Power Strip Makes Popping Noise

[Robinette Ith]

Ibought a surge-protecting power bar yesterday. It's a seven-outlet model, made by American Power Conversion Corp.; I found it at the thrift store for $4 second-hand. It appeared to be in decent condition, though I did drop it a few feet onto the hard floor shortly after buying it.

Edit: I experimented by plugging the AC adapter into a wall outlet, and unplugging it, a number of times. It indeed sometimes does make a spark and a "pop" sound. I plugged a couple of things into the surge suppressor. It's still working as expected. I'm keeping the surge suppressor. Thanks to Pigrew's answer, I now think the "pop" sound was normal. Pigrew, thank you very much for your answer; I've upvoted and accepted it.

Popping sounds are generally either a sound from a spark, or a failure of an electronic component. They do not always mean that something failed. For example, plugging in electronics that use lots of power will often cause a small spark to form when plugging them in. As an example, my Lenovo laptop power adapter will often make a sparking noise when I plug it into an outlet and it is not a cause for concern.

But, sometimes noises do indicate failures, for example when a capacitor, MOV or IC explodes. You could also hear a click when a circuit breaker trips, but this would cause a circuit in your house to be no longer be energized. Some power bars also have internal circuit breakers, which can also make a click when they trip.

In your case, I'd first say that a used surge suppressor probably may not provide much protection for your electronics. If you are concerned about surges, you should look into verifying that your house has a good ground, installing a whole-house surge suppressor, using quality surge suppressors where your electronics are installed on both the power lines and data lines such as telephone or CATV. Surge suppressors do age, and can only handle a certain amount of surge during their lifetime. Ensure that new surge suppressors meet the new UL standard 1449 v3 by checking for a holographic sticker that says "Surge Protection Device".

2) This should be safe. Any over currents should be protected by your house's circuit breakers, and a lamp is a pretty "robust" device that wouldn't be seriously damaged by a bad power supply (though the bulb may burn out). That said, do this in an area where if the power strip catches fire, it won't damage anything, and you could quickly pull the plug out of the wall socket if something bad happens. Don't put water on an electrical fire.

3) As I said above, the power bar may not provide significant surge protection, especially now that it may have failed. You may want to dismantle it (while it is unplugged) and see if there are any burnt/charred/damaged components.

I built my very first PC a couple of years back, and it was powered by a Corsair RM650x. However, after about a year of using the PC, when I switched the extension block on, the Corsair PSU would make like a crackling/pop noise. And sometimes, flashes of light, as if the PSU was arching.

Since then, I have used the RMA service to receive a brand new RM650x from Corsair and I purchased a brand new surge protected Belkin extension block. However, about another year or so later, I am now starting to have the exact same problem all over again...

The Belkin extension block is plugged into the wall, behind my desk (socket is hard to reach, so it is left always on), however the extension block itself has its own switch. This gets switched off every time I am finished using my PC. However, when I come back to use my PC the next time and switch the extension block back on, I get this crackling/popping noise coming from like the back of the PSU, and sometimes a little arch - like flash of light (exact same as last time).

I personally would avoid using the switch on a power strip or similar to energize/de-energize a PC power supply. It probably should be supported and be reliable, but based on my understanding of how these things work, you are improving the reliability of the power supply by leaving it energized all the time. It is a laws of physics thing and not a result of Corsair's design philosophy.

I purchased an APC power saving surge arrest at Circuit City and whenever I log onto my laptop th surge arrest unit makes an odd clicking noise. The clicking noise happens when I type on the keyboard more so than when I'm not typing. The computer is brand new(gateway) Any ideas?

Do you have the model number for the surge protector?

At first glance it sounds like you have one of the new G surge protectors which have the master controlled outlet for the laptop and then the controlled outlets for peripherals...

If that's the case, while the Surge protector is on and the laptop is on, the power draw from the laptop is so minimal that it's stabilizing exactly at the trigger point for the controlled outlets to turn on and off... You may want to plug the laptop into another outlet on the surge strip to see if the problem continues.

Power strips are incredibly useful devices that allow us to power multiple electronic devices simultaneously. They provide additional outlets and protect our devices from power surges. However, you may have noticed that some power strips can make strange noises. These noises can range from a subtle buzzing sound to a loud crackling noise, which can be quite alarming.

In this article, we will explore the reasons behind power strip noise and how you can troubleshoot and fix this issue. Understanding the cause of the noise is essential, as it can help prevent potential damage to both your electronic devices and the power strip itself.

A power strip, also known as an extension cord or power board, is essentially a long electrical cord with multiple outlets attached to it. It allows you to plug in and power several devices simultaneously using a single power source. Most power strips also include surge protection, which safeguards your devices from voltage spikes and potential damage.

Power strips are essential tools in our modern electrical setups. They provide us with convenient access to multiple electrical outlets, allowing us to power multiple devices at once. Understanding how power strips work can help us better grasp the reasons behind the noise they may produce.

A power strip is essentially an extension cord with multiple outlets attached to it. It acts as a hub, allowing you to connect and power several devices simultaneously using a single power source. Depending on the model, power strips can have a varying number of outlets, ranging from four to ten or more.

In addition to providing increased access to electrical outlets, many power strips also include surge protection. Surge protection is a crucial feature that safeguards your electronic devices from voltage surges or spikes, which can occur due to lightning strikes or fluctuations in the power grid. Surge protectors are designed to absorb and redirect excess voltage, keeping your devices safe.

Power Surge: A power surge occurs when there is a sudden increase in electrical voltage, usually lasting for a brief moment. Power surges can be caused by lightning strikes, downed power lines, or electrical malfunctions. When a power surge happens, the power strip acts as a protective barrier and redirects the excess voltage away from your connected devices. During this process, the power strip may emit noise as it controls the surge. This noise can range from a subtle click or hum to a noticeable crackling sound. Power strips with surge protection are designed to handle these surges effectively.

Intermittent Noise: When the connections within a power strip are loose, they can create small gaps where electricity can arc or jump, resulting in an intermittent crackling sound. The noise is often more noticeable when the power strip or connected devices are moved or when there is a change in electrical current flow. Over time, the arcing can cause damage to the power strip and increase the risk of electrical fires.

Continuous Noise: In some cases, loose connections can create a constant buzzing or hissing noise. This noise is typically caused by the electrical current passing through the gaps or loose components within the power strip. Continuous noise is a clear indication of a potential hazard and should be addressed promptly to prevent further damage.

Electromagnetic Fields: Each electronic device connected to a power strip generates its own electromagnetic field. When these fields interact, they can produce vibrations or electrical disturbances that result in audible noise. The noise is particularly noticeable when devices with different power requirements or varying levels of electrical grounding are connected to the same power strip.

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