Surge Protection

Question

I am really new at this but I hope someone out there can assist me.  I have a dell optiplex 745 Desktop.  It comes with a 305 w power supply and I just wanted to know how big of a surge protector do I need in order to prevent it from shorting out during an outage.  I have already had one go on me and I sure don't want another.  I just need to know how many watts will it take on that surge protector to protect my unit.  Please help if you can........

PETER345 · Answer

It is not so much a function of the device you are trying to protect as the size of the surge you are protecting against.

A surge protector has a non-linear device across the line that attempts to "short-out" a surge so that the surge does not make it to your equipment. The device often is destroyed in the process (much like a fuse is). The device is rated in J (Joules) (energy that it can absorb before being destroyed). Watts are J/S.

Most cheap surge protectors don't even both to specify their protection rating.

Now, if you are actually asking about a UPS, then that is a different matter entirely. They are rated in Watts (or Volt-Amps).

Peter

x_lab rat · Answer

See above.

A passive surge protector--like a power strip--has a max rating like an extension cord. 305W will not overload any of those.

An active device--UPS--is rated in Watts just like your computer. Get the next size bigger--400W for the computer alone. If you plug everything into the active device, you have to add the Watts of all the devices then get the next size bigger UPS.

Message Edited by x_lab rat on 12-13-2007 11:14 AM

x_lab rat · Answer

A UPS is just another power supply, a pre-regulator.  The Dell power supply is already able to adapt to a wide range of voltages without extra wear.  And even if you had to replace the Dell power supply (which you might anyway, spike or no spike) it costs less than a UPS.  The main benefit of UPS is you don't lose unsaved work when power goes out unexpectedly.   A surge protector shorts itself when a spike exceeds 600V but does nothing below that.  Spikes that high are brief, and the primary parts in your Dell are also rated to 600V.  For practical protection, a surge protector is all you need.   Note that nothing can protect against lightning except disconnecting everything (printer, monitor, powered USB hub) from the wall socket, and disconnecting modem/network cables, during thunderstorms.  Even cables to your audio system, or the audio system itself, must be unplugged--lightning can take ANY path.

dynamo · Answer

Is it worth it to buy a UPS instead of a surge protector>    Do UPS provide a more evenflow of current to products on tehmn making them last longer and I guees they privide better surge protection also.

tomg245 · Answer

Typical Joule Rating is about 2000 Joules for a small office system to about 3000 Joules for a business computer workstations to 4000 Joules for a high end multimedia system/computer.  Look for the ratings on the box in the store.  I have been happy with my Surge Protector that is rated at 2450 Joules. I am using it with my slightly pumped up Dell E521 system. Tomg -Cold in MN

Locked Topics – Desktops General

Surge Protection

Was this post helpful?