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Posted by TWayne on July 5, 2008, 10:53 am
> David Combs wrote:
>>> David Combs wrote:
>>>> All of my computer-stuff is plugged-into a UPS (APC Back-UPS "RS"
>>>> 1500). I think I have the phone going through its phone-socket too.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> What protection from surges might I be getting here?
>>> .
>>> My Ouija board broke last week, so I can’t tell.
>>>
>>> As I wrote, if you are using a plug-in suppressor all wires going
>>> to a set of interconnected equipment must go through the suppressor.
>>>
>>> Ratings are important. High ratings are readily (and cheaply)
>>> available in plug-in suppressors. High ratings are less common in a
>>> UPS. Any plug-in suppressor (including UPSs intended to suppress
>>> surges)
>>> should be listed under UL1449 (in the US).
>>
>> Are you saying that a $15 or $20 surge-surpressor (rectangular
>> box with 5 or 6 sockets in it) is (often) *higher* rated
>> than what comes with a $300 UPS?
>>
>> If so, what an unpleasant surprise!
> .
> The protection provided by a UPS is for power loss to allow orderly
> shutdown. The kind of UPS commonly used does not intrinsically provide
> surge protection. But surge protection, the same as in plug-in
> suppressors, is commonly added.
>
> I recently bought a major brand plug-in suppressor with ratings of
> 590J and 30,000A per MOV, 1770J and 90,000A total for under $30. I
> don’t have a UPS and have not looked closely at them, but what I have
> seen is
> relatively low surge amp/Joule ratings. My personal preference would
> be
You need to look a little closer before making judgement calls. UPS
equip is available with some very impressive ratings in the general
market. Take a look at the specs of some of the major manufacturers; I
mean actually look at them, not just glance at the Home Pages.
> to plug a UPS with low or no ratings into a plug-in suppressor with
> high ratings. I may go for excessively high ratings, but high ratings
> mean
Careful: Some UPS's specifically state NOT to plug them into power
strips, not just because the power strip might be turned off, but more
importantly, what you call "high ratings" plugged into another "high
ratings" product could cause ringing, an oscillatory effect that would
rise in magnitude due to resonances, until something broke, usually with
smoke.
"High ratings" are obviously beneficial, but not when they're
impratically assembled in opposition to the manufacturing instructions.
A UPS is a lot more than just a set of components to protect against
surges. In addition, the joules that a UPS can tolerate are inherently
high because there is a battery and/or a transformer between the line
and the regulated output that in itself allows the spiking without
damage. It's when there are unregulated outputs also provided that the
"high ratings" actually have much value with a UPS. As a result, their
specs are a little harder to understand. Most however are happy to
answer questions if one asks. Have you asked?
> the suppressor is very unlikely to ever fail. They also often have a
> protected equipment warrantee.
Just try to find a verifiable case of the warrantee ever paying off to a
non-corporate user. It's hype and that's about all it is. I tried to
take advantage of the warrany once; and gave up after four rounds of
crap; it quickly reaches a point of diminishing returns for most people
in pursuing it.
>
> What little looking at UPSs I have done I also didn't see a UL1449
> listing.
Then you're either myopic, purposely not looking, or are looking in non
North American Markets. Since you say "UL" then I assume you mean the
U.S. market. It is illegal to sell any such product in the US without
those ratings, and some states like Ca. even have their own added
requirements above and beyond those.
UL & CSA markings are required in NA, and acceptable substitutes
(actually more onerous specs) are ETL and any EU safety marking. Most
are marked with so many safety markings you actually have to look to see
if a particular one if there or if it's there by MUA.
Your credibility is in serious question; please refrain from such future
responses as you are obviously ill equipped to do so.
Twayne
>
> Perhaps most important is, as I wrote above, all wires going to a set
> of interconnected equipment must go through the suppressor.
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