Does an AC adapter act as a surge protector?

Does an AC adapter act as a surge protector?

I'm going to do a lot of traveling with my 13.3 inch Vaio SZ680 and am curious if I'm in some sketchy countgry and there is a power surge, which will fry? My AC adapter? Or my poor Vaio? Or both?

Or should I just buy a little travel surge protector? And if so, which should I buy?

 

Buying a surge protector is recommended.
I use this APC Essential SurgeArrest 1 Outlet W/Tel 120V.
It's pretty cheap and small. You just plug it into the wall and plug your computer's power to it.

You can also have a look at the other notebook surge protectors by APC.

 

Actually, you can plug your surge protector INTO your travel adapter and then plug your laptop into the surge protector. In actuality, your AC adapter may have a switchable 110/220 setting (like most common portable electronics) but you won't be protected from surges. Go to a Brookstone near you and pick up a travel surge protector or get a surge protector that you can plug into a travel adapter.

 

Hmm, I'm surprised it doesn't act as a surge protector... I dunno why though. Ok thanks so much guys, and thanks for the links!

 

Why would you be surprised it doesn't act as a surge protector? A Desktop computer's power supply doesn't act as one, nor does a VCR, amongst other electronic equipment

Manufacturers want to make money you know, and if it means you buying more than one item from them then they're more than happy to comply.

Protection of one's property IS and has Always been up to the owner.

N.B. *Not all things that look like surge protectors - actually are surge protectors.. when shopping for surge protectors, make sure to look that the unit in question is approved as one; you can tell this buy looking for the UL1449 approval on the unit itself or the packaging.

*OR*

You can just rely upon the world's leading manufacturer in Computer protection products -> American Power Conversion, more widely known just as APC (i.e. when you pick up almost anything bearing the APC brand, you can almost entirely be sure that it has surge protection, barring the little nik-nack usb wires, etc. that they've recently started selling)

Check out either of these two offerings depending on whether your AC adapter is a 2 or 3 pronged unit:

PnoteproC6 (3 pronged)
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=PNOTEPROC6

PnoteproC8 (2 pronged)
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=PNOTEPROC8

Besides providing power protection, it's also hassle free as both units come with a velcro belt that goes through a loop on the unit and ties directly to your ac adapter - therefore ensuring no cord messes and that you're always protected.

- Jordan

 

This isn't exactly true. By definition a computer power supply is acting like a psuedo surge surpressor in that it is lowering a voltage that is to high for the unit to a usable and safe voltage.

A computer power supply takes AC line voltage runs it through a rectifier, which basically takes the positive cycles of alternating and converts it to DC. The DC is still too high for the computer, so it is regulated to lower voltages for the PC.

I don't agree with this. It's a cost/usefulness issue that every manufacturer faces.

Wholeheartedly agree with this!

This is good advice. Generally stay away from common(cheap) power strip "surge" suppressors. These usually use MOSFETs as a suppression device, which, while somewhat affective, degrade over time with NO indication. Meaning you can have one that has a destroyed MOSFET and have no indications. The MOSFETs are damaged a little by each and every surge.

Nothing is going to save anything from a direct or near lightning strike, except something completely unplugged from everything.

 

I was thinking of trying this out when I get my V2S. If I even bother to use any kind of surge protection to use outside my home (since there's surge protected power strips on half the outlets in my home), something small like this would be the way I go.

 

Without going into explicit details for the typical user (so as to not make things too complicated), while technically a PSU DOES have the ability to normalize (to some extent) low power or high power conditions - it Does Not protect against surges - at least not for long before it goes bust

All in all, the PSU wasn't designed as a surge protector and *Does Not* act as one (i.e. won't really protect your computer, as it wasn't designed to) - even though it does have some surge suppressive/electrical regulating features..

Precisely what I was talking about, most manufacturers these days try to cut cost anywhere, and since power protection isn't mandatory for the operation of a computer, they don't bother including it; thus, in essence if your computer gets busted, and they get to sell you another - naturally they'd be happy to

- Jordan

 

erm..that's precisely just how small the APC units are..but yea, I personally wouldn't put much confidence in something made by some obsecure company versus Just the biggest Computer Protection Manufacturer around..

- Jordan

 

I have to agree with the APC recomendations. I would also go beyond getting just a surge protector and move up to an UPS. If you will be in areas that will have questionable power, you don't want too little voltage either. An UPS will ensure you have what you need...not too much, not too little.

 

If it isn't explicitly advertised as a surge protector, assume it is not one.

 

Hmm, although it may not be super fancy I found an international plug adapter that is also a surge protector.

I am going to Japan (in 2 days ^_^) and wanted a surge protector. For about $10 I get one and also a plug adapter so I can bring it to whatever country I want in the world and use it. It is small and does the job for a single device.

You could probably find one at your local Target or Walmart in the travel area, thats where I found mine.

 

Just keep in mind what someone said above. APC is high quality. You don't usually get that from Target and Walmart (if ever). There's a reason APC is the choice for many people and that's quality.

 

Actually, the Rocketfish brand is owned by Best Buy. If you do a little investigating, you will find that they offer NO protection guarantee (ie. the $5,000-75,000 system replacement offer) with this product. I too would stick with APC or Belkin. I have used APC and been happy with their prodcuts. I did lose a laptop (with an APC surge protector connected to it) from a direct lightning strike to my apartment; the surge protector was fried; the laptop's hard drive was completely wiped clean, but the APC surge protector took the brunt of the strike (it literally melted). Every appliance in the apartment was ruined. Dell replaced the laptop.