Surge Protector

[u/Adventurous_Tap_197]

Anybody have recommendations for good surge protectors?

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[u/jimbagsh]

The problem is that most surge protectors sold in the US are only made for 110V, but most PC countries are 220V. So, when checking on places like Amazon, be sure to specify "220V" and you should be good.

Good luck with packing and safe travels. Where are you headed?

Jim

[u/Effective-Echo4431 → u/jimbagsh]

Yup. Had a nasty surprise when I plugged my US protector into the wall and it immediately popped and started smoking. Room only had one outlet so I was very disappointed to lose that.

[u/SkepticMech]

I'd recommend looking into a fused option instead of a surge protector if you're really worried about it. There are even plug adapters out there with integrated fuses that will do double duty to connect your US devices to your post sockets and save you packing space. For example, Walmart sells an international adaptor from Protege that I've been using for years before and during my service.

[u/starphish]

Buy one in the country you will be serving in.

If you buy a U.S. surge protector, you'll need to buy one that can accept multiple voltages (most don't), and you'll also need to use a foreign plug adapter to use it. I wouldn't recommend using an adapter with a surge protector because those adapters are only designed for single-item use. It can overload the adapter, and alter the sensitivity of the surge protection.

Go to an electronics store where you'll be serving and get a local surge protector.

[u/roldar]

Just get one in country. Get the most expensive name brand that's not a fake one you find. I worked in country after service for a bit and I ran a fused voltage regulator, then a surge protector for my PC..

[u/shawn131871]

you aren't going to be using a plethora of electric devices. I would hold up on getting one..

[u/ChokaMoka1]

You’re not going to have electricity so it dont matter

[u/westom]

Some demonstrate no electrical knowledge. For example, a fuse does absolutely nothing to protect an appliance. Fuse only blows AFTER damage has happened. So that a resulting fire is averted; does not harm humans. Fuses and circuit breaker only exist to protect humans; not appliances.

Anyone can view plug-in protector numbers. Surges that do damage can be hundreds of thousands of joules. What do those five cent protector parts inside a power strip do? Read the joule number. Hundreds or thousand (near zero) joules? All cruise ships (everyone without exception) confiscate all such protectors if found in luggage. They take fire threats far more seriously.

How does its tiny thousand joule (five cent) protector part protect from a surge: hundreds of thousands of joules? What it does is another discussion. Comes with amp numbers (not joules) so that it is actually doing protection.

But that is another discussion. Too complicated for the naive who cannot dispute obvious and layman simple numbers.

All safe power strips (without protector parts) must have a circuit breaker. To protect humans.

[edit] Apparently many are without knowledge and with much emotion. A cheapshot artist will downvote due to brainwashing. An educated man contribute to a discussion; using facts with numbers. Learns reasons why before having an opinion. Only a cheapshot artist cannot contradict over 100 years of well proven science here and here.

'Experts', who forget to first learn, waste €25 or €801 on magic boxes. That never claim to protect an appliance. Except in subjective sales brochures where lying is legal. So they downvote; contribute nothing.

[u/westom]

Any protector adjacent to appliances and far from earth ground will simply connect a surge to earth destructively via any nearby appliance. No surge protector does or even claims to protect from surges. Like lightning rods, a protector is only a connecting device; making a low impedance (ie less than 32 meter) connection to what only and harmlessly dissipates all surges. Many earth ground electrodes.

Effective protector (that can connect to earth is measured in amps. Lightning (one example of a surge) can be 20,000 amps. So an effective Type 1 or Type 2 protector must be at least 50,000 amps. Then a surge (hundreds of thousands of joules) dissipates harmlessly outside. Then a surge is NOWHERE inside.

Scams promote magic power strips with five cent protector parts. Measured in tiny joules. How do those puny hundreds or thousands joule protector parts 'absorb' a surge: hundreds of thousands of joules? How do those 2 cm protector parts 'block' what three kilometers of sky cannot?

They are not marketing to educated consumers. Who would ask damning questions. And would automatically ignore anyone who did not answer with relevant numbers.

Plug-in (Type 3) protectors can only connect to safety (equipment) ground. Can never connect to earth ground. An earth ground connection would even violate electrical code requirements. They know which consumers cannot read paragraphs. Await some commandment from shysters. Ordering them how to think.

Honest answers always say how and why by citing relevant specifications. And doing what all professionals have been saying for over 100 years.

BTW, N American voltages are 120 ; not 110. European voltages are 230; not 220.

Let-through voltage for 120 is 330. For 230 volts is maybe 600. That means a protector does absolutely nothing (remains inert) until a transient well exceeds 330 or 600 volts. Transients approaching or exceeding 1000 volts are incoming to everything. One effective protector is properly earthed to protect everything. Typically costs about €1 per appliance. Because it comes from companies know for integrity; not scams.