Do not invest on power strips

doggie750 · February 2011

Had a APC (http://www.amazon.com/APC-PER7-Personal-SurgeArrest-Protector/dp/B00000J3WW/ref=sr_1_19?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1298771771&sr=1-19) and did not work!

Neutral failure occurred caused an unbalanced circuit 208V & 50V, the strip did not protect as its stated.

just an FYI

m1aman · February 2011

So nobody should buy one because one failed?

ben62670 · February 2011

Where did 208 and 50vac come from. I think you have bigger issues than a power strip. Power strips don't bump up the voltage.

txcoastal1 · February 2011

My motto is you get what you pay for most of the time $12.99 for protection is like relying on a condom that been your wallet since high school

nooshinjohn · February 2011

txcoastal1 wrote: »

My motto is you get what you pay for most of the time $12.99 for protection is like relying on a condom that been your wallet since high school

If you have a condom in your wallet since high school, you have something far more serious going on that any mortal could possibly fix, except maybe a plastic surgeon.:biggrin:

RuSsMaN · February 2011

Maybe it needs an airhole?

txcoastal1 · February 2011

nooshinjohn wrote: »

If you have a condom in your wallet since high school, you have something far more serious going on that any mortal could possibly fix, except maybe a plastic surgeon.:biggrin:

Moral to the story was 1 those times when you needed one and the one in your wallet was a POS**t and she left you :eek:hangin

txcoastal1 · February 2011

RuSsMaN wrote: »

Maybe it needs an airhole?

Now that was the problem

F1nut · February 2011

I wouldn't rely on a $12.99 power strip to protect my toaster, never mind any gear.

ben62670 · February 2011

Is your toaster modified, or stock? I upgraded the electrolytics in mine to Black Gates, replaced the wire with silver plated copper Teflon insulated, and replaced the resistors with Mill's. The toast doesn't cook any faster, but with some burn-in time the aroma of the toast has been much improved as is the texture. I came to the same conclusion using Rye and Wheat. It made no difference with Wonder Bread. I guess garbage in is garbage out.

McLoki · February 2011

a few years ago, the light pole just outside my fathers house was hit by lightning. Anything in the house plugged into even the cheapest 3.99 surge strip survived, anything plugged directly into the wall died. (microwave, refrigerator, a few clock radios and most of the surge strips)

For the issue you are talking about, you really want a voltage regulator, not a power strip. They are not cheap, but can save your equipment from odd power issues like what you describe.

Michael

(BTW - I am not endorsing using cheap surge strips to protect anything valuable, but in the one case I have seen where they were needed, they worked much better than anticipated)

RuSsMaN · February 2011

Nothing will protect against a direct lightning hit, nothing. Well, short of unplugging and moving the plug at least a foot away from the outlet. That's what we do in Tornado Alley.

F1nut · February 2011

ben62670 wrote: »

Is your toaster modified, or stock?

It's stock, made in 1945. I bought it used for $5.00, took it completely apart, checked and cleaned everything to like new. It's the best toaster I have ever used and has worked flawlessly to this day.

Lietuvis91 · February 2011

ben62670 wrote: »

Is your toaster modified, or stock? I upgraded the electrolytics in mine to Black Gates, replaced the wire with silver plated copper Teflon insulated, and replaced the resistors with Mill's. The toast doesn't cook any faster, but with some burn-in time the aroma of the toast has been much improved as is the texture. I came to the same conclusion using Rye and Wheat. It made no difference with Wonder Bread. I guess garbage in is garbage out.

Hahaha! ROLF!
Good stuff...

mrbigbluelight · February 2011

Just curious about the 208v.
Does your wall outlet actually have 3-wires going to it ? Hot, neutral, and a ground ?
Not "does your wall outlet have 3 slots for a hot, neutral, and ground ?".

Just curious.

kawizx9r · February 2011

Ben, did you add an IEC socket so you can utilize an upgraded power cable?

headrott · February 2011

F1nut wrote: »

It's stock, made in 1945. I bought it used for $5.00, took it completely apart, checked and cleaned everything to like new. It's the best toaster I have ever used and has worked flawlessly to this day.

Needless to say, it's not made in China huh Jesse?

Greg

mrbigbluelight · February 2011

headrott wrote: »

Needless to say, it's made in China huh Comrade?

Greg

Fixed it for you.

ben62670 · February 2011

kawizx9r wrote: »

Ben, did you add an IEC socket so you can utilize an upgraded power cable?

Of coarse I did silly. The PC is a 2 gage 3 conductor shielded cable with a twist lock 30 amp connector on the wall. It is on its own dedicated 30 amp circuit with a cryo treated circuit breaker. Best toast you will ever have. BTW my toaster also is tube rectified and modded to run on DC. The toast has a much smoother organic flavor to it and yet is still crisp.

falconcry72 · February 2011

All this "upgraded" or "boutique" toaster talk is nonsense. It's snake oil, and all based on the marketing campaigns of high-end toaster companies conceived to make you spend more money on unecessary toaster mods and accessories.

It's well documented in blind taste tests that 9 out of 10 chefs can't tell the difference between toast made in an easy bake oven and toast made in the ultra expensive novelty toasters.

Any perceived benefit from using expensive toasters is pure placebo, so as a warning to any newbs, DO NOT LET THESE SENSELESS CULT TOASTER GUYS TRICK YOU INTO BUYING WORTHLESS EXPENSIVE TOASTERS!!!

ben62670 · February 2011

And that is the typical response that I would expect from someone who has only had toast out of a WalMart $10 toaster:mad:

falconcry72 · February 2011

ben62670 wrote: »

And that is the typical response that I would expect from someone who has only had toast out of a WalMart $10 toaster:mad:

well the way I see it is that there is no need to try any of the boutiqe, high-end toasters for myself, because I believe everything I read, and that's a lot easier than the alternative of spending the time, money, and effort it takes to do my own research.

ben62670 · February 2011

So what you are saying is if the toast cooks in 3.14 minutes in both toasters the toast will taste the same?

falconcry72 · February 2011

ben62670 wrote: »

So what you are saying is if the toast cooks in 3.14 minutes in both toasters the toast will taste the same?

Yes. If it measure the same, it will taste the same. The subjectiveness and flawed nature of the human tongue/palette is no match for the objectiveness and perfection of thermometers and a stop watch.

disneyjoe7 · February 2011

About the power strip, not the best... But something is better then nothing.

BTW I seen more problems with lightening in Florida, with Cable wires to a tuner then the AC input. So if you're going to remove the power cable, remove the ant cable also.

drselect · February 2011

ben62670 wrote: »

The toast doesn't cook any faster, but with some burn-in time the aroma of the toast has been much improved as is the texture. I came to the same conclusion using Rye and Wheat. It made no difference with Wonder Bread. I guess garbage in is garbage out.

Whats the units of measure for texture? And were u blindfolded when you did your test?

Polkersince85 · February 2011

Is it better to use a two-slot integrated toaster or dual mono-slots. I've heard that the mono setup provides cleaner and crispier edges.

nooshinjohn · February 2011

falconcry72 wrote: »

Yes. If it measure the same, it will taste the same. The subjectiveness and flawed nature of the human tongue/palette is no match for the objectiveness and perfection of thermometers and a stop watch.

While I could agree with your statement if those were the only variables at play, I find that the type of bread used, and the thickness of the slice itself have much to do with the quality of the taste and texture of the toast itself. Timers and thermometers have no place in this discussion once all the other factors are known.

High end "toastophile" gear tend to provide greater consistency, and better visual and nasal pleasure, but here to, the law of deminishing returns applies after a certain point. Is it worth the extra $1.99 to go to the next level? Only your pallet and more importantly, your wallet can decide.

Trust your senses and you will achieve the best toast.

nooshinjohn · February 2011

Polkersince85 wrote: »

Is it better to use a two-slot integrated toaster or dual mono-slots. I've heard that the mono setup provides cleaner and crispier edges.

I prefer more vintage methods of toasting. I butter both sides of the bread first, seasoning to taste, then toasting the bread on an iron flatplate over a gas burner. This allows for "toast-rolling" and experimentation to achieve the best result. This method is not for everyone, and works best with thicker slices, but with some experience, it will produce the tastiest results.

Flatplates RULE!

falconcry72 · February 2011

nooshinjohn wrote: »

I prefer more vintage methods of toasting. I butter both sides of the bread first, seasoning to taste, then toasting the bread on an iron flatplate over a gas burner. This allows for "toast-rolling" and experimentation to achieve the best result. This method is not for everyone, and works best with thicker slices, but with some experience, it will produce the tastiest results.

Flatplates RULE!

yea, I've been thinking about getting into flatplate toasting, but I've been putting it off; I'm a little intimidated. I mean, I feel like I've just gotten good at regular electric toasting, and if I start down the flatplate road it's going to take a lot more research, time, and money, so, for now, I'm just going to sit back and enjoy my toast; I'm making better toast now than I ever have, but I know it won't be long until I want to tweak the recipe.

nooshinjohn · February 2011

falconcry72 wrote: »

yea, I've been thinking about getting into flatplate toasting, but I've been putting it off; I'm a little intimidated. I mean, I feel like I've just gotten good at regular electric toasting, and if I start down the flatplate road it's going to take a lot more research, time, and money, so, for now, I'm just going to sit back and enjoy my toast; I'm making better toast now than I ever have, but I know it won't be long until I want to tweak the recipe.

The flatplate rabbit hole is not for everyone, but it is very satisfying and well worth the effort. You can start small as most of us have, by using a decent "non-stick" type of frying pan. I should let you know however, that once you start toasting this way, it is nearly impossible to go back to other methods, and "flatplate snobery" soon takes over. For me, regular toasters and the "toasterettes" that use them are either to inexperienced to know better, or just to lazy to care. Either way, I have no need to listen to their drivel about upgrades to their current methods, as none of them taste, smell or look better than a properly toasted piece of bread from a flatplate.

Flatplates RULE!

Do not invest on power strips

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