Surge protector.
Posted by northcrc@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 12 comments
Hello everyone. So I recently got a new pc and have been worried about power spikes. I do not play during storms or anything like that and I usually unplug my pc when I am done playing but we do lose power pretty often being out here in country. It is very unpredictable and sometimes the power will flicker multiple times before it goes out. How much would you guys recommend a surge protector and what joules should it be rated. We had a bad power flicker a few weeks back, it flickered probably 8 times, and I swear it messed up my previous pc. It is an old computer so I’m not entirely sure.
Thank yall for the help 😁
SevenDeMagnus@reddit
a branded UPS with at least an hour battery with built-in surge protection. Also check if your house's ground is true ground and all ground connections are trully connected to the literal ground outside
Sea_Perspective6891@reddit
Just switched from a surge protector to a UPS & it's definitely an improvement. Helps regulate voltage better plus 20 minutes(when gaming) to an hour(on idle or basic tasks) run time if a blackout & better surge protection than a surge protector.
Monotask_Servitor@reddit
A UPS with an hour battery for a gaming PC will cost a LOT. I have an 1100VA UPS and it probably gives me about 5 min of runtime. UPS are generally not designed to power your system for extended outages, they’re to cover brief momentary outages and brownouts or allow you enough time to save your work and shut down.
northcrc@reddit (OP)
Well I think I might be shit outta luck. I moved into my grandparents house and all the outlets do not have a ground. From what I just looked up it’s not possible for a surge protector to work 😭
Natural-You4322@reddit
without a ground the surge protector wont work to its potential
SevenDeMagnus@reddit
no choice make the best of it, if your pc's cable has a ground prong just use a universal adapter at least excess electricity can go into the adapter's metal but it's not truevgriu ding. you can still use an UPS eith surge protector, it may already have three prong (no need for an adapter)
croholdr@reddit
how would you check if your home is 'truly grounded' other than going into my crawlspace looking for a wire, i thought that (in america) there are electrical codes and not having a 'truly grounded' electrical system would clearly be against code.
maybe things are different now and its ok for new buildings to not have that?
or is op living in a shack, off grid?
SevenDeMagnus@reddit
got to hire a good master electrician, they have the tools to check if the outkets are truly groundef to literal ground outside
Aggressive_Deer_7072@reddit
Not gonna lie, 8 power flickers in a row is the part that would freak me out more than storms lol. People think surge protection = lightning strike defense, but repeated brownouts and flickering power can get weird fast too. I'd honestly be looking at a decent UPS, not just a surge protector. Sounds a lot closer to "country power doing country power things" than a one-time spike.
First_Musician6260@reddit
Plug-in protectors cannot protect a household from a direct strike, but they may clamp residual energy from a nearby one. They will simply divert that current back into the circuit to be safely grounded to Earth, since no protector would dare absorb a surge.
northcrc@reddit (OP)
I don’t have ground for any of my outlets this house was built in 1955. I don’t even think a psu would help I think I’m fucked 😞
Yourownhands52@reddit
I know this isn't whay you asked about but there are battery backup surge protectors for computers. That way if the power goes out, you have some time to save and shut down.
I have never used one though. I just let my computer die. I have never had an issue being plugged into the wall. Fingers crossed. Knock on wood.