Power Controllers
Typically, a surge suppressor is placed on the floor and out of sight of the user. A varia-
tion on the surge suppressor is the power controller, a.k.a. power station or power man-
ager. A power controller is typically placed either between the system unit and the
monitor on a deskto pPC or beneath the monitor and on the desk for tower-style cases.
The power controller (see Figure 23-2) has several electrical outlets on the back, each of
which is connected to a separate and dedicated on/off switch on the front. There is typi-
cally a master on/off switch as well. This design allows the PC user to control exactly
which devices are on or off at any time. The real benefit of power controllers is that they
nearly all have full surge suppression capabilities, and the surge suppression extends to
everyoutletontheunit.Manyalsohaveoneortwounswitchedoutletsthatallowdevices
to be on regardless of the status of the master on/off switch.Other Surge Suppressor Types
Other types of surge suppressors can be used to protect your system, including some that
protect your PC by protecting everything in the building. Here are a few other types of
surge suppressors available: Single outlet plug If you wish to plug a single device into a different circuit
so that it will be controlled by a different circuit breaker in the electrical control
panel of your home or office, you can use a single outlet plug.
Multiple outlet plug Should you wish to plug multiple devices directly into a
wall outlet, at least use what is known as a surge suppressing plug block. These
devices cost about $40 and usually have most of the features of the plug strip style
surge suppressor including the warranty and LEDs.
Whole building protection You can protect an entire building with a single
not-too-expensive device. One way to do this is to place a surge suppressor
between your electric meter and the main electrical supply to your building.
For about $80, you can stop many power surges and spikes before they enter
your house. Another way is to install what is called a “whole house” surge
suppressor. For about $200, your electric utility or a licensed local electrician can
install a unit that provides surge, spike, and electrical noise protection on both the
110 and 220-volt AC lines and the telephone and cable or satellite television feeds.
This device is installed in the main service panel of your building. However, these
devices do not provide any protection against noise problems that are generated
inside the building, so to be completely safe you would need to also use the plug
strip type of surge suppressor for your PC equipment.Line Conditioners
Line conditioners, also called power conditioners (see Figure 23-3), filter the electrical
stream to control surges and spikes and to eliminate any line electrical noise on the line.Chapter 23: Electrical Power Issues^607