PSA: Don't Run Your Computer From A Gas-Powered Generator

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If you know someone in a storm area that perhaps just got a gas-powered generator, tell them not to hook up their computer to it. Gas generators have voltage that fluctuates wildly and will fry their computer.

Now, if you have a computer that runs only on gasoline, I'd like to see that.

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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Originally Posted by Joe Ditzel View Post

    If you know someone in a storm area that perhaps just got a gas-powered generator, tell them not to hook up their computer to it. Gas generators have voltage that fluctuates wildly and will fry their computer.

    Now, if you have a computer that runs only on gasoline, I'd like to see that.

    "I have to finish this Warrior forum post. It's almost on E!"
    I believe there's a certain type of surge controller that can handle this. Maybe all?
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Joe Ditzel View Post

    If you know someone in a storm area that perhaps just got a gas-powered generator, tell them not to hook up their computer to it. Gas generators have voltage that fluctuates wildly and will fry their computer.

    Now, if you have a computer that runs only on gasoline, I'd like to see that.

    "I have to finish this Warrior forum post. It's almost on E!"



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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    A typical generator is not safe for most electronics - but an inverter generator is safe for computers and other electronics. Here's an article that does a good job of explaining the difference.

    http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect....ted-Noise.html
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Surge controllers are overhyped. They MIGHT be good in a pinch for big surges that happen infrequently, and often just once. A REAL UPS would do it though. A REAL UPS is basically a charger, battery, and inverter. The switchover time is 0ns. ALSO, there are high power regulators, which I believe the best are from tripplite. On their LOW END product, one of the features is "Maintains usable 120V (+10%/-12%) nominal output over an input range of 89 to 147V".

    I worked with dec on some contracts, and they TESTED power before installing the big systems. If it failed, they DEMANDED you use this type of device, though it was always a nice to have. Surge protectors MIGHT handle noise. Within a time that may be TOO SLOW, they MIGHT HANDLE a big surge. A conditioner like this does that AND conditions the power. A major power fluctuation CAN hurt a computer, but a surge protector won't help.

    Steve
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