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Originally Posted by fargon
What is the best power supply protection I can get? I'm confused. We live in an apartment so re-wireing is out of the question.
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A standard 'computer grade' UPS does nothing to condition or 'clean' electricity. UPS in battery backup mode connects a computer directly to AC mains. Any AC electric transient gets connected directly into the computer. But no problem. Computers already have effective protection that might be attached to its power cord. That protection assumes you have purchased a 'responsible' power supply. Many clone computers 'forget' to install that essential internal protection to sell their inferior product only on price. Grossly overpriced plug-in protectors forget to mention that effective protection is already inside that computer.
Plug-in protectors also forget to mention that an adjacent protector provides typically destructive transients with more paths into and through a computer. Yes, even demonstrated how a plug-in protector adjacent to a computer damaged that computer and others in the network by replacing every damaged IC. Traces the electrical transient by replacing each damaged IC in a path that passes right through the plug-in protector.
How good is that internal computer protection? Look at an output when UPS is in battery backup mode. That modified sine wave is a 270 volt spike surrounded by 200 volt square waves. IOW 'dirtiest' power is from this UPS when in battery backup mode (which is why UPS manufacturers recommend *not* plugging a power strip protector into a UPS output). But those UPS created transients are no problem because a computer already has effective internal protection.
Provided in the "Power Squid" discussion was another damning plug-in protector problem:
http://www.westwhitelandfire.com/Art...Protectors.pdf
This ignored problem was ignored is but another reason why a power cord protector is not effective.
The UPS is for data protection from blackouts and brownouts. It claims hardware transient protection. Then forgets to mention 1) hardware protection is from transients that don't typically exist, and 2) it does not claim to protect from transients that typically damage electronics. Again, a plug-in UPS is only for data protection.
Appliances have internal protection that assumes building earths destructive transients. So what do plug-in UPSes and power strip protectors completely avoid mentioning? Earth ground. Why? Ineffective protectors are sold mostly on myths. They avoid the most essential component of a protection 'system' - earth ground.
Unfortunately, a protector is nothing more than a connection to protection - earth ground. That means a protector must be part of a building's wiring AND the building's earth ground must both meet and exceed post 1990 code requirements. So what is an apartment dweller to do? A kludge solution starts by locating a three prong wall receptacle closest to incoming utility power. (If the apartment only has two prong plugs, then the only alternative is to buy an effective solution and get the landlord to install it.) Then buy a protector with highest joules rating. Cut its power cord as short as possible and plug it into that wall receptacle. Then verify computer is powered from same phase. Computer is best connected to a wall receptacle as far as possible from incoming power (increased wire length between protector and computer increases protection).
Hopefully the building has a minimally sufficient earth ground AND that AC electric is grounded to same earthing used by a telephone line protector (provided free by telephone provider). If using cable, then hope that cable is also earthed to AC electric before entering the building. Notice what defines electronics protection - earth ground. A protector is nothing more than a temporary connection to protection - earth ground. A fact avoided by protectors that also don't claim effective protection - ie plug-in UPSes and power strips. Why discuss a technical fact that will only destroy sales?
One final point. Effective protectors have manufacturer names such as Square D, GE, Leviton, Intermatic, Siemens, and Cutler-Hammer. APC, Tripplite, and Belkin are most definitely not on the 'responsible' list. But those latter and ineffective products are recommended without first asking a simple question, "What do they do?" It is irresponsible to recommend APC products for surge protection. They do one thing well. Battery backup power is only for data protection; not for hardware protection.