UPS and Power Surges :(

[radio667]

Ok - Last Night i got my computer back :rockon: .............Now we findally figured out that it was my house's wiring that was frying my mobo ( 4 times - i believe ) with its surges and power drops - i believe the power is stressed in part from having my sister and her husband moving in upstairs ( they have a tv , stereo , lights always on and a space heater ) and my other sister has the whole basement area to herself ( same thing about the tv and stereo ) - plus we got a larger frig ( 3 months ago ) so far we have a couple of black outs ( certain parts of the house - not the whole house ) that had me racing for the fuse box , and i notice the lights flicker alot ( when ever the dryer or someone switches the lights on around the house ) - ok so until we get our wiring fixed ( very costly :( ) i was wondering for now if i can use my computer attached to this UPS unit that i bought ...http://www.sourceresearch.com/cyberpower/650SL.cfm . without my computer popping again .......... PLEASE HELP - because i am very unsure and scared to have this NightMare happen all over again :cry: ps . i have also posted on The PlayGround cause i need all the help i can get !!

[stapuf]

Throw away the space heater...major power sucker.

Try not to put stuff on the same circuit - or try not to turn on all the stuff on the same circuit - and don't put motors, hair dryers and stuff on the same circuit as your computer.

Also, in some locations the power from the power company/grid flucuates...depends on your area and time of year.

[SoBeiT]

Since it will cost $100 bucks I was curious. After it catches the first big power surge will it work again or is that one catch it?

Might be wrong here, but I was told after my power surge strip catches that "one big power surge" it was fried for that purpose and I needed to buy another one.

True or False?

[StealthDP]

Yes, that unit should help prptect your system... but, as Puf stated, I would be concerned with other devices on that circuit. You can flip the breaker off to see what else is attached. Some serious issues if your mobo is getting completely fried!

[The_Stranger]

Since it will cost $100 bucks I was curious. After it catches the first big power surge will it work again or is that one catch it?

Might be wrong here, but I was told after my power surge strip catches that "one big power surge" it was fried for that purpose and I needed to buy another one.

True or False?Could be true for your device. Some simple surge protectors burn out when a surge hits, which is how they block it from getting to your equipment. It also means that a computer connected to one gets powered down instantly, which isn't good, but is better than getting fried.

The kind of device that Radio has is an Uninterrupible Power Supply (UPS) which is a different kind of device. There are different kinds of UPSs, but the best ones don't feed electricity directly from the wall to the computer. Instead they use the incoming power to "make" their own current that is cleaner and more stable. They also have a battery that will keep the computer running for a short time (long enough to save and power down) if there is an interruption.

[stapuf]

The kind of device that Radio has is an Uninterrupible Power Supply (UPS) which is a different kind of device.

Look for used ones from belly up dot-com offices...they are cheaper that way. And for home use they should work well-I got 5 at a bankruptcy sale for about $25...

[Salyavin]

The UPS should help keep your computer from dying (as long as no one else in the house tries to use it as an extra outlet for their hair dryer :)), but if your fuses are blowing out then there's way too much load on that circuit. My folks had the same problem when they were remodeling. Most of the house, except for the large appliances, was wired off of one 15A breaker. Turn on two power saws at the same time and it would trip.

The only real solution is to divide the load, which isn't easy (or cheap) if the loads (outlets and lights) on that circuit are all connected in series. My dad and I ended up running a lot of extra wire from the main breaker box and adding junction boxes where the lines ran up into the house, so we could split out different rooms on different circuits. Look up at the basement ceiling and you'll see about twenty large junction boxes at various points along the ceiling, all with six or more lines going in an out just to handle all the stuff we ran in parallel. (And thank God the house has a full basement; doing that in a crawlspace would have been a nightmare).

Two other things to watch for:
One: make sure your computer is plugged into a three prong outlet and the ground is properly wired. You can get a tester at a hardware store that plugs into the outlet and has three lights to tell you if it's wired correctly.

Two: make sure you don't have any computer or electronic stuff on a circuit that goes through a bathroom or kitchen. Outlets near water need to be GFCI protected, but GFCI outlets can be flaky and it affects every other outlet past it on the same circuit. I had my monitor plugged into one that started tripping and resetting about 20 times a second, so in effect it was turning the monitor on and off that fast. Didn't do it much good, to say the least. Get an outlet tester that has a push button to test the GFCI (not all of them do). Unplug your computer, plug in the tester, and push the button. If the lights on the tester go out, that outlet is on a GFCI protected circuit. Your UPS should protect the computer if the GFCI trips and shuts off the circuit, but I'm not sure how well it will handle fast on/off switching.

Cheers,
Salyavin

[|Robot|Bender]

I would also like to suggest you invest in REAL power protection. I use APC, and APC only, and i have (for my one pc) a 1000w backup system. If you do the math, my power supply itself is a 450w power supply. Add monitor, printer, MP3 port, Surround Sound system, Lamp, and DSL modem you get up in there in power.

If that doesn't work........move. :)

[SoBeiT]

So Radio..did you buy it and have you seen it working yet?

[radio667]

Sobe , i did :)...but i have to wait a couple of days before i can go on the net , because now my monitor's connector's pins are bent ( and one pin is even broken ) :cry: - the gods are against me - Im down ,but not out !!!!

[radio667]

OMG , the Gods really have it in for me :cry: since last week tuesday i have been sick with the worst case of flu i ever had in my life ( had to go to the doctor too and ever thing ) .........well , im back ( more or less ) a little out of it , but Here :) Thank Goodness !!!!

[StealthDP]

Welcome back, Radio!

[radio667]

Stealth , Thank You Very Much :D I Miss all of you guys and i can't wait to get my Groove back ;) and get back into the Game !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SoBeiT]

w00t it's RADIO....................... :)


Good to hear you're feeling better.
I read the new flu is very nasty :(

[The_Stranger]

Glad you're back on your feet Radio!

[radio667]

Thank You Guys :D Great to be Back with my Friends !!!!!!!

[radio667]

YO All .......Im getting my Rancho De Radio re wired :D Starting tuesday - my house will begin its Electrical face lift ..........I am sooo happy and sooooo in hock for the rest of my life ;) oh well - WOOT !!!!!!!

[SoBeiT]

Money well spent Radio and anything you have that runs on electricity will thank you too :)

If the person is licensed to do the re-wiring make sure your Insurance Co knows when it's all over. It should help with your rates.
After all, re-wiring is a major safety factor in older homes.

[radio667]

OMG ...Thank You SOBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE :D I totally forgot about that !!!! Once Again , You have Saved The Day :rockon: !!!!!!!!!!!

[radio667]

Latest newz ..my brother-in-law's computer fried last night - Yikes...i was thinking of setting UP my computer for tonight and tomarrow - you know , playing til my eyes fall off ..even though i have an APC 15000 VA ups in my arsenal - i might take the puss road and wait til the new wiring is UP :bash: !!

[SoBeiT]

Geeze Radio, I wouldn't take that chance yet. That's awful for your b-i-l :(

At least you are still sane 'cause you have access at work. Not gaming might make you nuts so hang in there.

Better times are coming your way Radio :)

[radio667]

Thank You Sobe :) I will take your advise....still i would have loved to spend some time with you guys fragging away the last day of the year , and the 1st day of the New Year for that matter :D that would have sooo ROCKED :rockon: !!!!!!!!

[radio667]

Ok , right now a small army of Electricans are tearing UP the old wires out of the walls . My sister ( who is there to keep an eye on things ) told me . the wires they are pulling out are so old that the protecting covering have completed deterated away in a lot of areas ( that would explain all the shorts and drop offs ) :eek: we are talking about 80 year old wiring !! - hopefully , they will be done in a few days - cause the temp at night is dipping again below zero :( - But Hey so far so good - WOOT !!

[|Robot|Bender]

Lucky your ass didn't burn to the ground!!!!!

[SoBeiT]

Ok , right now a small army of Electricans are tearing UP the old wires out of the walls . My sister ( who is there to keep an eye on things ) told me . the wires they are pulling out are so old that the protecting covering have completed deterated away in a lot of areas ( that would explain all the shorts and drop offs ) :eek: we are talking about 80 year old wiring !! - hopefully , they will be done in a few days - cause the temp at night is dipping again below zero :( - But Hey so far so good - WOOT !!


Wow..you are lucky the place didn't burn down Radio, really.

Lots of blankets might help **brrrrr** I'm getting cold just thinking about your weather.

w00t for taking on the problem and whipping it :)

[radio667]

Amen to that !! You know sunday night around 1 am ( had trouble sleeping ) i heard a faint slizzling popping sound ...scared the Hell out of me !! i jumped out of bed and started looking around the whole house - i didnt smell any smoke or saw any burn marks on the wall sockets .. so i went back to my room , and stayed UP the rest of the night . Keeping my ears and eyes open .

[radio667]

SOBEEEEEEEEE , Thank You :D You are Very Sweet !!

[|Robot|Bender]

insert visual of |Robot|Bender DCC'n radio some blankets, a space heater, and 12 secksi women to keep him warm....

(radio is a he right?)....

[radio667]

LOL , Yup Im a Guy :D - Thats why your DCC made my Day :rockon: btw - Big Time Thank You for da 12 Secksi Women :naughty: i feel warm already - WOOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[radio667]

Today is the final day and they are almost done :D If everything is cool when i get back home . I will be Online Tonight - i really hope everything is cool - I Really Miss Playing with you Guys !!!!

[SoBeiT]

Today is the final day and they are almost done :D = Fast Movers Overhead :D hehe





[/QUOTE]If everything is cool when i get back home . I will be Online Tonight - i really hope everything is cool - I Really Miss Playing with you Guys !!!![/QUOTE]

I'll keep an eye out for you, if you're on I'll jump in too.
w00t Radio :)

[radio667]

:D and :rockon: !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[StealthDP]

w00t! That's awesome, Radio!

Look forward to playing with you again!

[SFT]

After 9 years the battery on my Tripp Lite 450 UPS finally went. My electric heater tripped the circuit breaker and my computer went black (right during a nasty battle in Empire Earth). It was working up 'til December when I remember it kicking on last time.

I went out and bought a Belkin 500VA for $39.99 after $10 off and a $10 rebate. The Tripp Lite cost me about $220 back in 1995 (and I think the replacement battery is about the same price as the new Belkin). Don't you just love supply and demand.

Anyway, it's good to check your UPS periodically if it's older than 2-3 years. :)

[radio667]

So true Shirl :) Glad to hear you have a replacement , and so quickly too !!