The power strip that supports this Windows 11 desktop

mackie · Apr 7, 2023

A few days ago, after I returned home, I went into the room that has the desktop, and I smelled something like burned plastic or insulation.

I could see from a distance that the tv and cable set-top box lights were off and when I got to the pc, it had no power. The light on the power strip was off, and the burnt smell was coming from the power strip. All those devices were plugged into the strip.

I have had this and other power strips (like the one with the Windows 10 and a few other devices) in other parts of the house, but I do not ever remember changing them as a matter of safety. So they had been in place for I don't know how many years. I have since replaced them all. A couple of articles that I read recommended that they be replaced every 3 or so years. I was lucky that none of the devices plugged in were affected.

Just wondering if and when people here replace them as a matter of precaution or if it is an item taken for granted like in my previous case. I am now a believer in periodic replacement.

Winuser · Apr 7, 2023

I have to admit that as long as they are working, I don't even think about them. For my desktop I use a uninterrupted power supply. IMHO, the main thing is to never overload them. I still shake my head in disbelief when I see thing like 100' extension cords that use 16 gauge wire.

mackie · Apr 7, 2023

I’m pretty sure they had been around since Vista days. For me, it was just another reminder that nothing lasts forever……. not even power strips. The articles recommending that they be replaced periodically was something I had not heard before. Smelling a burnt electrical substance has made a believer out of me though.

NavyLCDR · Apr 7, 2023

Do you replace all the wall outlets periodically? This is the outlet we commonly used on US Navy ships. Notice it is made with standard house outlets and has a circuit breaker.

pparks1 · Apr 7, 2023

i don't change out power strips regularly. Whenever I remove one that isn't currently needed, it just goes into a box in the basement where I would turn to in the event in the future I needed a power strip. I bet some in my house are 20+ years old.

Jamis · Apr 7, 2023

I don't replace power strips unless they fail. The ones (3) in the desk with the PC and all of the network hardware have been there since before W95 and all work just fine. There are two strips in the entertainment center cabinet that are at least 15 years old, except for one that is a replacement for one that quit working a few years ago. I have a power strip that powers the outside Christmas lights and it is well over 20 years old, but it's only used outside from November thru January. I actually have a two pack of strips in the shop that are for quick replacement should one in use fail. Like nearly everything these days, new strips were hard to find in stores during the pandemic, so I stocked up when I found some on the store shelves. Now I just have to remember where I stored them.

glasskuter · Apr 7, 2023

Winuser said:
IMHO, the main thing is to never overload them

I second this but don't overload your house circuit either. When I set up my office in a spare room, I purchased 2 high quality surge protectors to run my stuff, and I have a lot of it. I was running these surge protectors off of 2 AC outlets. I even had a power strip plugged into one of the surge protectors so I could plug in more stuff.. My husband ranted that I was going to burn the house down. I discovered the entire room worked off one 20a circuit breaker that was also shared with the lights and outlets in the garage...One of the pleasures of living in an old house. You can buy the highest quality surge protector out there but the house circuit you attach them to is just as important depending on the demands of the stuff you have.

kgarrett67 · Apr 7, 2023

As a retired fire marshal, power strips are generally fine. However, make sure you are buying a power strip that is UL listed, has over current protection (separate than surge protection), and has a grounded plug. Always plug the power strip directly into a wall receptacle and not into an extension cord. Never daisy change power strips to gain length.

Ghot · Apr 7, 2023

mackie said:
A few days ago, after I returned home, I went into the room that has the desktop, and I smelled something like burned plastic or insulation.

I could see from a distance that the tv and cable set-top box lights were off and when I got to the pc, it had no power. The light on the power strip was off, and the burnt smell was coming from the power strip. All those devices were plugged into the strip.

I have had this and other power strips (like the one with the Windows 10 and a few other devices) in other parts of the house, but I do not ever remember changing them as a matter of safety. So they had been in place for I don't know how many years. I have since replaced them all. A couple of articles that I read recommended that they be replaced every 3 or so years. I was lucky that none of the devices plugged in were affected.

Just wondering if and when people here replace them as a matter of precaution or if it is an item taken for granted like in my previous case. I am now a believer in periodic replacement.

Just get a Tripp-lite Isobar power strip from Amazon, and you won't need to worry about replacing...

Some thing like this, maybe...
Tripp-lite Power Strips
I recommend the Isobar versions, but all the Tripp-lite stuff is top of the line.

They also have units like this... with USB charging ports... Tripp-lite Surge Protector
Or this... Tripp-lite individually switched Surge Protector

I notice someone also mentioned the Belkin units... they too are quality strips.

Edwin · Apr 7, 2023

I just wish power bar manufacturers would get with the program and make roomier bars, seeing as so many devices now come with great big, honkin transforms at the plug base!

Ghot · Apr 7, 2023

Edwin said:
I just wish power bar manufacturers would get with the program and make roomier bars, seeing as so many devices now come with great big, honkin transforms at the plug base!

View attachment 57373

They offer a simple solution as well... This... or maybe... THIS

Tripp-lite... has you covered, with... This bad boy...
Or... This monster...

Or... This...

mackie · Apr 7, 2023

Years ago, when our electric company offered whole home surge protection, I had it installed. It provides protection for all the appliances and electrical devices in the house from external surges. I don’t remember the brand name of the power strip that failed. Not one I recognized. I imagine the burning smell came from something corrupted in its internal circuitry as opposed to from an external surge. The others that I replaced, that were undamaged, were old Belkins strips. They’re boxed up.

bobkn · Apr 7, 2023

Cheap surge protectors commonly use sacrificial components called MOVs (metal oxide varistors).

Some claim that all MOVs risk burning your house down.

I haven't had one burn up, yet. (I refer to the MOV, not my house.

)

MisterEd · Apr 7, 2023

When I set up my computer room I worried about power in it because my house is over 60 years old. Even though the outlets have three connections I don't know if they are all properly grounded.

I had an electrician run a new circuit with new outlets just for this room. Note I sometime use the existing outlets but mainly depend upon the new ones. I have 5 desktop computers in the room plus a printer, scanner, and Internet Gateway. I have never had a problem having everything powered up at one time.

Two of the computers and the Internet Gateway have their own APC UPSs. Everything else is either plugged into an outlet or a Tripp Lite Surge Protector Power Strip. One of the strips has a 12-foot cord so I run it across the room and still plug it into an outlet.

MisterEd · Apr 7, 2023

bobkn said:
Cheap surge protectors commonly use sacrificial components called MOVs (metal oxide varistors).

Some claim that all MOVs risk burning your house down.

I haven't had one burn up, yet. (I refer to the MOV, not my house. )

You are right that MOVs are sacrificial components. They are supposed to fail during a large power surge. After that happens you no longer have surge protection and are supposed to replace the power strip. The problem is most especially cheap one don't warn you when that happens. Good surge protection power strips have an LED indicator that lets you know that the MOV is OK and still giving protection.