemus and Brains,

Any idea what they sell for each?

Thanks!

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Quick amazon check showed starting at about $30, going to several hundred dollars....

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

ZX,

Thanks - That's quite a broad range, yikes!

 

[Ausländer]

It's not as expensive as replacing/fixing all your dead electronics.

Some have complete isolation from port to port, some are shared. Lots of options based on your needs, your budget and your pain threshold (how much are you willing to lose).

 

[striker55]

I understand they don't last forever, you should change them every year. Do I, nope.
Googled how long they last, 3-5 years. If your house is prone for surges, 2 years.

 

[Eastexasrick]

If there's a music store near you (big box is better) you can look for power strips (floor or rack mount) made by Furman. Their gear has protected my tube amps even when playing outdoor gigs with generator (dirty) power. Just check the specs to make sure it meets your needs.

Tube Amps aaaaa

 

[dsgrey]

View attachment 357313

I've got a 7yo APC UPS but you might want to dust yours every 5 years or so.

 

[deemus]

Deemus and Brains,

Any idea what they sell for each?

Thanks!

I think that one is around $130. But it works.

 

[Brains]

I've got a 7yo APC UPS but you might want to dust yours every 5 years or so.

If you haven't changed the batteries yet, they're toast. APC / Schneider Electric has no charge management and literally cooks the batteries. I've come into work and smelled electrolyte a few times over the years, found the AGM batteries in the stack split down the side. Always the APC units.

 

[deemus]

That one is about 2 years old.

 

[benenglish]

If you haven't changed the batteries yet, they're toast. APC / Schneider Electric has no charge management and literally cooks the batteries. I've come into work and smelled electrolyte a few times over the years, found the AGM batteries in the stack split down the side. Always the APC units.

I used to be replacing batteries all the time. I hated when the batteries swelled up and were very, very difficult to get out of the chassis. Don't remember the model but these were the barely-portable size, just a bit bigger than a midsize desktop computer case. We used to use a lot of them and so there were always new batteries coming in and old ones going out.

 

[Grumps21]

I’ve got one of those APC units. It’s got either 6 or 8 plugs, don’t recall offhand. Half the plugs are battery backup and the others are just surge. i like it.

 

[General Zod]

APC has a good reputation. Don't know if they still do, but they used to have a card you could send in listing what was plugged in to their strip. If the strip failed and your stuff was destroyed, they'd replace it or write you a check for its value.

 

[leVieux]

Great recommendation.

Most power strips only have a MOV to protect against short duration, transient high voltage spikes. Power conditioners are the real deal, and Furman, ART, etc. make some nice gear.

>
You beat me to that.

Thanks !

.

 

[Byrd666]

tagging

 

[Texasjack]

We had a couple of incidents with power strips at places I worked. At one, there was an electrician (nickname: Sparky. Not joking.) and he was rewiring the mail and copying room because he put the outlets in the wrong place and they got covered up by cabinets. Anyway, Sparky got his wiring confused. (You know, it is hard trying to remember the black wire and the white wire..) He somehow shot 220 v through the outlets in the next office over where 2 ladies were busy working on their computers. I heard the arc, and heard them scream, so I went to see what happened. The power strips did their job and protected the equipment, but they were smoking when I walked in.

It's a good time to remind people that most power strips are extremely cheaply made and they don't handle current very well. We had several occasions when clerical staff decided it was too cold in their offices and brought space heaters to work. They plugged them in and cranked up the heat, and shortly fried the power strip.

This looks like a good one: CRST Heavy Duty Power Strip Metal Surge Protector

Another highly rated one: Amazon Basics 12-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector | 4,320 Joule, 10-Foot Cord

Both are under $30.