Surge Protector Question

Hey guys I will be using a laptop and printer ONLY in college this next coming semester and need to know if the laptop wall adapter acts as a surge protector for the laptop? Or would it be safer to plug the AC adapter into a surge protector?

Thanks for the help,

Outphaze

 

Personally I would use a surge protector If i could. Only thing is in japan there is no ground prong ><. Anyways more protection is better I have seen laptops blow due to power surges. I have actually owned a desktop taht burnt out black (EVERY COMPONENT) and the surge protector blow after holding for a few seconds It shows that they are extra protection that if you can afford IMO go for it.

 

I just use the ones in the link below, they are very small.

http://www.cablenet.co.uk/catalogue/surge.htm

 

When I bought the notebook APC one, my brother who was in EE asked me why I wasted money and bought it, he said the notebook transformer will act as one already. This is what he told me when I asked if these are just a scam:

 

I know that at least in the past, Belkin made one outlet surge protectors for notebooks. They used to come in these bundles with a laptop carry case and some other stuff.

Even if the inverter will act as a surge protector, I'd rather have something before it that's cheaper and will blow instead of it. $20 or less for new single outlet surge protector or $50+ for new power inverter?

 

the notebook transformer may protect your notebook from a power surge but what's gonna protect your notebook transformer?

 

Well, basically what borther explained to me was that those little laptop surge protectors don't really protect anything. In case of a real surge happens, it will still go through. Look at X2P's experience, it will still go through.

Anyway, don't get me wrong. I guess having double protection is better than having only one.

 

Buy a surge protector that comes with damage warranty they really don't cost much. I don't use one so I guess says something about my priorities.

 

What he said makes very little sense. A surge protector is not a transformer. You have transformers in your power supply to step down the 120VAC or 220VAC to what the computer requires. It's just a ratio depending on the number of wire coils on either side.

If you want a good surge protector get a APC http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=220. They come with lifetime warranties if your stuff should ever get fried. I run a APC UPS and it cleans up any line noise and will switch to battery power if the voltage gets out of hand.

 

Thanks a bunch for all the replies guys!

 

I use an APC surge protector from price club it's only ($20 canadian.) Also keep in mind the surge protector's capacity, it won't do much if you over load it.

 

I don't think you understand what he was trying to say, he wasn't saying they're the exact same thing. Open one up and see. Anyway, I'm not in this field, so I will take his words for it.

 

I think stewie is correct. I don't have education to argue this point but have couple of points. As stews brother said even though not the same thing effectively will function similar. Surge protectors come with insurance not a bad investment? What kind of surges are we talking about? Power company? Not much worry here but better safe than sorry. Lightning strikes? In that case the surge insurance is well your best bet. Lightning does not follow the normal understood laws. Could fry you super duper surge protector. If you are worried unplug and use on battery even if you have a surge during a storm.

 

I believe more is better when it comes to protection. Lightning is the biggest hazard. The normal power supplies will handle quite a big voltage range.

As a minimum I use the small protectors already linked to by ROBO HUNTER. These are meant to die if there is a surge and protect the more valuable equipment connected to the outlet.

For fixed usage a powerstrip from a reputable manufacturer is a sensible investment since it will then protect all the electrical equipment connected to it.

John

 

I don't need to open one up to tell that they aren't similar. A surge protector has far more circuitry than what he is saying it does.

 

I am not going to dispute or argue that you likely have much greater knowledge than I. I also accept that computers are more sensitive to fluctuations than many other common household devices. But in all seriousness start explaining or stop talking! Us knuckle heads have already identified what is truly the real problem? That would be lightning. You come back talking about circuits? What part of much of what was said do you not want to discuss? All? Circuits and circuit boards mean nothing when dealing with lightning. I mean come on! OK it is the power company? Well a hell of a lot more broken appliances? You think?

Start explaining or quit talking! You make less sense than I do! And I admit I am no expert. But I am smart enough to realize if you you give me a glass of piss and tell me it is water to know it is not.

Based on your responses. And ambiguity I doubt you know anything about this! Prove me wrong! But be careful because lightning does not follow the laws you have been taught if in fact you have been taught.

 

Since when does lightning break the laws of physics?

I think you are confusing my wording of circuitry with motherboards, or I am not really sure. It refers more so to the entire system of electrical elements. The point I was making it that surge protector is not simply involving stepping down of voltage, because that would still pass through any voltage spikes. The one that is most likely in your home based surge protector contains a metal oxide varistor which only allows through the rated voltage then divert the extra through the ground plug. After time though these can get worn out if they handle many small voltage spikes or a large one. You can also have an inductor to resist changes in current. These are used in conjunction with other types such as the varistor which is more suited for large spikes. You can also use capacitors to absorb some of the excess surge. Fuses are also another important aspect to prevent excess current. There are others as well, these are just some examples.

A UPS would be an example of the power conditioner. This is where you see AC to DC and back to AC. These can act like a capacitor to filter out noise and voltage spikes or undervoltages.

Hopefully you're happy. Your post screamed out how much class you have so I felt it was my duty to reply.

P.S. It is helpful when making a statement not to end it with a question mark.

 

Well you demonstrated you lack much knowledge. Your comment about lighting shows. I mean you talk about electricity and circuit boards and such. Lightning does not need a wire to travel from A to B? Consider? Also your failure to respond to my comment about other appliances? Well clear to me you don't understand. Defies laws of physics? Your words. As we understand them. We only partially understand lightning? Anyway you said what you said I said what I said I disagree with you, you disagree with me. I think we should just agree to disagree and stop here.

When I need Grammar lessons for a forum I will PM you first. Thanks for the tip.

 

POWERPACK IS ON FIRE!!!! Surge protectors I consider usually only good for minor surges the one that blew out my desktop was caused by a car hiting a power pole.. it also ruined my fridge, microwave, and everything but the 15 year old TV and the audio system hooked to it. Insurance claimed that it was impossible >.<

 

I didn't say anything about circuit boards, I said circuitry. Lightning doesn't need a wire to travel, but how exactly is it going to enter your computer if it doesn't travel along the wire? Do you expect the lightning to hit your computer directly?

Other appliances have a higher tolerance in voltage ranges. That is why they aren't affected as often. Computers and other electronics have very sensitive circuit boards which cannot sustain large fluctuations in voltage.

Just because you are ignorant does not mean that you are correct.

 

did you over load the surge protector?

 

The white surge protector was black to make it simple