I have the surge protectors that are battery back up for all machines and computers. to many $$$'s invested not to protect them.

I use a serge protector on my machine when I am sewing somewhere my machine cord can't reach. If I am sewing at home my machine cord reaches the wall plug. Since I don't leave my machine out all the time, I don't think it's a problem. But when I set up my sewing room (in the process of it now), I will use a serge protector because the wall plugs are few and far between and will need the length of cord the protector will give. The house was built in the 1950's and there are not enough plugs or closets!

kuntryquilter wrote: We are all under a false assumption concerning surge protectors. Surge protectors do not protect against lightening strikes. Please go to the following website & read, please.http://stormhighway.com/surge_protec...ction_myth.phpI know everyone probably won't read this but it is very important. I just read the article that kuntry quilter wrote above....and she is absolutely correct. My husband was an electrician, employed by Florida Power and Light Co., prior to retiring. I asked him about it and he said that Surge protectors are fine for little power surges by the Power Co. however, they are no protection at all from Lightning Storms and Strikes. The ONLY sure way to protect your valuable items during a storm, is to "Pull the Plugs from the wall". People have a false security when they trust Surge Protectors.....so please be aware and do check out the site that kuntryquilter shared with us.

I have always used a surge protector on my machines...as well as my computer and tv's. We had one of the big surge protectors take a hit and it just kept beeping. So glad we only had to replace the protector instead of all the computer components that were plugged in to it.
If I know that a big storm is approching, I unplug my computerized machines at the machine. Very simple to undo and redo. Plus, if we are going out of town, the machines are unplugged.

Yup. I spent extra getting one that screws into the wall and covers the appliance plugged into it. I didn't spend all that money on a sewing machine to have an accident fry it. Especially since it was only an extra $20 to protect a bit more at home

I've always used a surge-protector for my machines, and then recently realized I should probably have one for my laptop, too. You can see where my priorities lie, lol.

There is a surge protector on the house circuit breaker panel and more surge protectors for the computers, printers, tvs, and every last thing in my sewing room. We live in an area that has electrical surges of all types and we have had lightening come into the house through the electrical wires to the pole. So our electronics are double protected. Surge protectors rule!

Pat

I do use a surge protector and also, I unplug my machine when I'm not using it (I unplug it at the machine since that's easier). I mostly use power strips (with surge protectors built in) for convenience and the surge protection is a bonus. I have my tv and computer each on a UPS with surge protection.

I have a rather expensive Pfaff embroidery machine.. We were told that the simple multi plug strip might not be enough to actually protect it, so we bought one that was guaranteed to protect it. It is meant for high dollar computer systems. Living in the Midwest it would be crazy to not protect that kind of an investment!

However, while we went to great lengths to surg protect it, nothing kept it from being completely filled with water after the tornado went through here.. After months to letting it dry out, and having it completely gone through and serviced the machine works perfectly so far... But we lost all guarantees and warrentees on it... So the surg protector only gives me peace of mind and didn't help one bit to protect it from what actually happened!! Crazy how life works.

I am overprotective of my sewing machines .. LOL .. the lightning bolt would have to go through two serge protectors and I turn off the machines and unplug them as well as my iron is unplugged all the time.. Yah I know call me over protective !LOL

No I don't because I unplug it when I'm not using it.

I use surge protectors on my tv's, computer and all sewing machines. Already been through one tornado hit in December and everything connected to Comcast goes down every time the wind blows here.

No, but I should be using a surge protector. Thanks for reminding me. froggyintexas

YES YES YES!!!! Our power pole wires got whipped into neighbors tree branches. The power surged into the phone line that had been grounded to a the house. Not sure why it did that but it fried the phones went into the ground to the line 30 feet away, and into the house.The wires in the ground were burned.
Our RV was plugged into the house. It fried the microwave in the RV. The microwave in the house. The TV in the RV and 2 tv's in the house. I forget how many phones it took out.
I unplug everything when it storms. Don't trust that a surge protector would really protect.

And don't even think the insurance company is going to do a thing.We were told to take each item to a repair place to see if it was fixable. To do that each repair place wanted $ to evaluate the item,but the insurance co. would not reimburse you for that $ only the cost of the item. I am not sure why we have insurance agents. They wanted us to do their job. Oh my end of rant!:thumbdown:

I do. Machine costs too much to take any chances.

When I first got my expensive machine my electrician told me about the serge protectors that also have a battery back-up feature. This is helpful if you happen to be embroidering but more importantly it helps protect from the damage caused by a brown out. I believe that can be as damaging as a serge. They run about $50 I think but given the price of so many machines it seems worthwhile. I've just had to replace mine after about 12 years +/-.

I wish I had, my very expensive machine got fried, because I didn't think about it....unplug, unplug, unplug,,,,

Living in the lighting Capitol of the US we have a whole house surge protector at the metor and individual surge protectors on all of our electrical equipment including my sewing machines and my Handi Quilter Fusion 24. They are a great insurance, to protect our investment.

Actually, I have a full lightning rod system complete with buried cables, ground, rods and so on. However we still had a strike that fried equipment, and that's when we added a whole house surge protector, but I still unplug. There is no such thing as a system that works perfectly. Just unplug it.

How does it go through two surge protectors? Do you have a whole-house protector? If not, it's not a good idea to daisy-chain power strips (plug a power strip into another power strip). Just an FYI.

Yes for everything in my sewing room all the time. I often still unplug, especially my iron and Sweet Sixteen. I thought I was once told back when I got my first computer (a desktop) we could get surges at anytime, not just when there are storms.

They are important but know this. Those little cheap ones, you get what you pay for. If there is a little serge (which you may never know) it stops what little protection they offer but the light still works but at that point, all they are good for is an extension cord. Buy a good one, when you look at the price just remember how much you spent and how much replacement cost would be for a new machine. It'd be cheaper for me to replace laptop than my machines

All of my machines , when plugged in are in a surge protector, always

I have a battery pack surge protector for every machine. I was at a quilt retreat with my Bernina 440 and ruined the mother board, because of low power flow. My dealer told me to use one with a battery unit to keep continuous flow to the machine. I have told my guild members this story, but it happened to another quilter a few years ago. They are only 40-50 dollars at Best Buy, and worth every penny. Low power flow is just as dangerous to your machine as too much power.

Not only do I keep all my machines on surge protectors . . .but I keep spare surge protectors in each of my travel bags so I have one when I travel. It's important to make certain to have real surge protectors and not simply power strips.

Definitely -- had a lightning strike a tree not far from my sewing room. It blew out the serge protector but the 2 machines and serger are fine. Well worth the money. I have too much money invested in the machines to take a chance on them getting burned out.

Interesting that this posting is still 'alive'! lol When I was teaching machine embroidery classes I had the most difficult time convincing my class that a Battery Back Up Surge Protector was a very important item to purchase for their very expensive machines! No one had even heard of such a thing in 2001/2002! The area where I live has a lot of power variations every day. As soon as someone told me about surge protectors I went out and purchased one, it cost me $50 for one that has 12 minutes of battery before shutting down. It works perfectly, plenty of time to back out and shut down my embroidery machines. I also ALWAYS take it in our RV as campground are notorious for electric surges or brownouts! I would never be without one again. WE have them on our computers and well as our Home Theater system components too. BBSP's are critically important with these computerized machines! Way too much money spent on my machines to take a chance.. just my 2 cents worth and JMHO.