3 ms·

I don't see the problem, provided that you are within the current draw limits. Surge protectors are usually made of components that cause a short when a surge

by GuB-42 3y ago

I don't see the problem, provided that you are within the current draw limits. Surge protectors are usually made of components that cause a short when a surge happens, protecting the equipment downstream. It usually pairs with some kind of overcurrent protection (breaker, fuse, sometimes GFCI) to protect against the short the surge protector itself caused. Having chained surge protectors it actually quite common. You may have a surge protector in your breaker panel, then in your powerstrip, then in the power supply of the device you have plugged in. Most good quality ATX power supplies have built-in surge protection for instance. They also all tend to have overcurrent protection too. The breaker panel has breakers (duh), the power strip may have a simple breaker too, and the device may have a fuse. In the UK, the plug itself may have a fuse, plus the breaker from the utility company. The risk from chaining surge protectors is that it increases the risk of false triggers if one of them is defective. But it may also provide better protection. All in all, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just don't overload that power bar and whatever it is plugged in.

WarOnPrivacy 3y ago
> it may also provide better protection. This has been my experience. There was a corridor between 2 FL counties known for heavy lightning strikes. I serviced small sites that had their IT equip fried (exploded, melted) once or twice a year. Putting it behind 4-6 decent, consumer-grade surge protectors turned out to be really effective. I was a bit surprised given how lightning can jump over protection during a strike. To illustrate the area: An XO's home was hit. Char marks lined the walls wherever wiring ran. Pipes burst all over. Nothing plugged in or wired survived. The front door was blow into the street. His grade school kids were home at the time; they were physically fine.
- LorenPechtel 3y ago
  There's also the fact that consumer surge protectors are incapable of determining if they're any good or not. There's a small component in there that eats the surge--a severe surge and it's destroyed, it's obvious. However, there's a range in which it no longer functions but is not destroyed. The next surge goes on down the wire. I really wish someone would come up with some surge suppressors that have a string of field-replaceable suppressors. Periodic maintenance, replace the suppressors.

by GuB-42 3y ago

WarOnPrivacy 3y ago

> it may also provide better protection. This has been my experience. There was a corridor between 2 FL counties known for heavy lightning strikes. I serviced small sites that had their IT equip fried (exploded, melted) once or twice a year. Putting it behind 4-6 decent, consumer-grade surge protectors turned out to be really effective. I was a bit surprised given how lightning can jump over protection during a strike. To illustrate the area: An XO's home was hit. Char marks lined the walls wherever wiring ran. Pipes burst all over. Nothing plugged in or wired survived. The front door was blow into the street. His grade school kids were home at the time; they were physically fine.

LorenPechtel 3y ago
There's also the fact that consumer surge protectors are incapable of determining if they're any good or not. There's a small component in there that eats the surge--a severe surge and it's destroyed, it's obvious. However, there's a range in which it no longer functions but is not destroyed. The next surge goes on down the wire. I really wish someone would come up with some surge suppressors that have a string of field-replaceable suppressors. Periodic maintenance, replace the suppressors.