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Power strips and power supp[ies

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  • Member since
    March 2022
  • From: Twin cities, MN
Power strips and power supp[ies
Posted by missileman2000 on Thursday, July 27, 2023 9:43 AM

I was trying to rewire my computer system after a pwer strip failed.  Some new computers and accessories seem to be putting the AC plug right into the power supply itself.  But- the supplies are wider than the normal spacing, and cannot be plugged next to another power supply.  A new power strip I bought, a six outlet. only takes three power supplies!  Now I have to buy three extension cords, plug the power supplies into the cords, and then the cords into the strip!  What a rat's nest! Boo Hoo

  • Member since
    April 2023
Posted by ctruss53 on Thursday, July 27, 2023 9:51 AM

I know what you are talking about. However I have not run into this problem yet. But this could be because I use a laptop now and the power supply for a laptop is inline so it has a regular small plug for the wall outlet. Same with my extra monitors.

Insert wise quote here.

-Chad

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Thursday, July 27, 2023 12:03 PM

I have a few 6-outlet strips in the workroom because of that problem too. Just can't seem to get more than 3 plugs in each. Good thing they're not all on at the same time or I'd get a heck of an overload and keep tripping breakers. Wink

Stay safe.

Jim Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Thursday, July 27, 2023 12:12 PM

Had a power strip melt down and catch fire in my office years ago so I only buy quality power strips - Belkin is my go to.  They make the power strip below that will solve your issues - just under $30.00

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: On my kitchen counter top somewhere in North Carolina.
Posted by disastermaster on Thursday, July 27, 2023 4:52 PM

Sherman-Jumbo-1945

"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now"

 

 
fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Thursday, July 27, 2023 8:11 PM

Thanks for the info guys! It looks great. Think I'll get one ordered.

Stay safe.

Jim Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    March 2022
  • From: Twin cities, MN
Posted by missileman2000 on Friday, July 28, 2023 7:11 AM

keavdog

Had a power strip melt down and catch fire in my office years ago so I only buy quality power strips - Belkin is my go to.  They make the power strip below that will solve your issues - just under $30.00

 

That is a neat one!  Have to get one.

 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Saturday, July 29, 2023 9:00 AM

It's a fire hazard/safety issue. While the spacing of receptacles on the power strip may be standard, the size of the plug units on power supplies, etc.  may be larger to limit the number of items which may be plugged into a circuit.  Dont daisy chain plug strips   

For safety, sum the amperage of the items plugged in and make sure that you don't exceed the amp limit of the circuit breaker that the strip is plugged into.  Else fire or tripped breaker may occur (the breaker is doing its job).  

  • Member since
    March 2020
  • From: South Florida
Posted by Having-fun on Saturday, August 26, 2023 1:09 PM

 

Guys, power strips are not the answer, the proper way to protect your delicate electronics is to invest in a series of UPSs (Uninterrupted Power Supply), these devices are not cheap, depending of the power needs, they go from $50 bucks (for a single PC ) to over $500 (to power a Home theater system).

 

In addition to the above prices, their internal batteries most be replace at around 3 years and you need to make sure that the outlet been use to connect these devices can handle the load.

 

These devices allows you time to power down all the sensitive electronics to prevent damage due to improper shutdown or over voltage when the power returns.

 

Sorry for the bad news.

 

Joe

 

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Saturday, August 26, 2023 5:23 PM

I got one of those whole house surge protectors installed right in the electric panel.

 

  • Member since
    March 2020
  • From: South Florida
Posted by Having-fun on Saturday, August 26, 2023 5:37 PM

Tojo72

I got one of those whole house surge protectors installed right in the electric panel

 

 

The surge protector installed by the utility company only supposedly protects for spikes (when voltage goes to high) or brown outs, ( when voltage goes too low ). Surge protectors, after being hit a few times with ligning and power variations become ineffective and need to be replace. Good look having you power company replace one.

 

Also, if the power fails, your electronics are shutdown hard, some electronic equipment, such as a PC, do not like to have power taken away hard, some of the things that can happens is lost of data and components getting fried.

 

I am a retired network engineer, in my shop we use to have UPS for everything. The cost of the units we had in the shop was in the thousands, but we consider them of a high priority.

 

Joe

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Saturday, August 26, 2023 8:19 PM

Having-fun

 

 
Tojo72

I got one of those whole house surge protectors installed right in the electric panel

 

 

 

 

The surge protector installed by the utility company only supposedly protects for spikes (when voltage goes to high) or brown outs, ( when voltage goes too low ). Surge protectors, after being hit a few times with ligning and power variations become ineffective and need to be replace. Good look having you power company replace one.

 

Also, if the power fails, your electronics are shutdown hard, some electronic equipment, such as a PC, do not like to have power taken away hard, some of the things that can happens is lost of data and components getting fried.

 

I am a retired network engineer, in my shop we use to have UPS for everything. The cost of the units we had in the shop was in the thousands, but we consider them of a high priority.

 

Joe

 

 

No luck involved,my power company didn't install it.

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Sunday, August 27, 2023 9:03 AM

Well !

      Someone that has had the same problems I have had. I was sharing a power strip with my lady Friend in our shared workshop. She brought home a ring saw(Used in cutting Glass for Stained glass projects) plugged it in , turned it on, and we promptly had to use the fire extinguisher! I have kept one handy since A safety Class in my Oil Spill Days. Turned out to be the Power strip, Shorted because of a problem with the saw!

      Now, we have dedicated Belkin Power strips(Six Holer)and no more problems. Since acquiring them I have tested and repaired some questionable electrical tools without a problem!

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2020
  • From: South Florida
Posted by Having-fun on Sunday, August 27, 2023 5:28 PM

Tojo72

 

 
Having-fun

 

 
Tojo72

I got one of those whole house surge protectors installed right in the electric panel

 

 

 

 

The surge protector installed by the utility company only supposedly protects for spikes (when voltage goes to high) or brown outs, ( when voltage goes too low ). Surge protectors, after being hit a few times with ligning and power variations become ineffective and need to be replace. Good look having you power company replace one.

 

Also, if the power fails, your electronics are shutdown hard, some electronic equipment, such as a PC, do not like to have power taken away hard, some of the things that can happens is lost of data and components getting fried.

 

I am a retired network engineer, in my shop we use to have UPS for everything. The cost of the units we had in the shop was in the thousands, but we consider them of a high priority.

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

No luck involved,my power company didn't install it.

 

 

Having a surge protector is better than having nothing, but, may I recommend that you verify that the surge protector is still effective? The electronics designed to stop surges weakens as they stop surges to the point that they become ineffective. I have seeing this happens.

 

Do a search in google to find more info on these devices and how to check if the device still active.

 

Joe

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2023
  • From: New mexico
Posted by John3M on Friday, September 1, 2023 1:35 PM

One of the biggest gripes I have with the little black box with power cable is the lack of identifier names on the box. I have many of these power supplies and hate it when they get moved and piled in with others. I have a policy now I print the name of the device it either charges or powers up on the box with either silver or gold sharpie

  • Member since
    April 2020
Posted by Eaglecash867 on Friday, September 1, 2023 1:45 PM

John3M

One of the biggest gripes I have with the little black box with power cable is the lack of identifier names on the box. I have many of these power supplies and hate it when they get moved and piled in with others. I have a policy now I print the name of the device it either charges or powers up on the box with either silver or gold sharpie

 

You can also use the voltage and polarity markings on those power supplies if you still end up with a couple of stray ones that you're not sure about.  If they match the markings on the device you want to plug in to, you'll at least know you're not going to damage anything by plugging it in.

"You can have my illegal fireworks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...which are...over there somewhere."

  • Member since
    March 2020
  • From: South Florida
Posted by Having-fun on Friday, September 1, 2023 5:19 PM

John3M

One of the biggest gripes I have with the little black box with power cable is the lack of identifier names on the box. I have many of these power supplies and hate it when they get moved and piled in with others. I have a policy now I print the name of the device it either charges or powers up on the box with either silver or gold sharpie

 

 

Yes, I have run into the same problem, it got to the point were I had a basket full of power cables and did not have an idea to what device they belonged to. Now what I do is as soon as a get a device with one of these power cables with the attached transformer, I immediately, using my label maker, make a label with the name of the device it  belongs to and stick it on the transformer.

 

So far it has worked good.

 

Joe

 

  • Member since
    March 2022
  • From: Twin cities, MN
Posted by missileman2000 on Saturday, September 2, 2023 8:51 AM

While my wife uses  UPS, I only use a power control panel which has surge suppresion.  The panel has the outlets on back, (six) amd a labled set of switches on the front= master, computer, monitor, and two aux functions.  I run computer directly from wall plugs, since I leave the computer on all the time, and likewise my two printers, which are networked, so we can print from  either printer from any of our three computers at any time.

 

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