Surge Strip Protection

[BYarn]

In a standard situation with the monitor and PC plugged into a surge strip, is there any difference in the surge/electrical protection offered to the devices if the surge strip is powered on VS powered off? (IE, if a user turns the PC/monitor off at the unit and leaves the power strip on VS turning the Surge strip off and powering down the devices)??

 

[bjverzal]

Well, powering down the strip first would allow the power supply capacitors to discharge, but utilizing the power switch on the devices might activate a soft-powerdown sequence that is friendlier to the hardware.

Bill.

 

[BYarn]

Just to clarify-we prefer to use the surge strips in lieu of the power buttons on the monitor/PC because it's generally easier and cheaper to replace the Surge than the part on the monitor/PC. The question, though is whether by leaving the surge strip powered off, do you better protect the monitor/PC from SURGES,etc? or would it make no difference if the strip happened to be on?

 

[edfair]

If monitor/computer off and power strip on you are protecting nothing because nothing needs protecting. With power strip off you are blocking surges from wearing out the protection.
If ATX formfactor, power is always applied so probably best to have strip off.
Anything coming through the power strip that can jump a switch will also jump a strip switch. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[rrowland]

I agree with edfair, however, your best option might be to contact the manufacturer directly. They would be able to tell you what the operating specifications are for your specific power strip.

Just a Note: Don't forget to protect from surges that enter through the data lines. Network cables and modems are another port in which surges can enter a computer.

Hope this helps...

Richard

 

[edfair]

Open it up and look. Should be 3 varistors, line to line and 2 as line to ground. and all three behind the switch so nothing is clamped if the switch is off.
Should also mention that the spike protection disappears after a certain number and strength of spikes. Generally strips should be assumed to be used up after a year, no later than 2 years. But this is also dependent on how good the power is, what is also connected to the power, and how many thunderstorms with lightning occur.
I never hear any discussion of this but I know it happens. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[BYarn]

I did contact the manufacturer (as well as this forum because its a good topic). Their (paraphrased) responce:

'There are pluses and minuses.With the surge protector off,there is no way for the surge to pass through the surge protector, with it on there is a certain amount of let through voltage that reaches the attached equipment.
This company tests the surge protectors with a 6000 volt surge. They said the wiring in most structures will melt or break down with more. The let through voltage is the voltage above the nominal 120 volts already present that reaches your equipment when hit with a surge. The let through voltage ranges from 40 to 400 volts depending on the surge protector.

Bottom line I guess is unplug everything if you are really worried about the storm, etc. Otherwise I would go with the turn off the strip and change the protectors periodically.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!