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Power Strips

I

insomniac321123

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 23, 2006
342
0
I am going to college in a few days, and I need a power strip. I need about 5 plugs. It has to be UL rated. Which power strip would you recommend?

I thought I heard somewhere that you needed to run ethernet through a power strip. Is there any truth to this or did I just dream that?

Thanks,
insomniac
 
i got a belkin powerstrip from office depot or best buy or a store like those. i would just go to a store and buy one that is inexpensive and fits your needs.

as far as ethernet is concerned, i have never seen a powerstrip with ethernet connections, but i have seen some with phone jacks for extended a phone cord. perhaps they make them with ethernet connections now, but it is definitely not required to have a powerstrip with that feature built-in. a simple ethernet cable going from your computer to the ethernet wall-jack should be fine.
 
insomniac321123 said:
I am going to college in a few days, and I need a power strip. I need about 5 plugs. It has to be UL rated. Which power strip would you recommend?

I thought I heard somewhere that you needed to run ethernet through a power strip. Is there any truth to this or did I just dream that?

Thanks,
insomniac
Click to expand...

I'd get a UPS battery backup/surge protector. You never know if power could go out, it's happened at my university in isolated incidents. You don't need to run ethernet through a power strip.
 
miles01110 said:
I'd get a UPS battery backup/surge protector. You never know if power could go out, it's happened at my university in isolated incidents. You don't need to run ethernet through a power strip.
Click to expand...
Um you should get a power strip with ethernet protection if you can. I have seen several computers come in for repair because lightning went through the ethernet line! I would recommend APC for your whatever UPS you get. They make great products, and have lots of equipment protection!
 
I read some where about some one getting a strip that regulated the power and kept it consistent. No fluctation what so ever. Anyone know what i'm talking about?
 
Check Newegg.com.

Depending on your budget, you should consider getting a UPS like other people suggested. Some of them run off the battery for longer than others - get the one with the longest run time that you can afford. It's worth it. Some of them have ethernet ports, and they are also worth the extra cost. And, make sure that they have a "connected equipment warranty" that's worth at least twice the value of stuff plugged into it. There's also some that have an unlimited connected equipment warranties.

This one has a 70 minute runtime, and it has software to shut down your Mac and a data recovery warranty and a $100k CEW.
 
poppe said:
I read some where about some one getting a strip that regulated the power and kept it consistent. No fluctation what so ever. Anyone know what i'm talking about?
Click to expand...

Voltage regulation? The link in my last post had Automatic Voltage Regulation. Is that what you're talking about?
 
Macmaniac said:
I have seen several computers come in for repair because lightning went through the ethernet line!
Click to expand...

I have never heard of this happening! Sounds like a rare occurence but I guess it happens.

I didn't even think about getting a UPS. The power only went out once at my school, though, during which time my laptop just switched to battery power until I shut it off. A UPS would be a good idea if you have a desktop, I'm not sure about a laptop.
 
poppe said:
I read some where about some one getting a strip that regulated the power and kept it consistent. No fluctation what so ever. Anyone know what i'm talking about?
Click to expand...

Yes we sold many of these to a govermant customer. They cost more then any computer Apple sells. In order to do complete line regulation the system first converts the AC power from the wall to DC and uses that to charge a large lead acid battery then it converts the battery power back to 120 VAC. If the utility power fails there is no switch over because you've been running off the battery full time. These are without doubt the best UPSes but they are not sold at Best Buy or other consummer outlets because they are horrifically expensive.

The consummer level UPSes that claim to regulate the AC voltage really don't. What they do is switch over to battery backup if the utility power goes "out of spec". This is much different then continous regulation.

That said. ALL, yes ALL, modern computers use a type of power suply that does not require the incomming AC to be regulated and will work fine if the power varies over a very wide range. Most will even work on Eropean 250 volts at 50Hz and will continue the work even with under voltage condidtions down to 100 VAC. and of course a notebook will run even if there is a power failure.

A surge protector will protect the computer from lightening strikes that are a mile or more away. Nothing (except unplugging the computer) will protect from a close strike, not even the "off" switch.

Power regulations is a hold over from 1960's or 70's vintage mainframe comuters. Not an issue with the switching power supplies we use in computers today

Spend about $12.00 and get one with about 50% more outlets then you need. and make sure it has widely spaced outlets so those "power bricks" will fit in adjacent plugs.
 
pianoman said:
I have never heard of this happening! Sounds like a rare occurence but I guess it happens.
Click to expand...
It's definitely not a rare occurrence. Lightning strikes that damage electrical equipment are often (maybe even usually at this point) from the phone line or ethernet jack, especially on university campuses or other large complexes. People have spent so much money protecting and maintaining the power grids that the path of least resistance is now through other communications cables instead.

A quality surge protector with ethernet/modem protection is a smart buy. Don't buy the really, really, >$50 expensive ones (unless you're going with a UPS)--because lightning strikes can fry any of the consumer-level strips, but don't get the cheap ones either, because they won't protect your equipment. After all, a surge protector is like a front-line soldier. It blows out so that your computers don't.
 
The belkin ones that are just a block that plug into the wall with 6 plugs are awesome. Plus it's not this long strip that's all over the floor.
 
matticus008 said:
It's definitely not a rare occurrence. Lightning strikes that damage electrical equipment are often (maybe even usually at this point) from the phone line or ethernet jack, especially on university campuses or other large complexes. People have spent so much money protecting and maintaining the power grids that the path of least resistance is now through other communications cables instead.

A quality surge protector with ethernet/modem protection is a smart buy. Don't buy the really, really, >$50 expensive ones (unless you're going with a UPS)--because lightning strikes can fry any of the consumer-level strips, but don't get the cheap ones either, because they won't protect your equipment. After all, a surge protector is like a front-line soldier. It blows out so that your computers don't.
Click to expand...

looks like i'd better rethink my setup...
 
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