Do Regular Power Strips Cut Off Phantom Power?

[orleans]

as long as they have an off switch? or can only a surge protector cut off the power completely?

i was reading a kids book on global warming and they differentiate between the two:

"for all your appliances that you keep in one spot .. get a surge protector. these are the long, funny-looking things with eight outlets for plugs that work like a normal power strip, only they're more efficient because they have an off switch that completely cuts off power from plugged-in appliances. at the end of the day, turn off the surge protector."

(by the way--it's a GREAT book: the down-to-earth guide to global warming by laurie david and cambria gordon)

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. I don't know, but found this interesting article

http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/transformers.html

[orleans]

5. when i first learned about that power drain i learned it as

"vampire power"
then "phantom power"
then "standby power"
then "phantom load"

jeez. i wish we could settle on a single term.

[bad_robbie]

11. Phantom power

I'd vote against using the term "phantom power" for this effect, since that phrase is already used by audio engineers. It's the name of the practice of powering microphones by putting 48VDC on the audio lines to eliminate the need for a battery in the mic. It has a longer history than I was aware of, used in telephones and other equipment, too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_power

[phantom power]

12. I think the term was confused with "phantom load"

[orleans]

17. wow--speak of the devil, eh? "phantom power" & phantom power! n/t

[phantom power]

18. phantom power for a phantom future...

[orleans]

16. thanks robbie. belated welcome to du. (you don't seem so bad to me) (smile) n/t

[bananas]

2. Yes, if it has an off switch.

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. And you turn it off ;-)

(Sorry... I couldn't help myself.)

[Dead_Parrot]

3. If they have a switch, yes

The switch on a normal power strip (or the wall socket, if it's sort that has them) are honest-to-goodness mechanical switches that kill the juice. Or, of course, you can pull the plug. That's what I do when I go to bed, thereby killing the "standby" drains on my main PC, router, wireless access point, laptop, printer, USB hub, phone charger, camera charger, DVD player, video player, PS2, and TV.

Of course, why I have a PC, router, wireless access point, laptop, printer, USB hub, phone charger, camera charger, DVD player, video player, PS2, and TV all hanging off one wall socket is another question. Thank god Americium is radioactive... :D

[orleans]

4. *one* wall socket? whoo--don't get too hot there. n/t

[Dead_Parrot]

7. Funnily enough, it's less than 13A all in.

The first of my daisy-chained power strips has a curcuit breaker (I'm not totally insane) that doesn't pop unless I make a serious effort...

[Nihil]

8. Think there is an intrinsic translation problem at play ...

If you are running it from a single 13A supply then it sounds like you're
on a standard 220/240v supply down there in NZ (as we are in the UK)
but I'd guess that the previous poster is a 110/120v US user ... who would
need more like 26A at the socket to provide the same capability as your
outlet at full load ...

:-)

[tech3149]

6. would 30+ years in electronics provide a valued opinion?

If so, I will say that any power strip with a switch is good enough. A surge protector is designed to limit excess voltage or current that might damage the connected equipment. Most surge protectors have some means of indicating status. If that is LED's or some audible signal, they will be a phantom power draw.

[OKIsItJustMe]

10. Oh, sure... bring expertise into the discussion!

For a much more expensive, but gee-whiz approach, try a GreenSwitch.

[kestrel91316]

13. Don't believe anything that "expert" says!!!!!1!!!11!!1!!

He's obviously just a paid corporate shill!!!!!!!!
(said with much shrieking and frothing at the mouth)

[FREEWILL56]

14. I'm not a corporate shill, but I can say he is right.

If it has a switch, it will shut it all off regardless if surge protected or not.

[kestrel91316]

15. I thought with the "!!!!1!!1!!!11!" part i wouldn't need the sarcasm thingie......