Reddit reviews APC Surge Protector with Phone, Network Ethernet and Coaxial Protection, P11VNT3, 3020 Joules, 11 Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip

Thinking there was probably some kind of electrical fault when you plugged the cable box back in(Like Chris said below, could indicate that your outlets are not properly grounded, but you would need an electrician to check that). Damage might not have been caused by the cable box.

If you don't have one already, definitely get a surge protector for your more expensive electrical appliances and don't use a regular power strip. The good brands come with a equipment protection warranty and they will cover the cost of your equipment if something like this happens. I have two from APC that I use (just make sure to keep all the paperwork that comes with it and register it with them if you get one to be covered if anything happens again). https://www.amazon.com/APC-P11VNT3-Performance-SurgeArrest-Protection/dp/B0012YFXSW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1467054605&sr=8-4&keywords=apc+surge+arrest

I'd be very surprised if a Monster surge protector was any better than an APC one for half the price. APC specializes in that kind of thing and Monster specializes in marking things up immensely.

I use one. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012YFXSW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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I see this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012YFXSW/ref=psdc_3236443011_t1_B00548AGOI

No idea if it causes slower speeds though.

If you do get it connected via wired connection I would either get a surge protector with network cable surge protection like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012YFXSW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qvNQCbYPK8DYG

Or get a network surge protector like this one: https://www.tripplite.com/datashield-in-line-surge-protector-network-phone-lines-1-line-rj45~DNET1

Just to be extra safe

Thanks. What about this one? Will this do a better job? - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012YFXSW/ref=twister_B079PXZ3KQ?_encoding=UTF8&th=1 (model P11VNT3), or the better priced https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J2EN4S/ref=psdc_10967801_t2_B0012YFXSW

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Perhaps i can begin by hooking power via such a source first, and over time plan to pass the coax and Ethernet through it too for incoming internet.

Yeah get rid of the cheap crappy plug strip and buy something thats of decent quality.

apc plug strip

Thanks for the reply. I'll try and answer your questions as best I can.

 

The black wire terminal was in contact with the bare metal ground wire, at the time I turned the breaker back on, causing the event. The circuit in question (where I was working on the receptacle) tripped, as did 2 or 3 adjacent circuits. The adjacent circuits tripped after I put some load on them soon after correcting the receptacle I originally screwed up. They reset with no problem and I have been using them fine since then.

 

The protectors are your average $15-30 belkin and apc "surge protectors" such as this one: Amazon link . As well as a standard 6 outlet barebones power strip. These just simply do not work anymore as tested with a simple receptacle tester. My house certainly has only 120 and 240v.

 

I do not know what to inspect, which is why I will be calling an electrician. All circuits appear to be working fine, except for the microwave running on any circuit.

I have three of these and I swear by them.

Okay, I definitely still have more questions and buckle in because there may be quite a few of them and I apologize for that but you didn't think you could change my mind, but we will see. I will try to explain my setup as detailed as possible. I will preface this by stating that I do believe I know more than the average user about electricity, but I certainly don't know a ton and I would like to know more as I have always been interested in electricity, technology, etc. I will also preface this by stating I live in North America, so American circuits information should be good for me.

My three circuits I use for electronics are always below 70% load and usually below 60% load I believe so that is a good start, certainly better than 90% load yeah? My UPSes are always under half load even when everything attached to them is at full load. My UPS I use is the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD - I have 4 of them in total, 3 in my house 1 in my cottage. We will focus on my home for now since my cottage is rarely used whereas I am always home. I have three UPSes each on one circuit - each connected to one wall outlet/plug/receptacle (whatever you want to call it) - I believe the total peak draw or whatever of the UPS is 15A. One UPS is plugged directly into the wall, the other two are plugged into a surge protector - one of the surge protectors is this one: http://www.techexcess.net/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=P5308Y-ABA and one is this one: https://www.amazon.com/APC-11-Outlet-3020J-Surge-Protector/dp/B0012YFXSW - which one is better? After each of the 3 UPSes, they are plugged into a surge protector, and only ONE of the surge protectors has another surge protector plugged into it - I am out of outlets and I simply had to daisy-chain them, but I suppose I could rework my setup so there is no more daisy chaining.

For the maximum number of receptacles on a breaker/circuit, would receptacles be wall-plugs/outlets, or total number of devices connected to that circuit regardless of how they are connected? I assume that it would be total number of wall outlets, but I am not sure on that.

Again at stated earlier, my circuits are all well below 70% load at all times. I have not tripped any of my breakers since I have had 1 new breaker and circuit installed and one new breaker installed to replace an old one at my home, and one new breaker and circuit installed at my cottage - so that would suggest that they also are not being overloaded - unlike before but that is another story. I have ALWAYS known that tripping is bad, and recently in the last year I have taken it seriously enough to make sure something is done about it.

I have no idea what isolated ground is. I know the theory of ground to some extent and what noise is at least in regards to audio, but could you explain isolated ground and how to accomplish that etc?

As for removing my surge protectors in front of my UPSes, that is certainly something I can do, but I may need an extension cable for them - any issues with those? What guage should I be looking for to make sure a 15A UPS is okay? Can you link me to an example extension cable that you think would be suitable?

Also, what is worse in general - a surge protector in front of the UPS or behind the UPS (connected to the UPS) or are both bad? Basically, my UPS does not provide enough battery-backup plugs for me since it only has 8 and I have many more devices than that (although, I suppose I COULD technically unplug some of my devices and leave them unplugged), so should I plug a surge protector or just a power strip into the UPS and if so which particular model should I consider or would both a power strip or surge protector plugged into a UPS be a bad idea? In my current setup, is the number one "issue" the fact that there is one surge protector dasiy-chained into another surge protector?

As for lightbulbs, I have already replaced every single incandescent lightbulb with 9W or 18W LED bulbs at both my cottage and my home.

Any other general suggestions would be appreciated.

I think this is the closest I have come to the 10000 word limit on reddit, wow.