Plugged into generator via a surge protector pop and smoked

[lanadunk]

DURING A BLACK OUT I plugged the computer, router, and screen into generator (800 watts) via a surge protector heard a pop and saw smoke. After power was restored I used a much better surge protector strip and plugged in computer, router, and screen then plugged into wall, all power blew. Will the hard drive work in another computer?

 

[C12Friedman]

Did someone drop a paperclip into your PSU or what? There is every possibility that the hard drive is unaffected. The only way to say for sure is to try it.

 

[abbadon_34]

Often generators have "dirty power" that is fine for industrial uses, but not good for fine electronics, especially cheap and low powered units. A good UPS is needed often to smooth it out.

The power here has occasional issue that a basic UPS can handle, but when testing the generator we needed a much better UPS preventing problems.

edit: by "dirty power" I mean wide swings in voltage and hz, among other more technical issues.

But yeah, I would guess your harddrive is fine, probably just replace your PSU.

 

[rdc85]

^ +1

also make sure the total power draw not exceed the power strip / ups / cable rating....

 

[surge_85]

DURING A BLACK OUT I plugged the computer, router, and screen into generator (800 watts) via a surge protector heard a pop and saw smoke. After power was restored I used a much better surge protector strip and plugged in computer, router, and screen then plugged into wall, all power blew. Will the hard drive work in another computer?

Surge strips are useless on a generator. Surge strips need a grounded receptacle to operate. There is no Ground on the generator to divert the surge to. They typically fail like yours did. Some one already commented that a generator produces dirty power. I would never recommend that any one plug sensitive devices like a computer into a generator. They are intended to run essentials.

 

[lanadunk]

Often generators have "dirty power" that is fine for industrial uses, but not good for fine electronics, especially cheap and low powered units. A good UPS is needed often to smooth it out.

The power here has occasional issue that a basic UPS can handle, but when testing the generator we needed a much better UPS preventing problems.

edit: by "dirty power" I mean wide swings in voltage and hz, among other more technical issues.

But yeah, I would guess your harddrive is fine, probably just replace your PSU.

Thank you- that's exactly what it was and my computer is up & running and didn't hurt the hard drive.

 

[lanadunk]

Best answer selected by lanadunk.