Should laptops have surge protectors?
Most people don't think of surge protectors when they buy laptops. I've been supplying my clients with them when I sell them laptops. Just to be safe. When the laptops aren't plugged in there's no need for one but many of my clients use laptops like desktops much of the time.
Are surge protectors necessary for laptops? Have you ever heard of a laptop being fried by a surge?
Thanks,
Al
Are surge protectors necessary for laptops? Have you ever heard of a laptop being fried by a surge?
Thanks,
Al
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The battery of a laptop can absorb some of the surge, so this can protect the laptop.
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and why should laptops not be connected allday long?... i know some people that do it - but i don't recommend it ( why WASTE power?)
nobus, could you explain this further. Why does it use less power running on the battery? And won't this make the battery fail sooner? The reason people run laptops connected is because they always used to dim out when not connected. Is this still true? Many people (including myself) need laptop screens as bright as possible. They can be made to not dim out when on battery, but that adjustment is beyond the capability of many older people.
Thanks,
Al
What nobus means is that when the laptop isn't used, you should shut it down and disconnect it from the power source, as the the power supply draws power even when the laptop isn't turned on.
Actually the same should be done with desktops, as also their powersupplies draw power when they are off.
Actually the same should be done with desktops, as also their powersupplies draw power when they are off.
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>> Why does it use less power running on the battery? << i did not talk about this, only about leaving it on all day - when not in use.
i only meant to say : when you don't use it, power it off; then you don't waste power
and i mean : REMOVE the AC cord from the socket, without an AC switch, it STILL consumes power (up to 5 W per hour) when connected - with laptop OFF, and battery fully charged
>> And won't this make the battery fail sooner? << that was so with Ni-Cd batteries, much less so with the new ones; though i recommend doing a full unload / charge cycle regularly, at least once a month (so you know how long the battery still holds)
the screens dim to save power, (because they use more power on full throttle) and make the battery run longer
i only meant to say : when you don't use it, power it off; then you don't waste power
and i mean : REMOVE the AC cord from the socket, without an AC switch, it STILL consumes power (up to 5 W per hour) when connected - with laptop OFF, and battery fully charged
>> And won't this make the battery fail sooner? << that was so with Ni-Cd batteries, much less so with the new ones; though i recommend doing a full unload / charge cycle regularly, at least once a month (so you know how long the battery still holds)
the screens dim to save power, (because they use more power on full throttle) and make the battery run longer
ASKER
Rojosho,
Here's what a laptop looks like after it’s been hit by lightning:
Actually the house was hit by lighting. That’s what the laptop looked like after the firemen finished putting the fire out. He was a writer and of course he hadn’t backed up his data. I took out the hard drive, set it as a secondary drive on another computer, and all the data was there. An angel must have been looking out for him.
Al
Here's what a laptop looks like after it’s been hit by lightning:
Actually the house was hit by lighting. That’s what the laptop looked like after the firemen finished putting the fire out. He was a writer and of course he hadn’t backed up his data. I took out the hard drive, set it as a secondary drive on another computer, and all the data was there. An angel must have been looking out for him. Al
I don't think a surge protector would have helped that one.
Wow, Guess this laptop was not a Timex, huh? Thanks for sharing; the picture sort of resembles pop-art... maybe Andy Warhol. Absolutely amazing that the data was recovered.
Rojosho….
Rojosho….
The carpet looks pretty unscathed...
@alan
yes surge protectors for House or business are useful
although I did not often use them in the NE area of US
In Florida - I always consider them for businesses I'm networking or installing IT equipment
in one business - we installed a $50 component - after lightning strike - they had to change a single wall outlet and replace the 'fuse'
the other businesses on the same street faced $10,000 - 50,000 in electrical appliance damages
So where do you live and are these electrical problems common?
yes surge protectors for House or business are useful
although I did not often use them in the NE area of US
In Florida - I always consider them for businesses I'm networking or installing IT equipment
in one business - we installed a $50 component - after lightning strike - they had to change a single wall outlet and replace the 'fuse'
the other businesses on the same street faced $10,000 - 50,000 in electrical appliance damages
So where do you live and are these electrical problems common?
ASKER
DarinTCH,
I live in the mid-Hudson valley of New York. We get occasional lightning, but not like Florida. Still I think, in terms of the cost and benefits, I think it's worth doing. Are there any whole house surge protectors you like?
Thanks,
Al
I live in the mid-Hudson valley of New York. We get occasional lightning, but not like Florida. Still I think, in terms of the cost and benefits, I think it's worth doing. Are there any whole house surge protectors you like?
Thanks,
Al
ASKER
Good discussion. I’m going to close this, but here are a few extra points if anyone wants to comment.
nobus, the point I was trying to make about the dimming is that, at least for older individuals, a dimmed out laptop can be close to useless. (I have many elderly clients, including one who is 95.) These people don’t have the knowledge or ability to change the settings so it doesn‘t dim when not plugged in. For many it’s beyond them to remember to unplug the computer and then plug it back in every time they want to use it. But if they keep it in one place and simply close the cover and put it to sleep, their computers can be very useful to them. I know people who leave their desktops on all the time. I’m not talking about that. But how much power does a computer in sleep mode use?
DarinTCH, are there any whole house surge protectors you would recommend?
rindi, I took that picture at my house, after the customer brought it to me. If you’d like to see more pictures, go to my Picasa web album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/115874002550064781662/ButTheHardDriveSurvived
Thanks to all,
AL
nobus, the point I was trying to make about the dimming is that, at least for older individuals, a dimmed out laptop can be close to useless. (I have many elderly clients, including one who is 95.) These people don’t have the knowledge or ability to change the settings so it doesn‘t dim when not plugged in. For many it’s beyond them to remember to unplug the computer and then plug it back in every time they want to use it. But if they keep it in one place and simply close the cover and put it to sleep, their computers can be very useful to them. I know people who leave their desktops on all the time. I’m not talking about that. But how much power does a computer in sleep mode use?
DarinTCH, are there any whole house surge protectors you would recommend?
rindi, I took that picture at my house, after the customer brought it to me. If you’d like to see more pictures, go to my Picasa web album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/115874002550064781662/ButTheHardDriveSurvived
Thanks to all,
AL
Leviton
SquareD
Intermatic
APC
MSA
GE
Tripplite
Eaton
the one i mentioned was MSA - worked well
but I also use APC for internal - home and server racks
leviton is also a well known brand
you can get some at HomeDepot
or ur electrician can get others at the electrical supply house
SquareD
Intermatic
APC
MSA
GE
Tripplite
Eaton
the one i mentioned was MSA - worked well
but I also use APC for internal - home and server racks
leviton is also a well known brand
you can get some at HomeDepot
or ur electrician can get others at the electrical supply house
ASKER
DarinTCH, Thanks for the info.
i posted the laptops use around 5 W
ASKER
nobus, Is that when plugged in either in safe mode or if the laptop is shut down completely?
Or does safe mode use more electricity than plugged in and shut down?
Thanks,
Al
Or does safe mode use more electricity than plugged in and shut down?
Thanks,
Al
What do you mean with "safe-Mode"?
A laptop's powersupply draws idle power even when the laptop is turned off. One reason is because the on/off button is on the laptop, not the power supply unit there needs to be some circuitry running for this on/off button to work (it's similar to dekstops, also there you need some current running, as the on off is done by electronics and not an actual circuit breaker switch. Apart from that many laptop's/PC's can be turned on using the LAN or mouse actions etc. Also for that you need standby power.
If the Laptop is in hibernation mode, then it is off and you'll use the same amount of power as the system uses as when you have normally shut it down.
If on the other hand it is in sleep mode, there are still some more laptop parts that need to be powered, like the RAM. So in that mode it'll draw more power than it does when off or on standby, but less than if it were running.
A laptop's powersupply draws idle power even when the laptop is turned off. One reason is because the on/off button is on the laptop, not the power supply unit there needs to be some circuitry running for this on/off button to work (it's similar to dekstops, also there you need some current running, as the on off is done by electronics and not an actual circuit breaker switch. Apart from that many laptop's/PC's can be turned on using the LAN or mouse actions etc. Also for that you need standby power.
If the Laptop is in hibernation mode, then it is off and you'll use the same amount of power as the system uses as when you have normally shut it down.
If on the other hand it is in sleep mode, there are still some more laptop parts that need to be powered, like the RAM. So in that mode it'll draw more power than it does when off or on standby, but less than if it were running.
ASKER
rindi,
that answered my question. As to "safe-mode", that was a brain-blip from an aging techie. Of course I meant when you put the top down on a laptop, putting it to sleep.
Thanks again,
Alan
that answered my question. As to "safe-mode", that was a brain-blip from an aging techie. Of course I meant when you put the top down on a laptop, putting it to sleep.
Thanks again,
Alan
the mode does not change the power used, in hibernate, or power off = the same
it is a shame that nowadays nearly all devices and appliiances come without REAL power switch (i had to install maybe 20 at my house to be able to power them off)
it is a shame that nowadays nearly all devices and appliiances come without REAL power switch (i had to install maybe 20 at my house to be able to power them off)
ASKER
Al