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RickS

Jan 4, 2006, 1:25 PM

Post #1 of 4 (7383 views)

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Voltage Regulator

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A question from a person who is 'electrically challenged', about using a voltage regulator. Someone said to never plug the voltage regulator into a power surge strip but rather plug it directly into the wall outlet. If this is so, why not and what would be the consequences of doing so (other than "Do not cross Go, Do not collect $200)?

S & C

Jan 4, 2006, 1:45 PM

Post #2 of 4 (7376 views)

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Re: [RickS] Voltage Regulator

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The voltage regulator is there to smooth out the voltage coming in, therefore it should be plugged into the wall socket and the power strip should be plugged into it, not the other way around.
I'm not sure why plugging it into the power strip would be a no no unless the power strip could somehow tend to defeat the regulator's purpose.
Stan

johnv

Jan 5, 2006, 5:48 AM

Post #3 of 4 (7348 views)

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Re: [RickS] Voltage Regulator

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I don't see why the surge protector can't be plugged into a power strip. All a power strip is, is a form of an extension cord.

johanson / Moderator

Jan 5, 2006, 11:04 AM

Post #4 of 4 (7328 views)

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Re: [johnv] Voltage Regulator

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There are surge protectors, voltage regulators, power strips, and combinations thereof. What is more important than the the order they are placed is to ensure that your house has a three wire circuit, with that third wire being a true ground, so that should there be a surge of power that the surge can be shunted to that third grounding wire.

I usually plug the combination surge protector/voltage regulator directly into the wall, and then if necessary plug a power strip into the voltage regulator. When necessary, I also plug in a UPS, you know an un-interruptible power supply.