Buzz wrote: Most UPS's say to not install them behind another surge suppressor... would the whole house goodie be an exception?
First learn what protectors do. And what the problems are.
For example, a UPS output is typically so 'dirty' as to harm small motors and power strip protectors. So UPS manufacturers recommend no power strip on its output. They ‘forget' to mention why. They hope you *assume*. Assume that a UPS output is cleaner power.
Because electronics are so robust, then 'dirty' power from a UPS in battery backup mode is also ideal 'clean enough' power to electronics. Electronics are that robust.
A tiny surge also cannot harm electronics. But the same tiny surge will easily destroy ineffective power strip protectors. Grossly undersizing gets the naive to claim, "My power strip sacrificed itself to save my computer." Nonsense, Even manufacturer numeric specs do not claim that protection. If it fails – which means no protection - then a naive consumer will jump to conclusions based only on observation (which is junk science). That failure means a protector disconnected from a surge as fast as possible. Left that surge connected to a nearby appliance. The appliance protected itself. Again, electronics must be so robust as to not be harmed by surges even from a UPS in battery backup mode. A surge too tiny to harm electronics easily destroyed a power strip protector.
MOV data sheets are quite blunt. An MOV that fails catastrophically violates manufacturer’s absolute maximum parameters. But grossly undersizing (violating the data sheets) causes consumers to convert assumptions into fact. Reality: a protector circuit disconnects from a surge as fast as possible to avoid a house fire. A surge was left connected to that appliance. The appliance protected itself.
In any facility that can never have surge damage, power strips are not used. They need protection; not a profit center. Instead, a 'whole house' protector is earthed. The numbers: lightning is typically 20,000 amps. So a minimally sized ‘whole house’ protector starts at 50,000 amps. Effective protectors do not fail. Do not promote a scam. Earth even direct lightning strikes and remain functional.
Effective protection means nobody knows a surge existed. But naïve consumers cannot recommend it. The most naïve must see damage. A damaged protector means it was grossly undersized – ineffective. And also promotes sales. Grossly undersizing also means an obscene profit margin. Why would anyone waste money on a protector that 1) does not claim that protection, 2) is so grossly undersized as to disconnect ASAP, and 3) costs tens or 100 times more money? Knowledge from observation is classic junk science. That junk science reasoning gets a majority to recommend a high profit and ineffective protector.
One ‘whole house’ protector for about $1 per protected appliance. So that even direct lightning strikes cause no damage. Why would anyone waste $90 on a protector so grossly undersized as to fail on a surge too tiny to harm anything else? Advertising (also called propaganda) replaces education and science.
More responsible companies provide a superior solution. A solution necessary to even protect grossly undersized power strip protectors. General Electric, Leviton, ABB, Siemens, Square D, Polyphaser, and Intermatic are a few sources. A Cutler-Hammer solution sells in Lowes and Home Depot for less than $50.
Why would anyone spend $90 on a protector that does not even claim surge protection in its numeric specs? Take a $3 power strip. Add some ten cent protector parts. It sells in a supermarket for $7. Or sell a similar circuit for $90. It costs more. That proves it is top-quality? Myths are that easily promoted. Only the fewer and informed consumers divert less money into actual protection. Earth one ‘whole house’ protector. Then even direct lightning strikes do not harm a protector.
This discussed the protector. Not discussed yet is what actually does all protection. Or why. Above demonstrates what a majority would not know. 100 years of well proven science. Advertisers have it easy. It is a surge protect
or. That proves it must be surge protect
ion? Nonsense. That only proves how soundbytes promote scams. Protect
or and protect
ion are two completely different items in a surge protection 'system'.
One ‘whole house’ protector costs about $1 per protected appliance. Is sized to even earth direct lightning strikes without failure. Does not have an obscene profit margin. Is how protection is done where damage cannot happen. How protection was done even 100 years ago. And what is necessary to even protect power strip protectors. Effective protection means nobody even knows a surge existed. $90 for a protector so grossly undersized as to fail? Scam.
