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surge protector question...

U

UrbN

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 6, 2004
Messages
179
I was wondering about surge protectors, thought you guys could help. I just bought a neopower 480w psu, i've heard it was always good to use a surge protector or battery backup, i'm not sure which one. Which one do you use to filter out all the bad charges from the wall outlet so you dont fry something in your psu. I wasn't sure if it was a surge protector or battery backup, i spent $110 on the psu and i dont wanna fry it. I appreciate your help guys.
 
safest would be battery backup... but i dont think its necessary to have a backup
 
the UPS would be better, voltage sags (brownouts) are very hard on power supplies
and a surge protector wont address those

A Technical PS: Output Voltage Regulation and AC Voltage @ silentPCreview by Mike Chin

Voltage regulation with most PSUs examined by SPCR has been virtually unnecessary. Perhaps because only reputable brand samples are submitted for our stringent testing, almost every PSU has passed voltage regulation checks easily, often with flying colors. The Seasonic Super series were among the best in this regard, and the new Rev.03 models are no different, with tolerance better than +/-2% in every case.

A test instrument mentioned in the article SPCR's Revised PSU Testing System was used briefly with the new Rev. 03 samples. The California Instruments 801RP Variable AC Power Supply (CI-801RP) allows AC voltage to be varied in order to consider the effects of brownouts and other real-world conditions on PSU performance.

As the voltage is reduced, the PSU has to draw more current (Amps) in order to maintain the output voltages. The actual power drawn by the PSU rises when the input voltage is reduced. This is why, for example, that a power supply rated for 120VAC, 5A might be rated for 240VAC, 3A. Maintaining steady output voltage lines becomes much harder with lower or varying AC voltage. This is how PSU voltage regulation can be really tested.

The PSU was placed in the thermal test rig, with 120VAC power delivered by the CI-801RP. Each PSU was warmed up for a few minutes at 120W, then set to deliver full power. Internal test box temps were ~37°C. AC measurements were made with the Kill-a-Watt AC power meter. Voltmeters were used to continuously monitor the 12V, 5V and 3.3V output lines. The VAC was then reduced from the standard 120VAC down to 80VAC. This is a very demanding test, as the Seasonic PSUs are rated for full power output with 100-240VAC.

<CHART>

Note that the output voltage remains constant through these dramatic drops in AC input voltage — and the associated increases in the current and power drawn by the PSU.

The same test was conducted at 300W output on two other SPCR-reviewed PSUs that will remain unnamed at this time: One rated at 350W sparked and shut down within 15 seconds of running at 90VAC. It appears to be dead. The latter, rated at 380W, auto-shutdown safely within seconds of 100VAC operation. It appears to consider operation at any AC voltage under ~103W to be unsafe.

It is a measure of the Super series' quality design. It means that sags and brownouts in AC power, experienced by many people in many places in the world, should have no effect on a computer powered by one of the Seasonic Super series PSUs. A table of the Super Silencer 400 could have been posted but it would have been redundant because the voltage accuracy and output remained constant down to 80VAC there as well.

We'll look at the VR / VAC relationship in more detail, and examine this aspect of performance in other PSUs in the near future.
Click to expand...


surges are also very hard on supplies
but most surge protectors use MOVs
and those are sacraficial
Power Conditioning 101
How Surge Protectors Work
Dangers of MOV surge protectors
 
so, since being up to date is almost impossible. I would like to know which would be a great UPS to get? I do not 1 thing about those, or which brand to get, nor how much to spend, anyone care to help.?
 
well use the APC selector to figure out what KVA rating you want (entirely a matter of how many components are being powered and for how long),
just enough time to shutdown safely or hold a blockparty LAN during the big blackout :p

then with that figure compare various features that comparible makes have, mostly that would be the cost of replacement batteries (they will eventually go south) management software they come with, alarms, bells and whistles

major players are APC
Tripp Lite
Liebert
Belkin

its even possible if your willing to risk it to purchase surplus or cycled out corporate UPSes
off ebay, but figure youll need batteries and pay close attention to shipping
also its not that easy to get rid of the batteries, they are several tens of pounds of toxic acid coated lead and while sealed need to be properly disposed of.

then there is the Build your own approach
DIY UPS
 
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