Surge protectors : Gator Byte

Since so many people around here have have had various computer parts fried in the recent thunderstorms I figured it was time to track down some decent surge protectors to keep in stock. Although I make more profit by selling people new parts than I will by selling them a surge protector, I realize that most people can’t just drop a couple hundred bucks to get their rig up and running again on such short notice.

A lot of people are just using a regular cheap $5 power strip with the on/off button, thinking that if lightning strikes nearby that little thing will keep their computer safe. In most cases, they are wrong. The first major problem with the cheapies is that they don’t offer protection for your cable or phone lines, so even though the power cord for your computer may be ’safe’, if the cable line gets hit, something is still going to get fried by the surge coming in through your modem or network card.

I’ve ordered some Belkin surge protectors that should be in stock tomorrow. They’re not super high-end, retailing for $35, but it’s definitely a safer option than the $5 ones. They have 8 outlets and jacks for Co-ax cable, but make sure to run the cable through the strip before it goes into the modem, otherwise you could end up with no internet for a few days while waiting for a replacement.