wall sockets with surge protection

LazySamaritan

I'm looking for 4 gang (or 6) surge protection wall sockets?

Do such things exist? I can't even find an ordinary 4 gang wall socket.

Do they only come as extension leads?

CJhaughey

LazySamaritan wrote: »

I'm looking for 4 gang (or 6) surge protection wall sockets?

Do such things exist? I can't even find an ordinary 4 gang wall socket.

Do they only come as extension leads?

Never seen a socket with this as standard, I have seen RCD sockets.

LazySamaritan

CJhaughey wrote: »

Never seen a socket with this as standard, I have seen RCD sockets.

I was certain I saw a 2 gang wall socket with surge protection a few weeks ago while browsing for something else. Wish I had bookmarked it because I can't find it now.

They are untidy but I'll stick with anti-surge extension leads I suppose.

Lumen

What sort of surges are you hoping to protect against?

LazySamaritan

Lumen wrote: »

What sort of surges are you hoping to protect against?

The kind of ones that caused someone to create surge protected sockets.

Lumen

LazySamaritan wrote: »

The kind of ones that caused someone to create surge protected sockets.

I'm not sure whether you don't know why you want surge protection, or you don't want to tell. Is it a secret?

The reason I ask is because the main reason people buy surge protected extension leads is because they think it protects against very large power surges e.g. those associated with lightning strikes, and from what I can tell they don't actually do that. In other words, socket-level surge protection is mostly snake oil. If you have a genuine need for surge protection then you're better off with a solution at source rather than trying to solve it at every socket.

LazySamaritan

Lumen wrote: »

I'm not sure whether you don't know why you want surge protection, or you don't want to tell. Is it a secret?

The reason I ask is because the main reason people buy surge protected extension leads is because they think it protects against very large power surges e.g. those associated with lightning strikes, and from what I can tell they don't actually do that. In other words, socket-level surge protection is mostly snake oil. If you have a genuine need for surge protection then you're better off with a solution at source rather than trying to solve it at every socket.

Bah!!! I good meme to respond with but I can't get it load.

Anyway, what are? Anti-anti-surge or something? :P

Lumen

LazySamaritan wrote: »

Anyway, what are? Anti-anti-surge or something? :P

Not really, I'm thinking of replacing my own sockets so I'm interested in the answer.

Often things turn out to be less useful than you think. Like, I was in an airport the other day and plugged my phone into one of those USB wall sockets. It charged slowly. So I got out my Samsung fast charger and plugged it into the three pin socket an inch away, and it charged fast.

Is that a current problem or is there some magic in the Samsung charger that I don't know about? Dunno, but if I'd gone round and replaced all my wall sockets with USB ones it would have been a total waste of time and money.

DesperateDan

I am interested in this as well, I know people that refuse to plug several things into a power strip because they think that nothing is surge protected and everything might spontaneously fry.

I don't know enough about electricity to tell them otherwise but it sounds crazy to me

The USB thing is an easy answer though I think, either the wall socket just pumps more electricity into a phone than USB is able to, or the USB cable you were using is not specified to carry very much current and data at the same time. A lot of cheaper cables tend to do that.

LazySamaritan

Lumen wrote: »

Not really, I'm thinking of replacing my own sockets so I'm interested in the answer.

Often things turn out to be less useful than you think. Like, I was in an airport the other day and plugged my phone into one of those USB wall sockets. It charged slowly. So I got out my Samsung fast charger and plugged it into the three pin socket an inch away, and it charged fast.

Is that a current problem or is there some magic in the Samsung charger that I don't know about? Dunno, but if I'd gone round and replaced all my wall sockets with USB ones it would have been a total waste of time and money.

I have experienced devices charging at different speeds before when plugged into a mains socket, but not a USB port. Don't think I've ever done it.

If I was installing a new socket near a computer desk or in a kitchen I might use one with USB ports just for convenience but I wouldn't bother anywhere else or go to the effort of replacing current sockets.

In regards to the surge protection, I've been using anti-surge extension leads at the TV and for my computer for years. I honestly have no idea if I need them or if they've ever been of any use but but maybe they have been and that is why I don't know.

I figure no harm can come from using them.

Lumen

DesperateDan wrote: »

The USB thing is an easy answer though I think, either the wall socket just pumps more electricity into a phone than USB is able to, or the USB cable you were using is not specified to carry very much current and data at the same time. A lot of cheaper cables tend to do that.

Right, but most of the USB wall sockets I've seen are rated for 2A, which is the same as the Samsung charger, and the cable was the same.

Of course it's possible that the airport cheaped out on the sockets, but I'd want to try one before committing to it.

Experimenting with lightning strikes is a bit trickier.

coylemj

Lumen wrote: »

Of course it's possible that the airport cheaped out on the sockets, but I'd want to try one before committing to it.

More likely the lawyers told them to go low (max. 1A) to avoid claims from people with crappy phones. Or mass evacuations caused by smoking batteries melted by cheap Chinese chargers.

listermint

Lumen wrote: »

Right, but most of the USB wall sockets I've seen are rated for 2A, which is the same as the Samsung charger, and the cable was the same.

Of course it's possible that the airport cheaped out on the sockets, but I'd want to try one before committing to it.

Experimenting with lightning strikes is a bit trickier.

Fast charges push a higher voltage with same currents and the cables are rated to do so.

You won't find any usb sockets that can do what a Samsung fast charger can do or a dash charger one plus.

If anything a 2amp usb would mimic old charger tech of yesterday year

BrokenArrows

Lumen wrote: »

Not really, I'm thinking of replacing my own sockets so I'm interested in the answer.

Often things turn out to be less useful than you think. Like, I was in an airport the other day and plugged my phone into one of those USB wall sockets. It charged slowly. So I got out my Samsung fast charger and plugged it into the three pin socket an inch away, and it charged fast.

Is that a current problem or is there some magic in the Samsung charger that I don't know about? Dunno, but if I'd gone round and replaced all my wall sockets with USB ones it would have been a total waste of time and money.

Its multiple things.

1. Usually the USB ports supply a lower amp than a 3 pin socket does so it will charge slower.
2. Modern chargers that you plug into a 3 pin socket tend to convert the power supply in the socket before it reaches your phone so its of the current/voltage for your battery likes.

seamus

Surge protection is way overkill in Ireland in any case. Every plug is fused, and we have one of the most stable power grids in the world.

If you're running tens of thousands of euro of equipment, antique or irreplaceable equipment, or you're very remote (and as such a likely lightning conductor) then it's probably a good safeguard. But for TVs and other home appliances, it's a waste of money. If a freak occurrence does happen to you, then your home insurance will cover the cost of replacing the appliances.

LazySamaritan

seamus wrote: »

Surge protection is way overkill in Ireland in any case. Every plug is fused, and we have one of the most stable power grids in the world.

If you're running tens of thousands of euro of equipment, antique or irreplaceable equipment, or you're very remote (and as such a likely lightning conductor) then it's probably a good safeguard. But for TVs and other home appliances, it's a waste of money. If a freak occurrence does happen to you, then your home insurance will cover the cost of replacing the appliances.

Surge protection might never be needed, but that is a very odd argument against spending a few extra euro on an extension lead.;)

Lumen

LazySamaritan wrote: »

Surge protection might never be needed, but that is a very odd argument against spending a few extra euro on an extension lead.;)

It is also an odd argument to advocate the use of something ugly, expensive and unnecessary.

One of the sites I read advocating outlet solutions made the argument that the lightning-strike-related surges were caused inside the house (I assume by electromagnetic effects) and so a central solution was pointless. However, that was written by....a manufacturer of outlet surge protection.

Anyway, the argument-from-ignorance answer to the question "why does X not exist" is usually "because X would be too expensive to be viable, pointless or impossible".

LazySamaritan

Lumen wrote: »

It is also an odd argument to advocate the use of something ugly, expensive and unnecessary.

One of the sites I read advocating outlet solutions made the argument that the lightning-strike-related surges were caused inside the house (I assume by electromagnetic effects) and so a central solution was pointless. However, that was written by....a manufacturer of outlet surge protection.

Anyway, the argument-from-ignorance answer to the question "why does X not exist" is usually "because X would be too expensive to be viable, pointless or impossible".

I'm not advocating the use of anything. I asked about surge protection wall sockets, discovered there were none and commented that I just use extension leads even though they are bit untidy.

They cost a bit more but I wouldn't class them as "expensive". I have no idea why you describe them as "ugly" because they look no different to any other extension lead. "Unnecessary" perhaps but how many things do we own that are unnecessary.

I have no idea why you have your knickers in a twist and are calling me ignorant. Just relax and be nice. None of this is a big deal.

Lumen

LazySamaritan wrote: »

I have no idea why you have your knickers in a twist and are calling me ignorant

I am not calling you ignorant. The "argument-from-ignorance" was a reference to my own point of view!

LazySamaritan

Lumen wrote: »

I am not calling you ignorant. The "argument-from-ignorance" was a reference to my own point of view!

It did not seem that way but okay.

Lumen

LazySamaritan wrote: »

It did not seem that way but okay.

Irish people tend to be incredibly sensitive about the word "ignorant" as it is used in a pejorative sense here. Where I am from ignorant just means having an absence of information or knowledge, which is in no way pejorative. We are all ignorant about most things, since one person can only absorb so much information.

This isn't really helping your socket problem though.

LazySamaritan

Lumen wrote: »

Irish people tend to be incredibly sensitive about the word "ignorant" as it is used in a pejorative sense here. Where I am from ignorant just means having an absence of information or knowledge, which is in no way pejorative. We are all ignorant about most things, since one person can only absorb so much information.

This isn't really helping your socket problem though.

I wasn't being sensitive - it seemed to me it was you being sensitive and I couldn't figure out why.

There is no socket problem. As I said earlier I'll just use a couple of extension cords. Then the thread carried on about USB cables, etc.

seamus

LazySamaritan wrote: »

They cost a bit more but I wouldn't class them as "expensive". I have no idea why you describe them as "ugly" because they look no different to any other extension lead. "Unnecessary" perhaps but how many things do we own that are unnecessary.

Still not really the point though.

If your car insurer told you that for €3 you could upgrade your car insurance to cover you against elephant damage, you'd tell them where to go. Even though it's not expensive, will act no different to any other insurance policy, AND will protect you in the rare event that you have a really bad day at the zoo.

In relative terms, surge-protected power strips are way more expensive than bog standard ones, and an unnecessary expense.

They're the gold-plated HDMI cables of the plug world; an easy way of parting people with their money for "upgrades" they don't need.

listermint

LazySamaritan wrote: »

I wasn't being sensitive - it seemed to me it was you being sensitive and I couldn't figure out why.

There is no socket problem. As I said earlier I'll just use a couple of extension cords. Then the thread carried on about USB cables, etc.

They are not needed, nor is you extension lead one. That is the point.

and they will be pretty useless if you had a surge eitherway.


So moral of the story is put in normal sockets ditch the leads - move on.

LazySamaritan

seamus wrote: »

Still not really the point though.

If your car insurer told you that for €3 you could upgrade your car insurance to cover you against elephant damage, you'd tell them where to go. Even though it's not expensive, will act no different to any other insurance policy, AND will protect you in the rare event that you have a really bad day at the zoo.

In relative terms, surge-protected power strips are way more expensive than bog standard ones, and an unnecessary expense.

They're the gold-plated HDMI cables of the plug world; an easy way of parting people with their money for "upgrades" they don't need.

I would not tell him "where to go". I'd say say either okay or no thanks.

Maybe I'd get that elephant insurance. Knowing my luck I would encounter said elephant and I'd rather here the man "tut-tut" me.

A lot of people are obsessing over the cost. It really is not that big a deal.

LazySamaritan

listermint wrote: »

They are not needed, nor is you extension lead one. That is the point.

and they will be pretty useless if you had a surge eitherway.


So moral of the story is put in normal sockets ditch the leads - move on.

It is not a great moral - you suggesting wasting money while others are concerned with the expense.

I only asked if surge protected main sockets were available. A couple of posts in the question was answered and I honestly don't understand how this of all topics has gone to three pages. It was not my intention to start a "thing".

Calahonda52

LazySamaritan wrote: »

It is not a great moral - you suggesting wasting money while others are concerned with the expense.

I only asked if surge protected main sockets were available. A couple of posts in the question was answered and I honestly don't understand how this of all topics has gone to three pages. It was not my intention to start a "thing".

Welcome to Boards/the web/arm chair warriers

listermint

LazySamaritan wrote: »

It is not a great moral - you suggesting wasting money while others are concerned with the expense.

I only asked if surge protected main sockets were available. A couple of posts in the question was answered and I honestly don't understand how this of all topics has gone to three pages. It was not my intention to start a "thing".

Where did I suggest wasting money ?...

listermint

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Welcome to Boards/the web/arm chair warriers

It's a discussion forum. Not really sure where the warrior comes into play.

LazySamaritan

listermint wrote: »

Where did I suggest wasting money ?...

You didn't read the early post properly. The answer is there.