Surge protector ratings vs computer setup?

Deusfaux

So a bunch of the surge protectors I'm looking at to pick out for a friend's computer have ratings in the form of joules, like 1300 of them.

How do you determine which one will do the job properly?

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/subclass.asp?catid=20195&mfr=&logon=&langid=EN&sort=2&page=1&list=

He'll have a 24" lcd, 200 watt PC speakers, 520 W PSU supplied PC, and possibly a few other minor things plugged into it (like a desk lamp maybe or phone).

I thought I would have to look for ones that went by wattage and had a total higher than all his stuff totalled up. Maybe I just need to do some unit conversions?

Helps pleases.

embrik

I believe the joules rating is more of how large of a surge the protector can protect against before it does damage to connected equipment, not a measure of how much you can plug into it.

Kriz

get a belkin. they have a warranty that insures your equipment should a surge damage it while using their protectors (at least in America. you probably want to double check that they offer it in Canada).

Sabre

The joule number on a surge protector does indeed measure the size of the surge it can withstand before crapping out. Just remember that this is one of those areas where you will (within reason) get what you pay for. And no surge protector warranty covers lightning damage, at least none that I've ever seen. Really, they're not meant to, but some people seem to believe that a $5 surge protector from Wal-Mart can withstand a direct strike from lightning.

Scorched silicon reeks. Don't be like those people.

Deusfaux

So how much should I make him spend?

Demerdar

Go with the cheapest one you can find imo. Yea surge protectors can protect your equipment if something were to happen to it, however, the chances are pretty small something will happen. That and I'm sure you'd rather keep the extra socket cost to a minimum.

taliosfalcon

theoretically if your house is wired properly a lightning strike shouldn't damage anything plugged into outlets anyway..theoretically (assuming its not a really old house)

Sabre

There's a $20 AMS surge protector on that Bestbuy link, Deus. I have either that one or the 18 dollar one, and it's lasted me quite some time. Really, you just want a decently made one that won't cause problems on its own.