Computer fried despite being behind brand new APC Back-UPS Pro 550VA BR550GI

[Anonymous user]

One of our computers was destroyed by a power surge despite being hooked up to a brand new APC Back-UPS Pro 550VA BR550GI. This happened when our hybrid electrical car was plugged in and charging. Apparently the charging of the electrical car generated some kind of power surge in our office building and one of our computers didn't survive it. The power supply of the computer smells burned (very badly) and the computer is completely dead. If the surge protection of the APC Back-UPS Pro 550VA BR550GI doesn't protect connected devices against this kind of events, what's the use of having them in the first place? Any helpful explanation or insights about how this could happen would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Erik.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi Erik,

The surge protection in a Back-UPS has a limit on the amount of protection it can provided over it's lifetime, for the BR550GI it's 420 joules. My advice would be to log a ticket with your local APC by SE support team and see if what your reporting meets the criteria fo the equipment protection policy. Sorry, I don't know the criteria.

-Gavan