Power Strips For The Uber-Geek? 19
mattkime asks a question that's faced each and every one of us: "You can argue over which processor is best or which operating system is most 31337, but when it comes down to it, no matter where you stand on the issues, you need a good power strip. Alas, this area of computing seems well equiped for only two ends of the spectrum - the high end power backup and the low end power strip. I have six transformer blocks under my desk in addition to 4 3-prong power cords- which power strip can handle such madness? Belkin #F5H300 seemed like a perfect fit, but I can't find any place that sells them." The ideal power-strip is a strip with wider outlets to accomodate said "transformer blocks" without losing an outlet on the strip. The car commercials said it best: "Wider is Better!". Have any power strip manufacturers learned this lesson yet?
My experiences (Score:1)
We use Isobar products at work. They're pretty indestructible. (of course, the truly sensitive equipment has its own transformer...)
At home, I have 2 spike bars and a UPS to run my rig...admittedly, not all the outlets are used.
Slightly easier version (Score:1)
Here's a slightly easier way to accomplish nearly the same thing: While you're at Home Depot/Lowes/Etc, get two of the "undercounter" style power strips. The ones that are like 4 feet long with widely spaced outlets. Run one strip from the power-protected outlets of your UPS and the other from surge-only outlets. Then you can plug all your equipment in wherever you want, always having a choice whether you want power backup or not. I would suggest limiting the UPS strip to only essential items (don't plug in your laser printer or your desk lamp). -bp
Re:Exposed Power Switch (Score:1)
I never stepped on the powerswitch with a regular powerstrip, but the cats do. All the time.
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Consumer-grade trash is not for UBERGEEKS! (Score:1)
Make it yourself or hire an electrician, there is no substitute for heavy shielded wiring. Mount it where it is easily reached without contortionist training, and DON'T mount it the traditional wiremold way with screws through the back of the strip - it makes it really, really hard to relocate should you ever want to (mine are mounted with straps over the face screwed into the wall, except the one at work which is held up by large nylon cable ties).
--Charlie
Re:How about big wall mounted strips? (Score:1)
The components for making those strips are available to electricians. It is not unusual to have a work area with outlet strips installed to exactly match the width of the work area -- the components can be fitted end-to-end to make arbitrarily long units.
Easier to find in hardware stores are surface-mount conduit. This is a covered metal strip for carrying wires across a wall to surface-mounted outlets. Making a row of outlets from this produces outlet-containing boxes which are connected with thinner conduit. The outlet strips which are referred to above use conduit which is wide enough for the installed outlets.
Re:Exposed Power Switch (Score:1)
Try this [cdw.com] option from APC. Has 8 outlets -- three are intended for those larger power bricks.
The power button is hidden nicely behind a plastic cover.
-sid
Re:surge protection? (Score:1)
My vote... (Score:1)
surge protection? (Score:1)
Does anybody have enough EE knowledge to know which power strips have good surge protection and which are crappy?
I've been told that some compare hot-to-hot instead of hot-to-ground. In those cases, if a spike comes in evenly and in phase on both sides, it won't trip the surge protector, but will still blow your equip.
I've heard that others fail silently. They eat up spikes without complaining and their circuitry just degrades over time and eventually stops protecting your equip.
Anybody know which makes/models give you real, lasting protection? Or should I just give it up, considering power strips to be mere outlet multipliers, and only trust a UPS?
Re:surge protection? (Score:1)
My understanding is that almost all consumer grade surge protectors is only good for one good surge. And then it will no longer provide any surge protection, but it will provide power. When they no longer provide surge protection, they should no longer provide power too.
I took apart the surge protector that had protected my mother's VCR when a lightning strike had knocked out the VCRs of practically everyone else on her rural road. Rather, I took it apart after a second lightning strike left all the new replacement VCRs her neighbours had bought alone, because they had learned there lessons, and bought surge protectors to go along with them.
My mother's valiant $5 surge protector was one of those boxes that you plug over top of a standard pair of wall outlets and provide six receptacles instead of two. Except this one had a single MOV and an LED inside. The surge had made the MOV explode, and it had sprayed all over the inside of the box. And, of course, the LED went out.
Really bad design, in my opinion. Since in the typical use of something like this is it is behind whatever it had plugged into it, the LED that shows it is still working isn't visible to casual observation.
Re:How about big wall mounted strips? (Score:1)
Kensington is "The One" (Score:2)
Nice product. There's a colour-coded version, and a cheaper, non-colour-coded version.
I've found them at such places as CompUSA, OfficeMax, and Office Depot, at reasonable prices.
Re:Kensington is "The One" (Score:2)
http://www.fellowes.com/Product/main.cfm?groupC
available from CDW at:
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?ED
The images dont show it well but there are six plugs for standard connectors (they dont how in the photo of the black model) and four plugs for blocks over top of them (the dark grey in the photo at fellowes), an easy to reach/operate on off switch (you can even get one with a remote foot switch). The mount nicley. Some models have phone and coax, yadda yadda yadda.
pigtails (Score:2)
Right Here (Score:2)
Memorex... (Score:2)
I don't have the model number handy, but it was branded by Memorex - 8 outlets, all wall-wart capable (meaning if all you have is wall-warts, 8 will fit!). Surge protection, phone line protection, etc. All outlets are color coded, too (and matching tape strips are included to stick to the other end of the cords, so you know if you want to pull the power on the right cord). But the best feature I believe is...
Cord Corrals (ok, I made that up - but that is what they do!) - at the "bottom" of each outlet is a "C" shaped "runner", with a little space between each outlet. Plug the cord (or wall wart) in, and slip the cord between the slot and down the channel - all cords exit at one end, no more rats nest at the strip!
After checking Memorex's site (it seems it was called the "PowerCenter/Pro" or something), it has unfortunately been discontinued. Seems like this is the way with good products! Monster (www.monstercable.com) has a similar device, but it still isn't quite the same (doesn't have the cable corral system, it appears - and all plugs aren't spaced for wall-warts).
I have to say the only thing I dislike about the strip is its size - larger than most power strips (heh, if they did the APS thing and added a UPS to it, it would be perfect)...
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
Only trust a UPS (Score:2)
However, if you're really only worried about the whole thing going boom, try out APC (yes, they make UPSes, but they also do strips). Their strips to help out a lot. Enjoy!
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!
Exposed Power Switch (Score:3)
Anybody know of a strip that puts the switch under a plastic cover or something?
-Waldo
Time for a Home Depot/Lowes/etc Trip (Score:3)
You've got a UPS, right? (If not, why not?) Why not make your own power strips? It's less expensive, more flexiable and you get exactly what you want. The UPS will provide all the surge protection you need.
In January, I moved out of my apartment and into a house. It always bugged me that my UPS [bestpower.com] added a bunch of heat and noise to my home office. So, I put it in the garage, gave it its own breaker and wired the computer room the way God intended.
The UPS has better surge and slump protection than I could ever get from any surge protector. By doing my own wireing, I've got the outlets prefectly spaced and at the right height for both my desk and work bench.
The parts are very cheap and everything is easy to put together so long as you have a basic understanding of how electricity works and some screwdriver skills.
InitZero