How common are power surges?

[Mike77]

I read that it's recommended to bring another power chord for my laptop, because they sometimes fail. I have been trying relentlessly and have been unable to find a cord for my laptop. I was wondering just how important it was to get one? What percentage of people need a new one?

Thanks again!

[covarubious]

the new power cord is not about power surges, its more about people who wrap them up and, since most are pretty fragile, the cord breaks over time or the connection is faulty. (as a computer person, trust me it happens...) Once you are on the island you won't be able pop by the futureshop and get a new one so no comp. You can usually order a spare online from your manufacturers web site. Correct me if I am wronge but do the outlets in the classes already have surge protectors? i think somebody mentioned that here a while ago... Travis is the man in the know...

I read that it's recommended to bring another power chord for my laptop, because they sometimes fail. I have been trying relentlessly and have been unable to find a cord for my laptop. I was wondering just how important it was to get one? What percentage of people need a new one?

Thanks again!

[TravisB]

There are no surge suppressors that are really going to protect your computer.

However, covarubious is correct: The majority of adapter failures are due to putting too much stress on the cord where it comes out of the 'brick'. This typically happens when people wrap the cords up by wrapping them around the brick. Just coil it up in your hand with the brick hanging just below the coil, and put it in your bag that way.

Sometimes they do just crap out though, power surges or not. Bring a spare.

-Travis

[thedaylights]

Is it important to bring a surge protector for ze laptop? I've never had a problem so far in my travels. I'm guessing most people don't bother.

[Experienced]

Travis, maybe a word about our salt air, famous for killing all things electronic?

[wolfvgang22]

Here's a cautionary tale:
I had a nice brand new heavy duty surge protector when I arrived on the island. I went to school one day, took my laptop with me. I left the surge protector in the house I was renting, plugged in. GEBE (the power company) did some repairs that day that resulted in such a massive power surge that the surge protector caught on fire! Thanks to the vigilance of Saban neighbors who saw the smoke and quickly climbed in the window and put out the fire, the house itself did not catch fire. GEBE did offer to pay for any damages.

Another tale: 5th semester, right before block exams. My buddy sitting next to me had a laptop that was on the fritz. It was plugged in to the same surge protector as my laptop. His power supply went out with a burning smell, and mine followed. We both ended up having to order new laptops shipped to us from the U.S.

[Experienced]

such a massive power surge that the surge protector caught on fire!

:shock:


E.

++++++

[TravisB]

Many people don't realize that a power strip with a rocker switch on it is not necessarily a computer-grade surge suppressor.

Good: Purpose made computer surge protectors from reliable companies such as APC, Belkin, etc. These often come with damaged equipment replacement guarantees. Now that's not to say that Gebe can't fry it, but it's designed to keep that damage from passing along to your laptop.
http://www.apcmedia.com/resource/images/500/Front_Left/D26184A1-5056-AE36-FEC24CBE1721F872_pr.jpg

These, on the other hand, typically suck. (Technically speaking, they are 'total, total crap', or 'bad'.)
http://bp0.blogger.com/_VpbykP204hU/RjtGW5ecYRI/AAAAAAAAAHc/Ztkue5512hM/s1600/power_strip.jpghttp://climate.sdstate.edu/howto/vrg101/AC%20SURGE%20STRIP.JPG


One of the best options that I know of for laptops are the APC 'SurgeArrest Notebook' (http://www.apcc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=173) units:
http://www.apcc.com/resource/images/family/primary/173_fam.jpg

These connect inline with your normal power cord and are therefore always with you no matter where you plug in. Being an APC product, they come with a damaged equipment guarantee.

I used one of these on an off-road, cross-country motorcycle camping trip for 3 months, during which I ran my laptop off of a gas-powered generator on a daily basis, and also used the occasional po-dunk middle-of-nowhere power source. I've also used it in other places with not-so-great power conditions such as other Caribbean islands and some sketchy areas of Brazil.

They're cheap, they're good, it's a great brand, and you'll always be protected no matter where you are.

-Travis

[TravisB]

Travis, maybe a word about our salt air, famous for killing all things electronic?

I have to admit that I'm not sure how much salt air we get at 1,000+ feet above sea level, but either way, there is a lot of humidity and it can take it's toll on a computer.

Usually what corrodes first on a computer are the metal bits, like the case, mounting hardware, etc. Fortunately laptops don't have nearly as much metal in them as a desktop PC. The chassis is almost always plastic, or a less corrosion-prone alloy such as aluminum (That 'alumiluminlminum' for you Brits) or magnesium. As everyone knows, Macbook Pros are machined from a solid block of toughstuffnium, whereas all Vista laptops are made out of stamped crudnium.

But I digress.

The best conditions under which to keep and use any computer equipment is, from best to worst:

Best: An air conditioned room. While the cooling helps, the key here is the dehumidifying effect of airco.

Just as best, but less comfortable: A room with a dehumidifier in it. The key here is the dehumidifying effect of, well, dehumidifiers.

The best you can do in some cases: A room on Saba that has the windows closed after ~4PM on most days, which is when the clouds tend to get lower, and all the time during those 'foggy' low cloud days.

Not so good: A room on Saba that has the windows open all of the time. Your laptop isn't going to die during your stay here, but this is not as good of an option when compared to the above. If the doors are also open, the risk of goat-related damage is elevated.

Not good: On a dive boat (What was I thinking?), at the beach (unlikely on Saba), near salt spray (in the harbor on a rough day, or in a not-so-sealed backpack on a rough Dawn crossing... however it may serve to rinse off some of the vomit).

Worst: In the bath, sitting out in the rain, soaking in a pan of soapy water, or being in direct contact with salt water, typically after being chucked from a cliff, of which Saba has plenty. These are, however, all valid forms of troubleshooting Vista problems.


Seriously though, kept away from truly salty water, a laptop will last a long time in this environment. Just be smart about it.

-Travis

[cant polish a turd]

whatever ........

[cattyjane]

I have to admit that I'm not sure how much salt air we get at 1,000+ feet above sea level, but either way, there is a lot of humidity and it can take it's toll on a computer.

Usually what corrodes first on a computer are the metal bits, like the case, mounting hardware, etc. Fortunately laptops don't have nearly as much metal in them as a desktop PC. The chassis is almost always plastic, or a less corrosion-prone alloy such as aluminum (That 'alumiluminlminum' for you Brits) or magnesium. As everyone knows, Macbook Pros are machined from a solid block of toughstuffnium, whereas all Vista laptops are made out of stamped crudnium.

But I digress.

The best conditions under which to keep and use any computer equipment is, from best to worst:

Best: An air conditioned room. While the cooling helps, the key here is the dehumidifying effect of airco.

Just as best, but less comfortable: A room with a dehumidifier in it. The key here is the dehumidifying effect of, well, dehumidifiers.

The best you can do in some cases: A room on Saba that has the windows closed after ~4PM on most days, which is when the clouds tend to get lower, and all the time during those 'foggy' low cloud days.

Not so good: A room on Saba that has the windows open all of the time. Your laptop isn't going to die during your stay here, but this is not as good of an option when compared to the above. If the doors are also open, the risk of goat-related damage is elevated.

Not good: On a dive boat (What was I thinking?), at the beach (unlikely on Saba), near salt spray (in the harbor on a rough day, or in a not-so-sealed backpack on a rough Dawn crossing... however it may serve to rinse off some of the vomit).

Worst: In the bath, sitting out in the rain, soaking in a pan of soapy water, or being in direct contact with salt water, typically after being chucked from a cliff, of which Saba has plenty. These are, however, all valid forms of troubleshooting Vista problems.


Seriously though, kept away from truly salty water, a laptop will last a long time in this environment. Just be smart about it.

-Travis

THANKS Travis for your advice. Another question about the laptop usage at Saba is what other accessories apart from surge protect do we need to bring to keep the laptop in its best condition possible?

ps. if any parts of the laptop break-down during the school time, how do we get it repaired? I mean even if we have a good warantee, but at a small island as Saba, the warantee may play a less important role. Any computer repair store on Saba or St Maarten?

[TravisB]

THANKS Travis for your advice. Another question about the laptop usage at Saba is what other accessories apart from surge protect do we need to bring to keep the laptop in its best condition possible?

A spare power adapter. Or, just don't wrap the cords so tight and yours will probably last your entire time here without a problem.

ps. if any parts of the laptop break-down during the school time, how do we get it repaired? I mean even if we have a good warantee, but at a small island as Saba, the warantee may play a less important role. Any computer repair store on Saba or St Maarten?

I don't know about other brands, but if you have a Dell you can transfer the warranty to Sint Maarten and they will send a technitian to Saba if you have a problem.

As for parts such as RAM and hard drives, you can get them over there, but you'll pay around twice as much as mainland prices.

-Travis

[cattyjane]

thanks Travis....your reply has help a lot.....

i just wonder why we even need surge protectors....I mean even if there is an electrical shut down, our laptop would still have the battery cells to maintain its power. It's like you are unplugging the electrical chord while using the laptop, it would still function normally. Or am I understanding the function of a surge protector wrong?

[KingMo]

You can still get a surge though...the battery (or even the AC adapter) isn't exactly a buffer for surging electricity to your laptop. It could zap everything in its path and then zap your motherboard.

[darkmansaad]

also on mondays the campus weightlifters congregate for "international chest day." The sheer amount of weight being bench pressed after classes has been known to shut down electricity in the vicinity to which no surge protector can protect you. Your only hope is to join international chest day and engage in myofibril hypertrophy.

[darkmanflasaad]

Let's talk about my body. Again. (paraphrasing)

This was by far your worst attempt at trying fit in a reference to your body.

:D

Just giving you a hard time, but man, that one was really reaching! I guess all 200+ of them can't be clever...

(Yes, you know who this is.) :D:D:D

[darkmansaad]

no i dont the only 2 things i know right now is that you think about my body and apparently according to ur pic you are some sort of "hot blonde".
Since you are thinking of my body that narrows you down to anyone at saba who saw me run shirtless in the wind as sweat streamed down my abs....but since you are a hot blonde and there are none at saba then i have no idea who u are

[wizard629]

btw, I am getting a surge protectors but do we need to battery back-up system?

[rankin]

Hey Travis. Question about the APC Surge Arrest that you recommended to protect notebooks. Does this look like the correct one? Amazon.com: APC PNOTEPRO Surge Arrest Notebook Pro Surge Protector: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/APC-PNOTEPRO-Arrest-Notebook-Protector/dp/B00000J53F/ref=pd_sbs_e_1_img) Also my notebook has a 3 pronged power connector to its adapter, do you know of any good 3 prong to 2 prong adapter?

[TravisB]

btw, I am getting a surge protectors but do we need to battery back-up system?

Hi there,

A battery backup is not needed with a laptop unless you want it to run longer than it would on it's own battery, or if you have external accessories that you want to remain running such as an external hard drive.

Hope that helps,

-Travis

[TravisB]

Hey Travis. Question about the APC Surge Arrest that you recommended to protect notebooks. Does this look like the correct one? Amazon.com: APC PNOTEPRO Surge Arrest Notebook Pro Surge Protector: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/APC-PNOTEPRO-Arrest-Notebook-Protector/dp/B00000J53F/ref=pd_sbs_e_1_img) Also my notebook has a 3 pronged power connector to its adapter, do you know of any good 3 prong to 2 prong adapter?

That's just about the right one, however as you pointed out, it's for a 2-prong power brick. Take a look at this one (http://www.amazon.com/APC-PNOTEPRO3-Arrest-Notebook-Protector/dp/B00000J51O/ref=pd_sbs_e_3) and see if that looks more like what you have. This is the one I have for my Dell XPS2.

-Travis

EDIT: I like the two negative reviews on that site. One is because, after using the $15 device 'for years', it stopped allowing current to flow. Where you'd want a scuba regulator to fail in the 'on' position, I think I'd like my surge suppressors to fail in the 'off' position. The other review begins with, " I don't own this specific APC product..." and goes on to rant about being unhappy with the manufacturer. Well thought out stuff!