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From: hans@Shasta.STANFORD.EDU (Hans Mulder)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Surge Suppressors
Message-ID: <1094@Shasta.STANFORD.EDU>
Date: Tue, 6-Jan-87 21:14:06 EST
Article-I.D.: Shasta.1094
Posted: Tue Jan  6 21:14:06 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 7-Jan-87 02:59:27 EST
Organization: Stanford University
Lines: 37
Keywords: Power Supplies, Surge Suppressors, AC Power, PG&E


Recently I had a discussion at a local computer store about power surges
and other uncleanliness on the wall(AC) power.
They claimed that some of my problems with my harddisk (4 defects in 6 months)
were due to dirty power and that I should immediately buy a surge suppressor.
They basically claimed that the wall power is so bad that it can destroy
power supplies (and other parts of a computer).

I have serious doubts about their claim because of:
	1. Bad power can effect a computer twofold: 1. it makes the computer 
	crash, and/or corrupts data; 2. and/or it damages the computer. 
	Although it is arguable that these two effects are not hierarchical, 
	I find intuitively that if my Mac doesn't crash it is unlikely that 
	it gets damaged. My Mac rarely crashes or corrupts data for no reason.

	2. It is not only computers which have complicated sensitive power
	supplies. Does it mean that surge suppressors are needed for CD 
	players, computerized stereo equipment, etc, etc? Because those power 
	supplies need to be less reliable, aren't they  more likely to be
	damaged?

	3. If the store is right why don't hard disk manufacturers build-in 
	filters, suppressors etc. I doubt that they can invalidate the 
	waranty on the drive when it brakes because you don't have a surge 
	supressor.


Given the fact that my Mac rarely crashes because of unknown reason, do I
need a surge supressor or not? If I need one what are the important
facilities it should have? Are there ones which switch of the power in case
of power dips (something I can see the use of)?

All answers, and  pointers (to articles) appreciated.

Hans Mulder
ARPA: hans@umunhum.stanford.edu
UUCP: shasta!hans