Laptop -- Charging Brick -- Surge protector ???

[TenOC]

When my laptop is plugged into 110 volts and charging does the charging brick that changes the AC to DC provide protection against power surges and spikes?

Should I still have a surge suppressor in line with the charging brick? I have been told that most of the surge suppressors do not protect very well.

Since I only camp a few time a year, I do not want to invest into an expensive $$$ Surge Guard Automatic Transfer Switch.

[TurnThePage]

UPS for a device with a built in UPS, hmmm. Nah, none for me, thanks. If something is likely to die, I'm thinking it will be the brick. They're a dime a dozen these days. Get a powerstrip with surge protection if you really think you need it.

The last time I actually needed surge protection for my computer was over 20 years ago, when lightning struck a powerline, which definitely did ruin my day. As already pointed out, brownouts are more likely and the brick will deal with that fine. It's the rest of your RV you probably need to worry about.

[steveh27]

I no longer leave the dead battery in my laptop, but I do have a single plug surge protector. No problems. I also have a Progressive Industry EMS-PT30 for a campground power pedestal.

[sherlock62]

magicbus wrote:

sherlock62 wrote:

No, not a correct answer.

Hmmm... most helpful. The original question was "does the charging brick that changes the AC to DC provide protection against power surges and spikes?".

Simple answer, no it does not.

Of course any answers on this forum are simply a waste of bits and bytes because invariably we see 6 yes, 6 no and 6 maybe answers. Only very infrequently does someone post an explanation that survives public opinion unscathed.

Dave

My original reply stated "NO PROTECTION". My answer is still No Protection.

[magicbus]

sherlock62 wrote:

No, not a correct answer.

Hmmm... most helpful. The original question was "does the charging brick that changes the AC to DC provide protection against power surges and spikes?".

Simple answer, no it does not.

Of course any answers on this forum are simply a waste of bits and bytes because invariably we see 6 yes, 6 no and 6 maybe answers. Only very infrequently does someone post an explanation that survives public opinion unscathed.

Dave

[valhalla360]

ScottG wrote:

magicbus wrote:

A laptop already has this functionality built in as it has it's own internal battery.

Correct answer. The brick does not supply any protection however the laptop battery acting as a capacitor does absorb spikes and float through voltage drops, just like a UPS.

Dave

The power supply still has to endure those spikes so SP is still good.
BTW, a capacitor doesn't absorb spikes - it charges and then releases them.

Simpler and cheaper to just to carry a spare power cord for the laptop (including the brick).

Charging and then releasing the battery using the spike is what is meant by absorbing the spikes.

[sherlock62]

magicbus wrote:

A laptop already has this functionality built in as it has it's own internal battery.

Correct answer. The brick does not supply any protection however the laptop battery acting as a capacitor does absorb spikes and float through voltage drops, just like a UPS.

Dave

No, not a correct answer.

[ScottG]

magicbus wrote:

A laptop already has this functionality built in as it has it's own internal battery.

Correct answer. The brick does not supply any protection however the laptop battery acting as a capacitor does absorb spikes and float through voltage drops, just like a UPS.

Dave

The power supply still has to endure those spikes so SP is still good.
BTW, a capacitor doesn't absorb spikes - it charges and then releases them.

[magicbus]

A laptop already has this functionality built in as it has it's own internal battery.

Correct answer. The brick does not supply any protection however the laptop battery acting as a capacitor does absorb spikes and float through voltage drops, just like a UPS.

Dave

[wa8yxm]

Short answer is yes. It will protect the laptop. It may sacrafice itself but it will protect the laptop.

IF the voltage does too low it will not CHARGE the laptop however.

Also read the label.. Many modern chargers can handle the most common overvoltage rather well. I just checked the brick for THIS laptop. NO problem if I plug it into 240 volts. (Switching power supply it would actually run COOLER)

[sherlock62]

snipe:

monkey44 wrote:
We use a Cyberpower UPS.

I too use a Cyberpower UPS. The one I have is shown here at amazon.com.
I used to use APC UPS's but prefer Cyberpower these days.

[monkey44]

We use a Cyberpower UPS. It has four plugs that are battery backup and surge protected, and four that are simply surge protected. The battery backup allows you a short time to power-down without losing anything on a PC ...

The unit beeps a warning when it loses power, or has a large enough surge or low-voltage to bother your equipment. But it protects it as well.

[sherlock62]

TenOC wrote:

sherlock62 wrote:

With your laptop "charging brick" you have absolutely NO PROTECTION. Do buy a UPS and use it at home and in the RV. Here is a link to UPS's offered on amazon.com. You can find UPS's for about $60 on up. A UPS offers protection from low voltages, voltage surges, power outages and more.

I thought . . . :h . . . . that a UPS is simply a battery that supplies power if the main 110 volts goes out. It is to give you time to save your work so you do not lose it due to a power failure.

Yes, indeed, a decent UPS provides a battery to fall back on when there is a power outage but also protection from low voltages, voltage surges, noise and harmonic distortion.

[valhalla360]

TenOC wrote:

sherlock62 wrote:

With your laptop "charging brick" you have absolutely NO PROTECTION. Do buy a UPS and use it at home and in the RV. Here is a link to UPS's offered on amazon.com. You can find UPS's for about $60 on up. A UPS offers protection from low voltages, voltage surges, power outages and more.

I thought . . . :h . . . . that a UPS is simply a battery that supplies power if the main 110 volts goes out. It is to give you time to save your work so you do not lose it due to a power failure.

Depending on the design, it can smooth out the power as the AC runs a battery charger which charges the UPS battery and the UPS battery powers the computer. As long as the variation in the AC isn't big, the battery absorbs the differences.

A laptop already has this functionality built in as it has it's own internal battery.

It's big spikes that can be problematic. They can fry the charging brick or even cause the battery to be damaged. In extreme cases, electricity can do crazy things. Get a lightning strike that hits the grid nearby and all bets are off.

[GordonThree]

Low cost ups typically offer little for surge protection. You would be better served by a quality surge protector, look for clamping time lower the better and joules of protection higher the better.

[TenOC]

sherlock62 wrote:

With your laptop "charging brick" you have absolutely NO PROTECTION. Do buy a UPS and use it at home and in the RV. Here is a link to UPS's offered on amazon.com. You can find UPS's for about $60 on up. A UPS offers protection from low voltages, voltage surges, power outages and more.

I thought . . . :h . . . . that a UPS is simply a battery that supplies power if the main 110 volts goes out. It is to give you time to save your work so you do not lose it due to a power failure.