Surge protectors are fine, I use them, but more like additional power outlets. Do you know why these companies have insurance or guarantees of various sums? Because they rarely happen. Any *real* power surge, be it a power company failure or due to a lightning strike, do you know what happens? They simply just jump the surge barrier. In that case, you are in trouble, but there is nothing you can do against it besides unplugging every component after use. The upside? This rarely happens.
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 7:18 PM Subject: Re: A must read! (WAS Re: Digital-only labs) > Wendy, > > Get that surge protector into use. Buy two, they are cheap! > > Back when I had a computer with Pentium I chip, I saw a flash outside the > basement window and the power went out. An underground transformer across > the street had blown, but not before spiking the voltage. When the power > came back up, the computer was fine (protected by the surge protector), but > the TV in the bedroom wasn't. $160 later, we had the appropriate chips in > the TV replaced. It has a surge protector now too! > > I like what John Coyle said about the chips in the hard drives or the > controllers. The disc platters themselves are magnetic metal and probably > not capable of being damaged by a power surge. The wee electronic chips are > another matter. Short of buying US Department of Defense, hardened against > Electromagnetic Pulses chips, this gear needs surge protection. > > Regards, Bob S. >
