PREP Time to replace your power strips? (Probably is…see photo)

[coalcracker]

Photo from recent episode at my house:



From Popular Mechanics:

“Burn marks, melted plastic, crackling noises, sparks when plugging something in or a hot smell indicate that the power strip is not safe. Power strips are intended for short-term use. If it is more than two or three years old or malfunctioning, throw it out and get a new power strip or surge protector.”

Link:These Power Strips and Surge Protectors Can Protect Your Devices While Charging

 

[Faroe]

Had no idea...and those damn things are expensive.
WHY is everything these days "short term use'? It's not like I get my house re-wired every two years.

 

[bw]

I've got strips that are at least 40 years old. No problems here.

 

[bbbuddy]

"Power strips are intended for short-term use."

Where does the writer get that info? Did he pull it out of his backside?? I doubt they could be UL listed if "short term use only" applied.

That said, glad you didn't lose the house. There are duds in anything manufactured.

 

[mbabulldog]

"Power strips are intended for short-term use."

Where does the writer get that info? Did he pull it out of his backside?? I doubt they could be UL listed if "short term use only" applied.

That said, glad you didn't lose the house. There are duds in anything manufactured.

Agreed, I've never seen UL define "short-term"...

 

[Macgyver]

Short term use is a bullshit statement.
There are shitty power strips out there though.
But definitely don't be plugging high amperage items into them like space heaters.

 

[Dennis Olson]

.and those damn things are expensive.

Wait, what???

They're 10 bux. If that's expensive, how can you afford to be on the Internet?

 

[Calfisher]

Use a real one. Never happens with these.

Global Industrial Power Strip, 6 Outlets, 15A, 6' Cord

Global Industrial Power Strip, 6 Outlets, 15A, 6' Cord. Ships in One Business Day. Buy it and Save at GlobalIndustrial.com

www.globalindustrial.com

 

[SmithJ]

Glad you made it with no further damage

 

[Faroe]

Wait, what???

They're 10 bux. If that's expensive, how can you afford to be in the Internet?

I'm not saying I can't afford them, I'm saying it pisses me off. I've got six in just the two back rooms. I don't buy the $10 ones because I suspect the quality is poor. A good one should be a one-time purchase.

 

[fi103r]

have a now 12 yr old APC ups, on it’s third battery

 

[coalcracker]

The one that burned was in an upstairs bedroom. It had a lamp, an alarm clock, and a cell phone charger in it.

We have our electronics on much higher-end strips, but haven’t upgraded those in years. Certainly thinking about doing so now.

Alerted to problem via smoke alarm.

 

[WFK]

Only time I have seen such damage was from a lightning strike.
Here it looks like the surge protection shorted (as they are supposed to do) but the current was not limited and the
THEY started the burn.

 

[fish hook]

I must have a dozen of these things. I don't think any of them less than 10 years old. Of course if any of them were acting funny i would replace them, but they all function as they should. I am more comfortable with them than some new China crap that may burn down the house on the first use.

 

[bracketquant]

The writer may be short a couple of joules.

 

[Redcat]

I had two fry from a lightening strike before. Same strike got my breaker box, killed my dryer and my microwave.

Computers survived, surge protectors no.

 

[Jake Grey]

Or get the $400 SurgeX brand ones.

 

[Griz3752]

I've got strips that are at least 40 years old. No problems here.

yeah but like keyboards of that generation, they're 'built'
Current power bars or whatever you want to call them are made of lowest cost materials by lowest cost labour in jurisdictions beyond our immediate reach

 

[West]

Been thinking about building my own. With a replaceable surge protector and over current built in but also a easily replaceable fused protector as well.

 

[fast89pony]

Good thing that wasn't on carpet or near some curtains.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Thanks for the reminder, time to vacuum mine out to get rid of any fuzz that might cause an issue.

 

[West]

yeah but like keyboards of that generation, they're 'built'
Current power bars or whatever you want to call them are made of lowest cost materials by lowest cost labour in jurisdictions beyond our immediate reach

It's the raw materials too. Paper thin or coated copper components.

If I was to build one, silver contacts would be a no brainer. And solid copper wires, no stranded BS. Or use solid copper buss bars.

Do need to research this idea more, but I would muse vary doable.

 

[ShadowMan]

WOW!! What kind of electrical system do you have?? Did you get hit by an lightening strike!?!

 

[Dennis Olson]

I have one that all my entertainment stuff is plugged into. I bought it back in the 90's and it was $100 then. No idea how much it would cost today. And no, I don't remember the brand, and no, it's not a UPS. It's a very high-end surge suppressor.

 

[Dennis Olson]

These days, no surge suppressor outlet strip under $125 is worth a pitcher of warm spit.

 

[The Snack Artist]

If you were truly virtuous, (like myself) you wouldn't be using electricity. So, the blame is actually on you.

 

[coalcracker]

WOW!! What kind of electrical system do you have?? Did you get hit by an lightening strike!?!

Not lightning as far as I know.

House is a remodeled Victorian. Built in 1890. Those are the original floor boards in photo.

Renovation (plumbing, electric, HVAC) was done in 2007. The “event” did kick the breaker in the upstairs sub panel.

Friends, do you all realize how many rolls of toilet paper could’ve lost their lives here?!?

 

[et2]

I read that tooooo fast. Time to replace your power trips.

 

[Millwright]

WOW!! What kind of electrical system do you have?? Did you get hit by an lightening strike!?!

The damage seemed to be contained to the device itself.

The "electrical system" really doesn't come into play.

It takes a lot of resistance to trip a 15a or 20a breaker.

 

[Macgyver]

I have a bunch of these on the electronics in the house.

Plus a whole house one in the breaker box.

 

[et2]

Looks like something stuck thru the cord?

 

[Griz3752]

It's the raw materials too. Paper thin or coated copper components.

If I was to build one, silver contacts would be a no brainer. And solid copper wires, no stranded BS. Or solid copper buss bars.

Do need to research this idea more, but I would muse vary doable.

Good idea but not a mass market deal; most Americans want the low-cost solution as we've been conditioned to short life cycle/ lowest cost.

You would have a market with high end AV system users, etc though.

I'd buy on based on the fact its an absolute complete PITA to change one out as its always, always buried behind some furniture & in a corner; mater of fact put me down for two

 

[Troke]

You mean I got to stop buying strips at Thrift Stores?

Had trouble with two. One caused computer crashes 2-3 times a day. Thought it was the computer. Changed the strip for some reason and crashes went away.

The other, one receptacle (plug in) died. Took a day to figure that one out because every other circuit was working. .

 

[Griz3752]

I have a bunch of these on the electronics in the house.

Plus a whole house one in the breaker box.

seen good reviews on those when I was researching some other electrical components/issues

 

[night driver]

Yeah, if I have any REAL concerns I would go with Trip-Lite for a suppressor. And I don't say that cuz all of my current ones fell off a truck. I really prefer them. Even their consumer suppressors are dang near bomb-proof. I have experience with Commercial ones and, well, I never burned down a venue with them. Though they DO make purty light shows if they have to work

 

[Hfcomms]

Now that was a surge. They do have a shelf life on them. Capacitors dry out etc. Three or four years then time to change them out.

 

[Jackpine Savage]

The damage seemed to be contained to the device itself.

The "electrical system" really doesn't come into play.

It takes a lot of resistance to trip a 15a or 20a breaker.

I wonder if an arc fault circuit breaker might have tripped.

 

[West]

Even Walmart has them. I would buy from a wholesaler a bit cheaper....

Robot or human?

www.walmart.com

But this would be part of a home built one, if I was going to build my own.

A low voltage controller would be nice too. Something that would trip the strip if there was a voltage drop.

Voltage drops can kill stuff too. And it happens.

 

[kyrsyan]

Most of mine have been replaced in the past year. 4 of them with UPS units, to protect the electronics plugged into them even more.

 

[summerthyme]

Looks like something stuck thru the cord?

View attachment 305541

Looks like a staple!

Summerthyme