# Power Problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 11, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-problems/347972 "2006-03-11T21:25:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-problems/347972/1 "2006-03-11T21:25:23Z")
Whee, that was fun. Someone hit a power pole around 2AM, and it took 8 hours to get the power back. Apparently, one of the surges in the process fried the power strip I was using for my TV, DVD, and Console Video game systems, as well as the Uninterruptible Power Supply for my PC. Oddly, the damage seems to be contained to just those two items. Though the TV’s plug’s prongs looked a little charred, I was able to put everything back in with new surge protectors without incident. And whenever the old ones get plugged in… it trips a circuit breaker. So, yeah, they’re fragged. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-problems/347972/2 "2006-03-11T23:03:11Z")
That bites. We rarely lose our power here for long, since the apartment complex has its own little back-up power generators. The last time we lost it for any length of time was that big thing in August a few years back. Playing Scrabble by candlelight, and such. Anyway, glad you got it all back. Don’t plug in the burned strips anymore, 'kay? I don’t want to read that in the news. **GIANT TURTLE FRIED BY OWN POWER STRIP** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-problems/347972/3 "2006-03-12T20:33:06Z")
Bites, it does. We lose power so often in my neighborhood that I have a backup (sine-wave) generator (it’s wired to only part of the house, Bathroom, TVs, PC, and Modem). Even with all this preparation, my internet collection fell victim to a rampaging backhoe (apparently) and we just got back up after almost 2 weeks. Didn’t want to start a whole thread to bitch, so I used yours. Sorry 😛 ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-problems/347972/4 "2006-03-13T15:16:05Z")
It fried one of the things but good, too. The little strip/surge protector actually rattles when I shake it now - something popped loose inside. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-problems/347972/5 "2006-03-13T19:32:34Z")
That’s actually good. Like a fuse, surge protectors are supposed to sacrifice themselves to save the expensive goodies plugged into them. And, like a fuse, there’s no way to re-set the component that in the case of the one that’s now a maraca, has exploded internally. It’s also good that they fail in the process, so you know the thing needs to be replaced. A silent failure would leave you falsely thinking that everything’s still protected against surges. In the case of your UPS, if it’s new enough, it may be covered under warranty. Check their website and see what coverage the thing has. Companies that actually design the things often like to see failed units to determine what went poof, and they’ll swap you a new one. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-problems/347972/6 "2006-03-13T20:10:21Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > That’s actually good. Like a fuse, surge protectors are supposed to sacrifice themselves to save the expensive goodies plugged into them. And, like a fuse, there’s no way to re-set the component that in the case of the one that’s now a maraca, has exploded internally. > > It’s also good that they fail in the process, so you know the thing needs to be replaced. A silent failure would leave you falsely thinking that everything’s still protected against surges. > > In the case of your UPS, if it’s new enough, it may be covered under warranty. Check their website and see what coverage the thing has. Companies that actually design the things often like to see failed units to determine what went poof, and they’ll swap you a new one. They no longer make the model I have, unfortunately. It’s a few years old. The weird part is that a power strip elsewhere in the house, with a TV and DVD player plugged into it - was unharmed, as was the equipment.