Surge protector

[classic]

Should I bring a surge protector for my lap top when I use it in the dorms or house?
I also saw a post on another forum asking questions about where markets would be. I know there are two that I've heard about (can't remember their names though). Does anyone mind telling me a little about how hard it is to find the markets and where they are?

[Patrik Leonard]

I'd recommend brining a surge protector. You could pick up a pretty basic one here on the island, but if I were you, I'd splurge on one that's a little more heavy duty, maybe in the $20-40 range. Get one that protects the phone line too, b/c on the island, surges can come in through electric, phone, and cable TV lines. My first semester my phone got fried from a surge through the telephone line, and the same storm caused a surge over cable that friend a friend of mine's VCR. As for the stores on the island. Your first semester in the Bottom, the closest one is My Store, which is also in the bottom. Has pretty much everything you need. In Windwardside, there's Big Rock. Which pretty much everyone who lives in Hell's Gate, The Level/Booby Hill, and Windwardside go to, biggest one on the island. Also in Windward side is The Unique Store. Fairly small, but when one of the other stores doesn't have something you're looking for, you can often find it there, thus living up to it's name.

[wolfvgang22]

I've got a couple of surge protectors for all my stuff, but after talking to some of the students on St. Martin I think I'll get an UPS (uninterruptable power supply) as well to protect against brown-outs. They mentioned that surge protectors work fine for surges, but dont' protect against brown-outs. A brown-out fried some computers there.

UPS's run about $80 at Best Buy and other computer stores, but I'll ship mine rather than bring it with me because they are very heavy.

[Patrik Leonard]

I've got a UPS for my computer too, I probably should've mentioned that it's a pretty good idea too, but I don't know anyone else that has made the effort/expense to buy one and bring it down here, so I thought maybe I was just being a little excessive/fanatic. :) If you're really serious about keeping things as safe as can be, they're the way to go, but they are a good chunk of change, and weigh quite a bit too to lug down in your suitcase. And while on the subject of keeping electronics safe down here, if you're buying a new laptop before you come, get the extended warrantee, period. Make sure it'll last through the time you're here. No matter how careful you are with the electricity, there's always the humidity, dust, mold, lugging it around in your backpack risks that can make that fancy new laptop into a fancy new paperweight. I've seen a lot of new laptops that've suffered the electronics curse of Saba (anything more technical than a stick will eventually break), and they're expensive to fix if not under warrantee.

[Stitches]

I'm scared for my laptop now with all this talk about the "electronic curse" of Saba. Do they sell plastic storage bins on Saba or SXM? That way, I can store my comp there and keep the humidity out. Oh, and my UPS weighs a ton, I don't know how i'm gonna get it down there...i don't really trust the shipping.

[lobotomy_man]

Stitches.... you may want to leave your "heavy" ups at home and go for a lighter one. I picked up the APC 325V at best buy (400&7) for 32.95. It is only about 5 pounds but it is still a UPS.

Me.

[Stitches]

I had that one, then I traded it in for APC500. It feels heavy, but not impossible to carry. Probably just a bit heavier than the 325...i'm just a weakling.

[lobotomy_man]

i did the exact opposite.... came home with the 500 and realized that it is huge and heavy then downgraded to the 325.

Me.

[Stitches]

That is too funny. I look forward to any future disagreements between the two of us :wink:

[ducman]

I'm going to be picking up a medium sized dehumidifier and UPS and shipping it down for January.

Keep the dehumidifier in the same room as laptop - should hopefully resolve some potential issues. And get some drinking water in the process!! :D

Best place is Best Buy... cheap UPS and they usually have specials on them.

[microphage]

or you guys can just come to SXM and buy them..... I heard fror the AUC forum that they sell there here for about 60 or so.. (not too certain). I think that would probably be a better idea than to lug it(which I did)

[PAtoMD]

Is the voltage on Saba the same as in the US? Or do we need a transformer from 220 to 110? Also, i bought an 8-plug plus phone plug ins search protector from Best Buy, about $ 40. Is that a significant one? How many surge protectors do we need? Do we need one for the bedroom appliances (laptop, tv etc.) and one for the kitchen (microwave)? Do we need to carry one to the school facilities when using our laptops in school?

Thank you very much

[psychMajor]

its same as u.s., it says in the student handbook

[rdecastro]

Is the voltage on Saba the same as in the US? Or do we need a transformer from 220 to 110? Also, i bought an 8-plug plus phone plug ins search protector from Best Buy, about $ 40. Is that a significant one? How many surge protectors do we need? Do we need one for the bedroom appliances (laptop, tv etc.) and one for the kitchen (microwave)? Do we need to carry one to the school facilities when using our laptops in school?

Thank you very much

The voltage is the same as the US.

Your Surge protector is OK. You might want to get one or two more - you may need more than one in the dorm and/or home, and you MAY need one in class - depending on where you sit (especially after 1st semester) it may be a long way to a plug. You don't really need more with phone plugs.

[Doc. Caliban]

I use the APC SurgeArrest Notebook surge suppressor. It's plugs in line with your power cable so it travels with you.

APC is one of, if not THE top name in power conditioning technology. I worked for MS for almost 10 years and it's all we used.

Here's a link to the product:

http://apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=173

Be sure to get one that fits your style of plug.

[Doc. Caliban]

BTW, if you have a notebook computer, you already have a UPS. It's called "the battery". :-)