Is UPS better than a surge protector?
Is UPS better than a surge protector?
I own a well-reviewed surge protector (rebranded APC model with a high Joule rating), along with a Cyberpower pure sine wave UPS that has a lower Joule rating. After researching extensively online, particularly seeking guidance on not connecting UPS units to surge protectors (which seems counterintuitive compared to some recommendations), I chose to skip the UPS and connect my PC directly to the surge protector. This decision was made to reduce risk, even though it carries the chance of losing work if I forget to save data. Nonetheless, given that power outages are more frequent here than thunderstorms, adding the UPS could be beneficial.
Do you know for certain whether it’s safe to connect the UPS directly to the surge protector (perhaps just the UPS and nothing else to prevent diverting power)? One concern is that the UPS might switch to battery more often; I can keep an eye on this and revert if needed. However, could this introduce another significant risk?
I understand some may argue a standalone UPS provides sufficient surge protection, but my unit has a shorter warranty. If a major surge damages my system, I wouldn’t be protected by the UPS. Additionally, the UPS itself typically doesn’t show signs of failure—so it would keep powering your system until another surge occurs. The surge protector will clearly signal a failure with a red light, whereas mine stops power once its protection degrades. Therefore, I’d likely avoid using the UPS if I can’t rely on a surge suppressor with it.
It probably doesn't matter much. It's hard to explain why a UPS wouldn't work with a surge protector, especially if you have a system in the power panel that protects the entire house.
I discovered that no matter what you try, lightning can always find its way through any protection.
I experienced this firsthand when a lightning strike happened nearby.
I used several UPS units and even some smaller surge protectors, but I lost various items.
Power bricks were mostly affected, though some unusual things like an Ethernet port connected to equipment that remained intact.
The onboard video port on one PC also survived.
It seems the UPS units and the cheap surge protector I disassembled didn't show any damage.
It probably doesn't matter much. It's hard to explain why a UPS wouldn't work with a surge protector, especially when there are systems in place that safeguard the entire house.
I discovered that no matter what you do, a lightning strike can always find its way through any protection. I experienced this firsthand after a nearby lightning strike. My equipment was exposed to various UPS units and some smaller surge protectors.
I lost many items, mainly power bricks, but also things like Ethernet ports connected to devices that survived. Even the internal video port on one PC remained intact.
It seems none of the UPS units were damaged, and even the inexpensive surge protector I disassembled showed all parts functioning properly despite multiple power bricks being destroyed.
I’d recommend running the UPS not just for surge protection but to prevent unexpected power loss from causing data corruption. Your hardware will likely remain unaffected, but recovering lost data can take hours. Updating a motherboard BIOS and then facing a power outage usually results in total failure.
This is why you choose the Tripplite surge suppressor. The isobars are assured up to $50,000 for whatever is connected to them.
if lightning strikes they should be covered and you can get your investment back for what was plugged in.
these are the only recommendations I have. They feature fewer ports as well.
https://tripplite.eaton.com/isobar-8-out...OBAR8ULTRA
When this occurs, you'll soon discover most warranties are nearly worthless. They demand extensive paperwork and insist on shipping items at your own cost. Sending a monitor is prohibitively expensive when it's just a power component.
You'll also be left without the device for no clear reason, while they wait weeks to decide whether to pay for repairs.
Who can tell what other hidden costs insurance companies mention in fine print? It’s not the company you think you’re working with—they obtained a policy from another firm that handles all this.
It feels like I could have filed a claim through my homeowner's insurance. It was nearing the deductible, but then I risked losing the three-year no-claim discount.
I soon realized it wasn’t worth the trouble and decided to fix everything myself.
If someone had to visit your house to fix this issue, the expense might rise even more. You probably won’t realize it until you notice the Ethernet port is faulty after replacing the power supply.
Homeowner insurance would likely cover that repair, but I doubt surge protection providers do.
Thanks for the input!
The main goal was to ensure power is cut off during the rebrand, not just rely on insurance. I know a nearby lightning strike could still cause issues if devices aren't unplugged, but it adds extra protection.
I’d appreciate more details on how this should be done.
Usually people suggest doing it in a different order, but I want to confirm the best approach.
Surge protectors must be connected to an AC outlet. They serve as the initial protection against severe harm. Other devices like UPS should also be set up similarly. Always follow this order.
I was told by someone I respect that the surge protector should be plugged into the wall outlet, and the ups should connect to the surge protector.
After that, most surge protectors will shut down automatically.
He recommends a reliable model such as the surgex flatpack.
They aren't inexpensive:
https://www.amazon.com/SurgeX-SA-82...ocphy=1015068&hvtargid=pla-353994767519&psc=1