A note about surge protectors and your PS3 [Update]

by Nick Doerr { Oct 16th 2007 at 12:00PM }

[Update: After this story was published, Sony contacted this individual and is working with them to correct this problem. Using surge protectors will not void your PS3 warranty.]

While it may be common knowledge to some, it still appears that a problem arises every now and then about utilizing surge protectors and what that does to the warranty of your electronics. Some electronics do, in fact, void their warranty if you admit to using a surge protector. User Danjak over at the PlayStation Forums found that out the hard way, even though he or she still managed to get by Sony's inquisitive staff and retain coverage.

See, surge protectors generally come with very large amounts of coverage for your electronics, because if something happens to them, blame will probably be placed on the surge protector (just bear with us, this seems logical). That's why surge protectors have such large warranty coverages -- because they generally have to deal with replacing electronics that go bad whilst plugged into them. So, ladies and gentlemen, in case you didn't know, either don't use a surge protector for your PS3 or bother the makers of the surge protector if something goes awry. Or lie, whichever is easiest for you. We'd prefer you choose one of the first two options.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

PGAGolf3r @ Oct 16th 2007 12:16PM

If anyone can recall during the launch, alot of people, myself included, had trouble with interference. This was caused by a ground loop. When plugging into a surge protector, you were grounding the PS3 to the surge protector and the surge protector was grounding to the wall outlet, causing noise, or rolling bars on the t.v. I hope no one broke the ground rod off the PS3 power cord, and is trying to get warranty.

Bill @ Oct 16th 2007 12:43PM

In a related question, does anyone know if they can extend the PS3's one year warranty through Sony? I feel as though it'd be worth it for a console projected to last 10 years.

jojo29 @ Oct 16th 2007 1:09PM

ok, please no flames, but i never knew using a surge protector would void an electronic device's warranty!??

I have my entire PC connected to it, complete with Quad Core, and 8800GTX, you know the 'works', and now im a bit concerned. Or does only apply to consoles, where a power outage wont be a dramatic effect on the system as in a computer crashing in mid installs and such...

KiraXD @ Oct 16th 2007 12:51PM

My sony PS3 uses Sony brand electricity, with a sony brand HDMI cable hooked to a sony brand HDTV, and sits on a sony brand shelf with sony brand air circulating through the system.

"We'd prefer you choose one of the first two options."

liars!

nezromatron @ Oct 16th 2007 12:58PM

I think the issue stems from the fact that most surge 'protectors' are nothing but glorified extension cords. I use an APC UPS with my PS3 which keeps the PS3 running during occasional power spikes/etc..

SimplyB @ Oct 16th 2007 2:42PM

OPTION LIE! FTW!

YouFaceTheTick @ Oct 16th 2007 1:12PM

Uh, just lie. Why the hell would you ever tell a manufacturer you used a surge protector or non-standard OEM equipment? seriously, that's as stupid as people who hacked their iPhone and then tried to run the upgrade!

Tim Parsons @ Oct 16th 2007 1:14PM

Considering I have my DVD/VCR , PS3, Sound System, and TV all in one location as i'm sure must of you do as well a surge protector or power at least is needed and why waste time with a powerbar when you can go with a surge protector, if I had a problme with one of my devices i just wouldnt mention the surge protector anyway unless i knew for a fact it was cuase by a surge or something

MadCowMartin @ Oct 16th 2007 1:40PM

Wait what? I thought surge protectors PROTECT your electronics from getting broken by power instabilities. And almost everyone has surge protectors, cause you cant plug 20 friggin plugs in 8 sockets, so you buy an extender, which usually have surge protection...

color me confused

thebigfatj @ Oct 16th 2007 1:50PM

You're basically saying, "We know surge protectors break stuff because they offer a lot of monetary compensation if your stuff breaks when connected."

That's idiotic. That's beyond idoiotic.

I'm not going to get into the fundamentals of electricity, especially since this should be obvious for anyone with reasoning ability and a very basic understanding of surge protectors, but surge protectors can, in no way, damage your hardware.

prateeko @ Oct 16th 2007 3:34PM

Screw Sony, Monster has a $500,000 guarantee (why so high, I have no idea) on my surge protector. Anything goes wrong, those fools best be paying!

alienclays @ Oct 16th 2007 4:29PM

"I'm not going to get into the fundamentals of electricity, especially since this should be obvious for anyone with reasoning ability and a very basic understanding of surge protectors, but surge protectors can, in no way, damage your hardware."

true, but anything built with cheap materials and poor construction can short out or do worse
any good surge protector, even lower price ones offer at least $50k of surge guarentee. the problem is proving that a good UPS or surge protector was the culprit. when in all likelyhood it wasn't.

your equipment is better off with a good name brand UPS (i know my $2000 47" lcd and $600 ps3 sit happy behind a charged APC UPS protected from both surges and brownouts.) than just socket alone. anyone in florida should know that, or have $300 sitting ready for a tv power supply and $500 for a new ps3. my ps3 is already getting close to a year old and i'm not taking the risk. at the same time. it's aways a good thing to read your warranty on both the equipment and the protector prior to contacting anybody to know what to expect.

Popfrogs @ Oct 16th 2007 4:37PM

Yep, screw surge protectors, as cheap as the small APC battery backup devices are these days, there's no excuse not to use them when you're sitting in front of $3500 worth of electronics.

Joey_Numbers @ Oct 17th 2007 4:06AM

umm.... my PS3 is plugged directly into the wall....

Volomon @ Oct 16th 2007 7:57PM

If you read further into the thread, multiple people call including me. Its not true.

Volomon @ Oct 16th 2007 7:58PM

@13 That however does void the warranty.

BlitzyMighty @ Oct 17th 2007 12:14AM

I agree that its messed up to blame surge prtectors or whatever for a failure. Has anyone actually tried to get a UPS company to pay thousands of dollars for a massive failure?? How the heck would they know what your electronics, which they can't see themselves, are worth, and if they are broken?? I have my HDTV, PC, and PS3 connected to two dif UPSs.

BRS @ Oct 17th 2007 1:43AM

Read the thread, several persons rang Sony and the person there suggested using surge protector! This is a misunderstanding or BS, I wouldn't put out the option of M$ marketing tactics...

Daniel @ Oct 17th 2007 9:34PM

So I'm confused. I have my stuff all plugged into a cheap surge protector made by Belkin. Not even sure how old the thing is, it's been around for a while though. Is this bad? Should my stuff be plugged in directly to the wall? Or should I get a better surge protector? Does it matter? I just don't want my stuff burning out on me.

chris @ Oct 18th 2007 8:39AM

This author is basically proposing theft (a false claim against a surge protector company).

I would like Sony to show me ONE instance where a surge protector damaged a playstation 3.

mattclarkie @ Oct 18th 2007 10:17AM

I always use surge-protectors for my electronics, even cordless phones. A few months ago there was a power-surge on EDF(my energy supplier) and thousands of homes had their electronics fried.

As far as I am concerned, if you console breaks then it is Sony's duty to fix it, if it is fried by a power-surge then you take the manufacturer of your extention lead up on their warranty. Sony can't say tha your Blu-ray drive broke because you used a Surge-protector, be sensible about what voids warranties.
In fact my 1st PS3 was dead on arrival, flashing light of doom FLoD.