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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: MajorMajor on November 20, 2016, 01:34:17 AM

Title: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: MajorMajor on November 20, 2016, 01:34:17 AM: My washing machine, TV and dishwasher are plugged into surge protectors.
My PC is plugged into a UPS.

My Zero costs several times all of the above combined, should I be protecting it?
The FXS has a 650W charger which isn't a crazy high amount of current, I think a normal consumer grade protector should work with it.

Clearly there's no need for a UPS (no need for uptime) but is voltage regulation and surge protection necessary and/or helpful?
I expect several blackouts this winter (already had one) which will be accompanied by spikes and probably a few brownouts.
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: ZeroPointZero on November 20, 2016, 01:38:02 AM: I have mine on a really good surge protector, but its not a power conditioner which I may upgrade to eventually.
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: MajorMajor on November 20, 2016, 01:55:43 AM: Honestly, if there's any problem with the power I prefer it just shuts off immediately.
Which model are you using?
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: MostlyBonkers on November 20, 2016, 05:22:17 AM: I don't bother. I expect tellys to last 20 years plugged directly into the mains. Many other appliances are obsolete well before then. We generally have very good and very reliable power supplies here in the UK though.
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: ZeroPointZero on November 20, 2016, 06:52:48 AM: Quote from: MajorMajor on November 20, 2016, 01:55:43 AM
Honestly, if there's any problem with the power I prefer it just shuts off immediately.
Which model are you using?

Monster power
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: MajorMajor on November 20, 2016, 02:15:25 PM: Bottom line, it's absolutely necessary to add some sort of surge protection to my charging setup?
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: WDavis4692 on November 20, 2016, 11:10:47 PM: I can't see why. The only times in memory we've had surges of power, the house' circuit breaker has tripped and protected everything.
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: MajorMajor on November 20, 2016, 11:59:36 PM: I'm pretty sure mine trips at like 25 Amps so it doesn't seem like it would help
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: WoadRaider on November 21, 2016, 11:13:09 AM: I would assume Zero has built in safeguards to prevent any damage from a surge, especially given that I don't remember hearing any of those precautionary measures recommended.
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: MajorMajor on November 21, 2016, 02:58:46 PM: I'd rather err on the side of caution. I'm not assuming they have any safe guards.
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: Justin Andrews on November 21, 2016, 03:45:20 PM: The only safe guard I take is that I charge the bike on its own spur from the fuse board.
Title: Re: Do I need to protect my Zero from the electrical grid?
Post by: jnef on November 22, 2016, 04:14:09 AM: I connect mine to one of my EVSEs, which has several MOVs internally. Basically similar to a surge-protector power strip. I also have the Leviton whole-house surge protector connected to the main panel. I've had several surges over the last two decades that smoked the MOVs in power strips, and blew up unprotected computer power supplies. The charger in the Zero is fundamentally a switching power supply and we should protect it as such. No need for a UPS though, just a surge protector.