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tonewheel · May 7, 2003, 04:58 PM

You've always used, at a minimum, a surge protecting power strip for your Power Mac and peripherals. Some of you may even use a protected power supply. But what about your Powerbook? It's portable. Do you use a surge protector for it for those times you aren't running on battery? If your Power Mac is worth protecting, how about your portable?

Who's using protection...and who isn't?

Macola · May 7, 2003, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by tonewheel:

Who's using protection...and who isn't?

Absolutely. Having experienced a lightning strike that blew out most appliances and electronics at my house, I will never, ever plug anything of value directly into an outlet. BTW, it pays to get good surge protectors--at least 1200 Joules. Also BTW, the surge protection on most UPS backup units aren't worth sh*t--found that out the hard way.

dettociao · May 7, 2003, 05:09 PM

Originally posted by Macola:
Also BTW, the surge protection on most UPS backup units aren't worth sh*t--found that out the hard way.

Yep. I too found that out.

mrmister · May 7, 2003, 06:30 PM

Not using one--if the **** goes down, that's what I have AppleCare for.

dettociao · May 7, 2003, 06:47 PM

Originally posted by mrmister:
Not using one--if the **** goes down, that's what I have AppleCare for.

Haha, but would you rather spend $50 on a nice surge protector or be without your laptop for two weeks?

AssassyN · May 7, 2003, 09:10 PM

I've definitely got a surge protector on mine; I'm using the Belkin 10-outlet sold at Apple.com for $39 as it offers 10 spaced out outlets (perfect for huge power bricks) and offers unlimited replacement regardless of how much cash is plugged into the strip. My 17" PB, 23" HD Display, Athlon PC, 21" CRT Display, iPod adapter, cellphone, etc. are all plugged into it. It's worth the $39 for unlimited coverage on surges, escp. considering I've lost 2 modems and a power supply in 3 years thanks to lightning.

dettociao · May 7, 2003, 09:18 PM

Originally posted by AssassyN:
I've definitely got a surge protector on mine; I'm using the Belkin 10-outlet sold at Apple.com for $39 as it offers 10 spaced out outlets (perfect for huge power bricks) and offers unlimited replacement regardless of how much cash is plugged into the strip. My 17" PB, 23" HD Display, Athlon PC, 21" CRT Display, iPod adapter, cellphone, etc. are all plugged into it. It's worth the $39 for unlimited coverage on surges, escp. considering I've lost 2 modems and a power supply in 3 years thanks to lightning.

Wow I didn't realize it was unlimited protection! You sure about this? No $1000 cap or anything???

xylon · May 7, 2003, 09:55 PM

I definitely plug everything into surge protectors, my PB included. The power in my dorm is kind of shady, its gone out majorly twice and there are little brown outs everyonce in a while.

I'm not too sure about the specs on my powerstrips. And what exactly is a UPS backup?

100th post! Yay!

tonewheel · May 7, 2003, 10:23 PM

Perhaps my original question wasn't clear.

Your Powerbook is portable. When you TRAVEL with it, do you bring along a surge protector? I understand that you use one when the laptop is at home or in your dorm room. But on the road...what do you do?

AssassyN · May 7, 2003, 10:25 PM

Originally posted by dettociao:
Wow I didn't realize it was unlimited protection! You sure about this? No $1000 cap or anything???

Absolutely. On the Belkin 10-outlet surge protector sold in the Accessories section on Apple.com for ~$39, it has NO cap on value. In other words, if your $20,000 plasma TV was connected to it and got nailed by a surge, it's covered, no problem. That's one of the main reasons I bought the Belkin I did.

AssassyN · May 7, 2003, 10:26 PM

Originally posted by tonewheel:
Perhaps my original question wasn't clear.

Your Powerbook is portable. When you TRAVEL with it, do you bring along a surge protector? I understand that you use one when the laptop is at home or in your dorm room. But on the road...what do you do?

Nah man, not worth the trouble. When on the road you barely have time to charge it up fully...what are the chances of getting a surge when charging for like an hour?

tonewheel · May 7, 2003, 10:29 PM

Xylon, here are the UPS power supplies and battery backup units by APC:

http://www.apc.com/solutions/section...FHome%20Office

technocrat · Jun 2, 2003, 02:38 AM

I know a 1100 is overkill

djjava · Jun 2, 2003, 07:21 AM

Originally posted by AssassyN:
Nah man, not worth the trouble. When on the road you barely have time to charge it up fully...what are the chances of getting a surge when charging for like an hour?

so is it really necessary to fill out one of those cards they give to document what appliances you plug in to the surge? I hate filling out those cards and providing more personal information to more people. hypothetical situation: I get one of those bad boy Belkin's and attache dsome $$$ hardware to it, don't send in the registration card, and get nailed by lightning. I call up belkint o tell them my hardware got fried. Would I get screwed?

mrmister · Jun 2, 2003, 08:26 AM

"Haha, but would you rather spend $50 on a nice surge protector or be without your laptop for two weeks?"

To clarify--ay home, yes. Away from home, I take my chances.

MusicalTone · Jun 2, 2003, 09:45 AM

Lightenning is unlikely where I live so havnt bothered. Do you guys rekon it is worth it for simple power outages? Can these damage the PB power brick?

mosch · Jun 2, 2003, 10:25 AM

I figure that by the time a surge destroys my laptop, it'll probably be upgrade time anyway. It's the same logic that keeps me from buying AppleCare, or any extended warranties at all.

The only time it gets plugged into a surge suppressor is when I'm using it at home.

iWrite · Jun 2, 2003, 11:50 AM

No. I have AppleCare.

Besides, I'm on Airport and if the ABS gets fried then I have AppleCare for it -- it's covered by the AppleCare on my Powerbook...or iBook...or iMac...or son's eMac.

badnewsblair · Jun 2, 2003, 12:22 PM

I don't. That would be a bit too much to work with. I already have a 17-inch Powerbook to carry around. Adding a surge protector to that would just be over the top. And I believe most hotels haver a protected power grid.

Here is something related though that maybe you could help me with. At home, when I plug myself in, I use a surge protector, but my powerbook will eventually switch to battery power. The power adapter turns off. Its still plugged in, just off. It takes about a day or so of being fully powered, but then it happens. I think that I have nailed it down to the surge protector, because when I plug it into a direct source (right into the wall) it does just fine. Anyone have any problems like this or have heard of it? Thanks.

AssassyN · Jun 2, 2003, 01:01 PM

Hmm, well on my 10-outlet Belkin surge protector there's 4 outlets that are clearly marked as "continous power" outlets, and so I plugged my 17" PB into that and have never had it to stop charging.

DekuDekuplex · Jun 2, 2003, 01:11 PM

I use the same model.

Here are the details from the Apple Web site:

Belkin - 10-Outlet Surge Strip/12' Cord
$39.95
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL....3.1.1.0?72,51

Here is a quote from the above Web site:
"This model boasts 3540 Joules, 180,000 Maximum Spike Amperage, 10-outlets, and a lifetime Unlimited Connected Equipment and Data Recovery Warranties by Belkin."

An important caveat is NEVER to connect a surge protector to the output from a UPS. The sharp crests/valleys in the output wave from the UPS, though harmless to a computer, will wear down the rods in the surge protector very quickly, because the surge protector will confuse them with power surges, which they aren't.

However, according to Radio Shack, daisy-chaining surge protectors is no problem.

Also, with the Belkin model, you need to fill out and send in the enclosed registration from within ten days of purchase in order to activate your warranty. You also need to connect the surge protector DIRECTLY into a wall outlet (not via, say, an extension cord), and to connect your equipment directly into the surge protector; otherwise, your equipment will not be covered.

Travelling is no excuse to fry your PowerBook with a power surge. Definitely use at least a portable surge protector. I would recommend the following portable model:

One-Outlet Computer Equipment Surge Protector with $50,000 Guarantee

$14.99 Brand: RadioShack
Catalog #: 61-2420
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=61%2D2420

Here is a quote from their Web site:
"Ideal for protecting expensive computers and peripherals. Up to $50,000 Connected Equipment Guarantee for five years. 1177-joules surge protection safeguards your equipment against damaging power surges and spikes that can cause data loss and input/output errors. Protected connection for phone line. Built-in 15-amp circuit breaker and 40dB noise filter. FAILSAFE circuitry shuts down power if surge protection is depleted. Visual surge alert. Complete three-line (hot, neutral and ground) protection."

Originally posted by AssassyN:
I've definitely got a surge protector on mine; I'm using the Belkin 10-outlet sold at Apple.com for $39 as it offers 10 spaced out outlets (perfect for huge power bricks) and offers unlimited replacement regardless of how much cash is plugged into the strip. My 17" PB, 23" HD Display, Athlon PC, 21" CRT Display, iPod adapter, cellphone, etc. are all plugged into it. It's worth the $39 for unlimited coverage on surges, escp. considering I've lost 2 modems and a power supply in 3 years thanks to lightning.

urrl5201 · 04:06 PM

At the rumble of thunder I just unplug. Best to stay away from any plugged in appliances during a thunder storm anyway; even telephones I hear. Best to stay away from windows and doors also. Just ball up in a closet with your tail between your legs till it's over like my dog Skippy used to do under the coffee table. How dare you type on your keyboard with a cavalier attitude when the voice of nature, perhaps even God is speaking. I do not use surge protectors. They cannot help the modem when the phone line is plugged in to my 17" either. They cannot help you when your house is blown open and you are running down the street screaming and hopping out of the way of huge lightning bolts. Or maybe I am just going a little too far off topic.

...Is that thunder I hear?

badnewsblair · Jun 2, 2003, 05:54 PM

Originally posted by urrl5201:
At the rumble of thunder I just unplug. Best to stay away from any plugged in appliances during a thunder storm anyway; even telephones I hear. Best to stay away from windows and doors also. Just ball up in a closet with your tail between your legs till it's over like my dog Skippy used to do under the coffee table. How dare you type on your keyboard with a cavalier attitude when the voice of nature, perhaps even God is speaking. I do not use surge protectors. They cannot help the modem when the phone line is plugged in to my 17" either. They cannot help you when your house is blown open and you are running down the street screaming and hopping out of the way of huge lightning bolts. Or maybe I am just going a little too far off topic.

...Is that thunder I hear?

Interesting...

tooki · Jun 3, 2003, 02:56 AM

I keep my electronics (not just computers) surge protected religiously, all using high-grade Belkin surge strips. I also have a one-outlet Belkin for travel.

All my appliances, network gear, and phone (including the dedicated DSL pair) are protected. (In fact, the only thing that isn't is the cable TV, which I suppose I should protect!)

Surge protection is cheap (especially when you buy $40 surge strips on sale for $19) and effective.

The only thing they won't protect against is direct lightning strikes -- but only a lightning arrestor can protect against that, and those cost several thousand dollars, if I recall correctly.

tooki

Dougmc · Jun 3, 2003, 09:06 AM

I'm using a small surge supressor (about the size of a cell phone) that also has jacks for my phone line (modem connection). It's nice and compact. While it likely doesn't offer the protection of the larger, multiple-outlet models most of us use at home, I figure it's better than nothing at all. I picked this one up at a local hardware store. Although, I've seen them at various electronics stores.

I hope that answers the question you were asking.

D

molala · Jun 3, 2003, 11:12 AM

i bought the APC mobile surge protectore PNOTEPRO years and years ago for my Lombard ($30 at outpost at the time). it's really small and has a phone/modem protector as well and insures your notebook for up to some value, i forget how much though. anyway, it broke sometime here in australia but APC here replaced it for free, just sent me a new one.

DekuDekuplex · Jun 5, 2003, 08:53 PM

Originally posted by urrl5201:
[stuff deleted]I do not use surge protectors. They cannot help the modem when the phone line is plugged in to my 17" either.

Yes they can; just plug the phone line into the phone jack into a suitable surge protector. Some protectors even have Ethernet line jacks as well.

There is an excellent article that examines the difference between surge suppression products, the causes of power-line surges, the vulnerability of computers, and how the various surge suppression technologies can stop various types of surges at the following URL:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,54328,00.asp

In addition, there is a site that purports to offer brick wall surge protectors that are designed never to fail, at the following URL:

http://brickwall.bolhosting.com/nofa...%20BY%20DESIGN

Be careful when choosing surge protectors to inspect their technical details for their let-through voltage and their response time. According to http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,54335,00.asp , they should have a let-through voltage of about 330 V.

They should also have as short a response time as possible.

--DekuDekuplex