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Nancy Boyd

Feb 3, 2005, 12:22 PM

Post #1 of 4 (693 views)

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Surge protection revisited

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OK, so we need surge protection for the computer and something for power interruptions. What about other appliances - refrigerator, heaters, phones etc?

Thanks ahead of time.

wyhaines

Feb 3, 2005, 12:41 PM

Post #2 of 4 (686 views)

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Re: [Nancy Boyd] Surge protection revisited

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Surge protection is most useful for electronic devices, as they require conditioned power that operates over a very small voltage range. Their internal power supplies compensate for minor voltage variations, but are not designed to cope with large fluctuations.

Simple electrical components tend to be far more robust in the face of power fluctation. Electrical items like a refrigerator also tend to draw a lot more amperage than electronic hardware, which makes is harder (and more expensive) to find surge protectors rated for the load, and unless you are living somewhere with truly horrible power, it probably is not worth it.

Kirk Haines

Marlene

Feb 5, 2005, 9:24 PM

Post #3 of 4 (637 views)

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Re: [wyhaines] Surge protection revisited

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Quote

Electrical items like a refrigerator also tend to draw a lot more amperage than electronic hardware, which makes is harder (and more expensive) to find surge protectors rated for the load, and unless you are living somewhere with truly horrible power, it probably is not worth it.

We finally bought a proper surge protector for the new fridge and microwave after having one too many microwaves go up in smoke (literally, and when I wasn't even cooking!) It was about $50.00 USD in Sam's Club and for our strange electricity here in Mazatlan plus hearing lots of horror stories we believe it to be a good investment. We have protectors on everything else as well. The kind that the phone and TV cable can be plugged into. They can be heard working at the strangest hours when there are no electrical storms happening.

esperanza

Feb 7, 2005, 8:32 AM

Post #4 of 4 (608 views)

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Re: [Marlene] Surge protection revisited

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In Ajijic, a power surge following an electrical outage fried the compressor in my year-old refrigerator. Cost 750 pesos to repair it--the surge protector is less expensive, although it may not work 100% of the time.

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