Helpless
@broadviewnet.net
|  Surge Protection
Hi. You all seem like very knowledgeable people on this forum, and I am in dire need of your assistance. I bought a Newpoint surge protector with Power Blocker 2 technology last year for about $45. It has a built-in pop-up circuit breaker, which supposedly eliminates the need for a joule rating because it pops up the button anytime there is a surge, and you just press the the button after the "event" is over. It also has an indicator light for "Protection Working" and "Grounded." It was working great up until a few months ago, when it started giving off an unpleasant odor, which is giving me headaches. Do you have any idea what could be causing this odor, and do you have any suggestions of how to fix it, or what make and model surge protector to buy to not experience this problem again? Thank you very much in advance for your help. |
|
alphapointe
Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-10
Columbia, MO
clubs: | T-O-A-S-T! |
|
SmokChsr
Who let the magic smoke out?
Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL
 ·AT&T Southeast
| reply to Helpless
As near as I can tell, Newpoint no longer makes anything with "Power Blocker 2" technology, that might be a clue. They do now show a V3 technology, but it doesn't mention the interruption of current, and appears to be more on the line of most every other surge suppressor. If you are getting an odor I would suspect since it has lasted this long, is an ozone release. That would indicate a small arc has developed inside, and the unit should be replaced ASAP, (like unplug it now, and get a new one later).
As far as recommendations, I always recommend the triplite ISO-Bar, if not that the Belkin 10 outlet metal unit available at most home improvement stores. I always recommend a METAL encased unit.
NOTE: For those that have read my rants on plastic surge devices, after recently dissecting a few newer units I see they have added a thermal fuse next to the MOV's to help prevent fires. That's a good thing, yet I still recommend metal 
|
|
TheMG
join:2007-09-04
Edmonton, AB
·TekSavvy Solutions..
 ·800Hosting.com
·Dreamhost
·TELUS
 ·Shaw
| reply to Helpless
said by Helpless :
It has a built-in pop-up circuit breaker, which supposedly eliminates the need for a joule rating because it pops up the button anytime there is a surge, and you just press the the button after the "event" is over. It also has an indicator light for "Protection Working" and "Grounded."
Rubbish I say. For one thing, the "protection working" on power bars just lights up whenever there is power, whether the protection actually works or not. The presence of a circuit breaker eliminating the need for a joule rating makes no sense either. The joule rating is how surge suppressors are rated in terms of their surge suppressing capability. The higher this rating, the bigger the surge it will be able to stop. |
|
aurgathor
join:2002-12-01
Lynnwood, WA | reply to Helpless
You should definitely stop using if it gives off an unpleasant smell.
If you can, open it up and post some pics here, so we can see what's wrong with it.
--
Stick a lip on a pig! |
|
SparkChaser
See the Light
Premium
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
edit:
September 28th, @06:38AM
| reply to SmokChsr
I agree with unplugging it, now.
I do still see the Power Blocker 2 on the website, »www.newpoint.com/products/100344.php.
If you read the FAQ, it gets into some of their claims and the working of the lights. |
|
SmokChsr
Who let the magic smoke out?
Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL
·AT&T Southeast
| said by SparkChaser  :I do still see the Power Blocker 2 on the website, I see it now, I missed that one from the home page. I hit some other stuff when I Googled it, and from what I could surmise is that I think it's sensing the current going to the MOV's when it sees a current spike it trips a breaker.
That's a good idea to some extent, but for a "real" surge (read lightning strike) it's not going to care that a breaker was tripped. The arc will continue across the gap. In my area where we never have any lightning  , I don't know that I would like it tripping the power off to my computer every time the MOV's take a little bump. |
|
Helpless
@broadviewnet.net
| reply to Helpless
Thanks a lot, you guys! I didn't even know they made metal surge supressors! Unfortunately though, the cheapest I can find a Tripplite with enough outlets is $100. Is there any cheaper brand that could actually be bought in a store, and if so, where? Also, do any of them have built-in circuit breaker and/or Power Blocker 2 alternative(for non-lightning related use, of course)? |
|
SnapCracklePop
@comcast.net
| reply to Helpless
IMHO, the breaker panel is the most effective place for a surge supressor.
»www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto···00396389 |
|
daveinpoway
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA
| reply to Helpless
Have you considered using a Tripplite with a smaller number of outlets (cheaper) feeding a power strip? If you get a strip that has no built-in surge suppression (or take apart one that does and clip out the MOV's), the strip could be plastic without increasing the fire danger. |
|
SmokChsr
Who let the magic smoke out?
Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL | reply to Helpless
The 10 Outlet Belkin I mentioned is less than $30. It's a very nice unit for the price. |
|
daveinpoway
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA
| One thing that annoys me about the Belkin power products (at least the ones I have seen, including the 10-outlet one you mention)- they are put together with pop-rivets (instead of screws), so it is harder to look inside. If you drill the rivets out, and then find the internal construction is not what you expect, it will be hard to return the unit, since it will be obvious that it was opened. |
|
cowboyro
join:2000-10-11
Bridgeport, CT | reply to Helpless
For about $50 you can get a decent UPS on sale... |
|
aurgathor
join:2002-12-01
Lynnwood, WA
·Verizon west (ex G..
| A UPS (unless its a full time, double conversion unit,it contains a ferro, or some other surge protector circuitry) won't work too well as a surge protector.
It's a very common misconception that a UPS can act as a surge protector, but with a few exceptions, like those I already mentioned that's not really the case, even if they usually have a couple of MOVs, and maybe even a filter cap or two.
--
Stick a lip on a pig! |
|
cowboyro
join:2000-10-11
Bridgeport, CT
·Comcast
 ·Optimum Voice
| said by aurgathor :A UPS (unless its a full time, double conversion unit,it contains a ferro, or some other surge protector circuitry) won't work too well as a surge protector. On the contrary, a UPS will cut off the source completely and switch to batteries within milliseconds of the power fluctuating (either over-voltage or under-voltage). It doesn't need to "absorb" the surge as much as a surge protector since it has its own voltage regulator. Incidentally I have witnessed a power incident few years ago (major over-voltage due to a failed transformer in the office), the only devices that were not affected were the ones connected to UPS units. All the surge protectors connected to the outlets ended up in smoke. |
|
UHF
Technical Difficulties - Please Stand By
Premium
join:2002-05-24
clubs:
 ·Dish Network
·Callcentric
·surpasshosting
·Qwest.net
| said by cowboyro :On the contrary, a UPS will cut off the source completely and switch to batteries within milliseconds of the power fluctuating Too late. A lightning event will reach 90% of it's peak current in a couple of microseconds. It will drop below 50% of it's peak current in around 50 microseconds. The UPS will never even have a chance to switch.
As the previous poster said, for a UPS to be effective, it needs lots of surge protection built into it. If it was as good as an Isobar, why does it sell for half the price but include all the UPS components?
Real power line surge protection is done at the service entrance where it can be properly grounded. |
|
cowboyro
join:2000-10-11
Bridgeport, CT
·Comcast
·Optimum Voice
| said by UHF :As the previous poster said, for a UPS to be effective, it needs lots of surge protection built into it. If it was as good as an Isobar, why does it sell for half the price but include all the UPS components? For the same reason that some cables sell for astronomical amounts... »www.amazon.com/Denon-AKDL1-Dedic···00I1X6PM
People are willing to pay big bucks for an illusion and 95% will go by what a salesperson tells them. All half-decent UPS units have surge protection built-in. It's not only a direct lightning strike into the wires that can damage equipment, most of the times it's the fluctuating power. I know 4 people who lived in my previous building complex, they had equipment fried though it was connected through surge protectors. I've always had TV's and computers on UPS and I could hear the units cycling many times not only during thunderstorms, but also during "normal" days. A surge protector won't do too much if your power starts fluctuating between 60 and 150V RMS, will it?... it may not even kick in until peaks reach over 200-250V. After all a surge protector only has a few inductors and MOV's... |
|
Helpless
@broadviewnet.net
| reply to Helpless
Quite a heated debate, guys! So then, should I look for a metal UPS with surge protection, if they make such a thing, to cover both lightning and lower voltage fluctuations alike? Also, what model would be the best?
And, in a perhaps completely unrelated question, why do they say that the UL does not condone daisy-chaining of surge protectors? How would that be compromising the functionality of the surge protectors? Wouldn't it just be adding more MOVs for the power to go through? |
|
aurgathor
join:2002-12-01
Lynnwood, WA
·Verizon west (ex G..
| reply to cowboyro
With your examples, you're proving my point about the misconception. All the UPS manufacturer need to do is put in a *single* MOV to be be able to claim surge protection, and won't get sued for misleading advertising. That's basically as efficient as the free after rebate power strips with surge protection. In general, even with several MOVs,. you won't get nearly as much surge protection as you could get from a quality surge protector.
Surges are very short spikes and not long term disturbances like the one you brought up as an example, and the the way UPSs work, the UPS may not even know there was a surge!!
The best protection against surges is an assortment of passive devices in a very specific configuration. For instance, start with a GDT, followed by MOVs, and then transient suppressor diodes, with chokes and caps separating them from each other.
As for the OP, dual conversion UPSs that provide inherent surge protection start around $400 and go up to 5 - 6 figures. Personally, I'd just get a brand name surge protector that offers monetary guarantee on a protected equipment. Not that they are necessarily better, but if they fail to protect, you can file a claim with them. You could also use a ferro. (ferroresonant transformer)
--
Stick a lip on a pig! |
|
SparkChaser
See the Light
Premium
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| reply to Helpless
said by Helpless :
Quite a heated debate, guys Hell, that's nothing. Do a search on them in here and the home improvement fourm 
said by Helpless :
And, in a perhaps completely unrelated question, why do they say that the UL does not condone daisy-chaining of surge protectors? How would that be compromising the functionality of the surge protectors? Wouldn't it just be adding more MOVs for the power to go through? I think that is relating to daisy chaining extension cords more than the suppressor function.
--
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." - Aldous Huxley
|
|
