-pops- Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 This afternoon during a storm the power went off momentarily - and came back less than a second later with a surge (as I commented on in AlanHo's recent thread) - before the mains failure shutdown could act. This caused the failure (I have now found out) of a stick of memory in my main computer.Consequently, it is now working on 512MB. It didn't work at all until I removed the burned out stick.I had already taken the precaution of disconnecting the phone line but, beware everyone, in severe storms SWITCH OFF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 That's interesting. Are you suggesting that spike arresters are ineffective, and, as they say in certain places, "pour quoi"? I have never gone into the ins and outs of them but have always relied on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted June 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 I do have my mains filtered through one of these spike arrestor things. I think one problem was the interruption and the quick restoration of power - before the machine could shut down properly it was forced to try and carry on and then it did shut down - and didn't start again until I'd done some fiddling about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 cheers ...my lappy is now running on its battery cats dogs and lightening ...here in the east-end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted June 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 Careful about the phone line, Tankus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 I do have my mains filtered through one of these spike arrestor things. I think one problem was the interruption and the quick restoration of power - before the machine could shut down properly it was forced to try and carry on and then it did shut down - and didn't start again until I'd done some fiddling about.Got you. Your spike arrestor did its job when the voltage soared, but it was the rapid on/off of the supply that caused the grief. I never thought of it that way, but I can see what you mean. I do usually switch off if it looks like we're in for a biggy, but I often rely on the spike arrestor if it looks moderate. I also usually unplug the 'phone, because we have two of them fried by lightening. Not the GPO types but the type that rely on a power supply from a transformer to do all the fancy stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted June 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 I normally switch of for biggy storms but this one caught me unawares. There was some thunder rumbling in the distance and I was contemplating shutting down when WHAM! a blast fairly close by which caused the mains disturbance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 My computer was the only thing that was not connected,The house Alarm was fried one of my phones has stopped working and the telewest cable TV box has packed up and they cannot come out to it till next wednesday.A new alarm box and bell box is going to cost £140 and I also have to buy a new telephone, and all this happened while I was at work.Still they say things come in threes, so I shopuld be allright for a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted June 24, 2005 Report Share Posted June 24, 2005 We have most of our electronics connected to surge protectors. For added protection mine and my wife's computers are connected to Tripp Lite battery UPS boxes that provide enought time to power off in the event of a power failure.Will these protect us against power spikes and surges? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted June 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 Those things should protect you, dw but, there can be no certainty that they will.Ensure that your surge protectors are reasonably new and fully operational. Those devices have a limited lifespan, apparently and a quick look at the makers website might be of use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzman Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 A UPS system will offer full protection agains power surges/spikes if it's a good one. I depend on mine, as my computer stays on 24/7 regardless of outside conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 A UPS system will offer full protection agains power surges/spikes if it's a good one.Mine's an APC so are they a good make? I think they are based in the United States. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzman Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 That's what mine is - I trust them :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D4\/!d Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 I use a Belkin Surge Pro - I guess that is ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzman Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Keep in mind this is just a surge protector, and is succeptible to the threats mentioned above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 as my computer stays on 24/7 regardlessSo you're the one responsible for global warning? :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 That's what mine is - I trust them :DI have had one power cut since buying the APC UPS and it has worked okay as I suffered no damage from the surge after the power came back on but I have heard rumours that a UPS can't protect against a phone line lightning strike even though my UPS has this feature :unsure: I normally play it safe and just disconnect the phone line and turn off the PC if I can hear a storm approaching just to be on the safe side! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzman Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 as my computer stays on 24/7 regardlessSo you're the one responsible for global warning? :blink:Partially, I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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