Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Power strips

Jul 27, 2005 4:40AM PDT

I have my computer and stereo set up in my room, both in the same outlet. I need some advice. We're talking about four plugs for the computer, and four for the various stereo components.

Can I use a surge protector in one outlet and a power strip in another to put all eight devices running off of one outlet?

Or should I invest in one of the larger surge protectors that has room for ten plugs? And if so, what's a good one that isn't terribly expensive?

I know nothing about this stuff.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
ok...
Jul 27, 2005 4:48AM PDT

My guess is that the two plugs on your outlet are run from the same breaker in your breaker box (its very rare & somewhat weird/professional to have 2 seperate lines for the two plugs on an outlet). Lets assume the power requirements of your system aren't above the limitations of your surge protector. So unless you trip the breaker in your house's breaker box & lose power altogether, I wouldn't worry about it. If you are concerned about ever tripping the breaker, just don't plug in a lot of power tools & microwaves to the other outlets on that breaker. You can determine which outlets are on the same breaker by plugging lamps into everything & then flipping off the breaker that goes to that outlet. Happy

- Collapse -
response
Jul 27, 2005 4:59AM PDT

Thanks! So, what you're saying is I should be alright, probably.

On a scale of one to ten, how likely is it that I'm going to burn down my apartment building? I guess that's what I'm getting at.

- Collapse -
hehe
Jul 27, 2005 6:59AM PDT

If they built your house to code, then there is no danger of the place burning down. The breakers will trip at certain levels of current and everything will be safe.

- Collapse -
another detail
Jul 27, 2005 7:42AM PDT

are your outlets grounded...in other words do your outlets take 2 or three prong plugs and if it does take a three prong plug is it really grounded ?

grim

- Collapse -
outlets
Jul 28, 2005 12:25AM PDT

well, they are grounded as far as i know - three pronged. so while the apartment was built in the twenties, i assume those upgrades were made to code.

- Collapse -
three prong dosn't mean grounded...
Jul 28, 2005 6:00AM PDT

when you buy a power strip make sure it has a light to indicate it's working and a second light to indicate the strip is grounded...if that light dosn't work then you are not grounded and still vulnerable to surges (although not as much as if there was no surge protector at all).

Also...look for a strip that has surge protection for your cable and phone lines as well. I had a friend who lost his notebook through his cable modem due to a lightning strike despite the power strip on the power line.

also... look for a power strip that indicates it filters the incoming electrical line from electromagnetic interference. I've seen televisions have a perfect picture and suddenly go fuzzy when someone in the kitchen turns on the microwave because both appliances were on the same electrical circuit. Filtered surge protectors help in eliminating such EM feedback. It may notg be perfect but it can help.

Dont get so caught up in a brand name like monster cable surge protectors that you overlook less expensive strips...read the fine print.

Lastly...I like power strips that have a flat plug where the cord comes out the side and lays flat against the wall rather than the traditional plug that sticks straight out. This design is just more friendly to having furniture pushed up against it.

grim

- Collapse -
GFI
Jul 28, 2005 6:36AM PDT

If you're really paranoid, you can rewire the outlet with a ground fault circuit interrupt receptacle (GFI). Its more for personal saftey and less-so for protecting equipment but it can't hurt, and its a DYI project that should cost less than $20.

- Collapse -
surge protector is in essence a GFI
Jul 28, 2005 12:03PM PDT

wiring in a ground fault interupter involves running a ground wire to allow the trip circuit to redirect the current when a short circuit occurs. I was just trying to point out that many people install surge protectors thinking they have complete coverage but in older buildings this is often not the case despite the 3 prong outlets found on the wall. Sometimes, if the outlet box is attatched to wire run through a metal conduit, the conduit acts as the ground and the center screw on the outlet plate acts as a ground. This obviously wont work if the outlet box is made of plastic however. Still, a GFI is an excellent idea and should be used wherever a risk of shock via short circuit can occur.

grim