Advice for power bar for home set up? Opinions welcomed. :)

risingstar · 07-01-2010, 11:51 AM

We had a storm in town this weekend and it looks like a power surge of some kind fried the power supply unit in my PC and did something wonky to my modem. Thankfully, it was no major deal as I was able to get everything working properly again at a minimal cost. However, things could have been much worse so it got me thinking about getting better power bar surge protectors for the outlets I use to power my TV set up in the living room and computer set up in my office, just in case.

I went to a home hardware store and there seemed to be a 100 different types of power bars. Sadly, the salesperson I spoke to didn't appear particularly knowledgable. I probably have the same set up as many of you. What do you guys use or recommend?

I'd like to buy two or three power bars. One power bar would be used for the 50 inch plasma, bluray, vcr, digital HDTV unit, clock, woofer -- the standard living room set up. Another power bar would be used for my pc, fax, printer, monitor and so on.

Any and all suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

risingstar · 07-01-2010, 06:28 PM

Surely someone here uses power bars.

risingstar · 07-02-2010, 01:45 PM

55 views and not a single word of helpful advice?
Where is the love??

**Vince-Vell** · 07-02-2010, 02:09 PM

you mean surge protectors?

Just get one that has a auto switch off. Not those cheap $5 ones, i think the ones with a few outlets on them and cost around the $20 mark are good. I have had several for a few years now i got for like the $20 mark and all saved my stuff thru surges.

Specific brand names or kinds i dont remember tho.

galactus · 07-02-2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by risingstar

Surely someone here uses power bars.

They're gross. I like Cliff Bars more

Frinky · 07-02-2010, 03:07 PM

Depends how much you want to spend. A surge protector will protect your electronics from a power spike (lightning, downed power lines) and the protection is measured in joules (sp?). The higher the joules , the more protection you have. A $20 surge protector will give way less protection than a $100+ surge protector.

Years ago, a power line just fell (i dont know how) around 4am, in front of the house on top of a car. It was sparking and poping all over that car and the first thing i heard, before i heard that power line was my brothers shoe boxed sized suge protectors ($$$) beeping and flashing protecting his computers. Some of the more expensive surge protectors that provide more protection, require a ground.

statman · 07-02-2010, 03:10 PM

If you really want to protect your stuff, you should use a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply). There's a whole range of them, but a relatively inexpensive one like this one would be a good start...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/APC+-+55...=uPS&cp=1&lp=4

Frinky · 07-02-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by statman

If you really want to protect your stuff, you should use a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply). There's a whole range of them, but a relatively inexpensive one like this one would be a good start...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/APC+-+55...=uPS&cp=1&lp=4

A ups is good idea, if you need a few minutes of power for your computer if the power goes out. That one has an intergrated surge protector, for the price it seem's good. It all depends on the joules, if you want to protect your equipment.

**nbr3bagshotrow** · 07-02-2010, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frinky

A ups is good idea, if you need a few minutes of power for your computer if the power goes out. That one has an intergrated surge protector, for the price it seem's good. It all depends on the joules, if you want to protect your equipment.

You sure that isn't jewels?

Frinky · 07-02-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nbr3bagshotrow

You sure that isn't jewels?

As a long time Howard Stern fan, i laugh at every single double entendre. I did'nt even notice that.

That's what she said!