Hi All,

Can you please point me to a few specific stores in Bangkok that sell Universal Power Supplies with Surge Protection that are compatible with the Windows Vista operating system? I've tried to find one myself for days now, and have had no luck. I'd like to buy a solid brand if possible, and not anything cheap/generic that may ultimately leave my laptop fried.

Any and all store and brand recommendations are welcome.

I found an APC brand UPS at Banana IT in Pantip Plaza that fit the bill, except for the fact that the box did not say it was Vista compatible. I've seen lots of other UPS systems around, but most seem to be generic with very little information on the box. These generic items I've seen in Power Mall in Siam Paragon and in IT City in Pantip Plaza.

Thank you. Your help is greatly appreciated!!!

I don't understand the 'Windows Vista' compatible as a UPS has nothing to do with an operating system unless it has a USB monitoring connector including Linux. Even then, the APC UPS monitoring software supports all operating systems. The APC UPS I have has a USB monitoring port on it and worked for me under XP, Vista and Windows 7.

If you don't need the monitoring/auto shutdown feature, than any APC, which I highly recommend, will work. Select based on the power requirement you need.

//edit - Powerchute is the software supplied by APC to support the UPSes that have the monitor port on it. As you can see, it covers XP/Vista/Win7.

What area of Bangkok are you in? There are tons of places you can go.

Why do you need a UPS for a laptop? Power goes off, laptop continues on battery with no dramas.

Why do you need a UPS for a laptop? Power goes off, laptop continues on battery with no dramas.

The problem isn't the power going off, but power spikes. A power spike totally fried the hard disk on my laptop a few years ago. That's when I decided I needed a UPS.

Why do you need a UPS for a laptop? Power goes off, laptop continues on battery with no dramas.

The problem isn't the power going off, but power spikes. A power spike totally fried the hard disk on my laptop a few years ago. That's when I decided I needed a UPS.

If you have power spikes/power cuts often it is a good idea also to have another UPS for the TV.... I have 4 all Computer things in 1, the other 3 TV/DVD/VCR/Dreambox plugged in, living-room and bedrooms, have done so for over 7 years here.

When I 1st arrived and the house was being built had to rent a Condo for 6 months and my 2x hard drives, 2x DVD writers + the TV fried with such a power spikes

Why do you need a UPS for a laptop? Power goes off, laptop continues on battery with no dramas.

The problem isn't the power going off, but power spikes. A power spike totally fried the hard disk on my laptop a few years ago. That's when I decided I needed a UPS.

Ah yes, that makes sense. I guess it would also come in useful if you leave the laptop running all night, a UPS might provide enough power to keep it running all night if it's a long power cut. Or enough power to cause the battery to overheat and melt the laptop as happened to me, I don't leave stuff switched on at night anymore

If you are concerned about power spikes have a think about a surge protector. A UPS is designed to provide backup power and may or may not provide surge protection depending on the design. A surge protector is designed to eliminate surge/spikes/lightning effects. A good brand is Belkin and they are availble at Big C and Invadeit. It is importantfor surge protection using either method to have the power point supplying the power earthed if possible. A good 4 point surge protector type power board is about 500 Baht. If you are really worried then have both a surge protector and a UPS.

If you are concerned about power spikes have a think about a surge protector. A UPS is designed to provide backup power and may or may not provide surge protection depending on the design. A surge protector is designed to eliminate surge/spikes/lightning effects. A good brand is Belkin and they are availble at Big C and Invadeit. It is importantfor surge protection using either method to have the power point supplying the power earthed if possible. A good 4 point surge protector type power board is about 500 Baht. If you are really worried then have both a surge protector and a UPS.

Yes myself have a 12 point Surge Tower from the UK this is plugged into the UPS and all computer things plugged into the tower

I would only trust the UPS so far.

Five years ago, during a lightning strike, the (reputable brand) UPS fried, along with two computers, and surge protectors on the main lines, and surge protector on power receptacle.

They might stop some surges, but not all.

Now, whenever not using, I remove the wall plug on the main office computer.

I would only trust the UPS so far.

Five years ago, during a lightning strike, the (reputable brand) UPS fried, along with two computers, and surge protectors on the main lines, and surge protector on power receptacle.

They might stop some surges, but not all.

Now, whenever not using, I remove the wall plug on the main office computer.

Do you not have a mains surge protector ??

I had fitted when the house was built 'Safety-Cut' box, That pops out many times, dread to thing what electric item would have fried or be working today without it.

I would only trust the UPS so far.

Five years ago, during a lightning strike, the (reputable brand) UPS fried, along with two computers, and surge protectors on the main lines, and surge protector on power receptacle.

They might stop some surges, but not all.

Now, whenever not using, I remove the wall plug on the main office computer.

Do you not have a mains surge protector ??

I had fitted when the house was built 'Safety-Cut' box, That pops out many times, dread to thing what electric item would have fried or be working today without it.

Everything from the outside powerline in. Mains surge filter, breakers all on fire in the "safety cut" box, surge filter on power recepticle, UPS, Power supply in computer, main board, Ram. Amazingly the HDD's were OK.

APC using PowerChute is Vista compatible.

Anything computer gadgets, i would head to Pantip Plaza in Pratunam area.

Hi All,<br />Thanks for your replies.  I've found them to be very helpful. The reason why I wanted the UPS was to protect my laptop and other small devices from power spikes/surges when they are plugged in.  I do not plan on keeping these devices powered on and plugged in overnight, but often times I need to use the laptop for extended periods of time and the electrical cord must be plugged into it to keep it on.<br /><br />Please correct me if I'm wrong, but from the sound of your replies and for how I'm planning on using my devices (not powered on and plugged in overnight), it sounds like I'd be fine with just a Belkin surge protector I can pick up from Big C.  Is that right???<br /><br />I'm moving into a newer low end condo building in central Bangkok and construction finished in 2010.  What do you think the odds are the electrical outlets are grounded?  Does it matter if they're grounded even if I have the surge protector?<br /><br />Thanks!

Edited July 22, 201114 yr by ThaiBound81

Does it matter if they're grounded even if I have the surge protector?<br /><br />Thanks!

A proper surge protector would need a ground as the suppressors would connect between Line-Neutral, Line-Ground and Neutral-Ground to protect all legs. Also, the EMI/RFI suppressor uses a L-C filter (inductor/capacitor) and the capacitors are connected between Line-Ground and Neutral-Ground.

A basic suppressor will probably only be between Line-Neutral which IMO is not really sufficient.

Why do you need a UPS for a laptop? Power goes off, laptop continues on battery with no dramas.

The problem isn't the power going off, but power spikes. A power spike totally fried the hard disk on my laptop a few years ago. That's when I decided I needed a UPS.

Why buy a UPS if you are looking for a suppressor? There is no guarantee a UPS has a better surge protection system than a surge protector. Kind of like buying a value meal at McDonalds when you only want the burger. I think a good surge protector is sufficient for any laptop. It is by design going to create an open circuit to any outside potentially damaging electrical source. The problem is determining if it is a good surge suppressor and being sure it also allows for protection of other inputs such as ethernet or phone line inputs. Electricity travels fast and there is always going to be a very slight delay in cutting off power regardless of any protection device. However, surges generally are not instantaneous and can be isolated from your components before damaging voltages can pass but there is always going to be the potential they will fail under some circumstances.. Bottom line is you are looking for surge protection and not a battery back-up, I would focus on the best surge protection you can find and not muddle the issue with adding a UPS and software to the issue unless the issue if more that protecting your laptop from a power surge.