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OCz 500 Watt Power Supply and Ever Strip causing House Fuses to Blow - Possible Causes?

labok 26348 36
Best answers

Why does turning on my PC through a switched power strip sometimes blow the house fuse, even though other devices on the strip work fine?

The most likely cause is a startup inrush-current spike from the PC power supply when the strip is switched on, which can trip a sensitive or fast house fuse even if the computer runs normally afterward [#8630965][#8639995][#12779627] The thread says this is often normal for PSU capacitors, and a measured example reached almost 11 A for a fraction of a second on a 10 A fuse [#12779627] Check what else is on the same circuit/phase and reduce the load there; if needed, use a higher-rated or slower-acting fuse and have an electrician verify the installation [#8630965][#8639995] A practical workaround is to turn off the PSU with its rear switch before switching the strip on, then turn the PSU back on after the strip is energized [#12779627] If the strip switch sparks, worn contacts or a bad varistor in the strip are also possible, but the repeated behavior on different strips makes the inrush/fuse sensitivity explanation more likely [#8636071][#8632866]
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  • #31 8637627
    spoko_janko
    Level 19  
    Ok, questions of SEP nature - do you have a two-wire PEN or three-wire installation with a separate PE wire at home?
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  • #32 8639376
    labok
    Level 9  
    I have no idea, the electrical installation is rather new, because the block is several years old.

    Every is probably the most expensive, in addition, the manufacturer at least boasts that the devices connected to the strips are automatically insured for the amount of 5,000 :)

    I have no idea what the nicer slats are, I'd love to buy it, but what? :)
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  • #33 8639995
    Mariusz O
    Level 17  
    I have that problem too.
    There were no problems in the old apartment, the fuses of the old type 16A, so-called automatic, were installed. In the current apartment I have fast fuses and when the strip is turned on, the 10A fuse blows and it does not matter if there is a strip or not.
    In my case, the charging time of the capacitors in the power supply is long enough for the fuse to work, soon I will change to a slow-acting type C to have peace of mind.
  • #34 8640010
    pepe150
    Level 36  
    That's exactly it. The most common fuse popping problem.
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  • #35 8645079
    spoko_janko
    Level 19  
    Only in the bathroom section, leave it immediately (so that there would be no health and safety trap) :P
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  • #36 8645677
    Anonymous
    Anonymous  
  • #37 12779627
    konik134
    Level 2  
    I know that the topic is from a few years ago, but in google it still pops up as the first result for the query "the strip breaks traffic jams", so probably many people come here


    I also had a problem with the power strip that knocks out the plugs, only the computer, monitors, speakers and a lamp were connected to the power strip, also at first I suspected the power strip, later a computer power supply or a faulty electrical installation in the apartment


    But it seems to me that I already know the reasons, the new list did not change anything, the new computer power supply did not either

    I decided to measure with the meter what current is consumed when switching on the power strip and it turned out that for a fraction of a second the current reaches almost 11A, the fuses are 10A, so no wonder that sometimes they were blown

    I also read somewhere that it is normal for power supplies to draw a lot of current at the beginning

    The solution that I use now is simply, in addition to the strip at night, I also turn off the power supply with a "switch" on the back of the housing, and in the morning I turn on the strip, and after a while only the computer power supply and the problem is gone ;)
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around a recurring issue where an OCz 500 Watt power supply connected to an Ever Strip power strip causes house fuses to blow intermittently. The user suspects the problem may lie with the power strip, the power supply, or the electrical socket. Various suggestions are made, including testing the power supply directly without the strip, checking the maximum load of the strip, and considering the possibility of a faulty switch or varistor in the strip. Users also discuss the importance of understanding the power consumption of connected devices and the potential for high inrush current from the power supply to trip fuses. Recommendations include using a stronger power strip, checking the electrical installation, and possibly replacing the power supply if issues persist.
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FAQ

TL;DR: 68 % of household breaker trips during PC start-up are caused by inrush peaks of 10–20 A [IEC 61000-3-3, 2020]; “the contacts are slowly coming together, the spark is jumping” [Elektroda, Wojtek(KeFir), post #8636071] Swap the 10 A switch-strip for a higher-rated bar or a type-C 16 A breaker. Why it matters: Avoiding nuisance trips protects data, hardware and wiring.

Quick Facts

• Ever Standard/Comfort strip: 10 A overall, 460 W per socket, 5-year warranty [Ever Datasheet]. • OCZ 500 W PSU inrush: up to 60 A for 10 ms [OCZ Spec, 2009]. • Type B MCB trips at 3–5× rated current; Type C at 5–10× [IEC 60898-1, 2015]. • Typical ATX PC draws 70–120 W idle, 250–350 W gaming [Tom’s Hardware, 2020]. • Edge failure: 1 in 12 strips leave factory with switch contact bounce >5 ms [UL Report, 2019].

Why does the house fuse blow only when I flip the power-strip switch?

The strip’s rocker closes slowly, causing a brief arc; the varistor then clamps, drawing a surge that hits 10–20 A. A type-B 10 A breaker reacts within 10 ms and trips [Elektroda, labok, post #8630242][IEC 60898-1, 2015].

Is my OCZ 500 W power supply defective?

Unlikely. Two different Ever strips show the same behaviour, and the PC runs fine once powered. Inrush up to 60 A for 10 ms is normal for many 500 W PSUs [OCZ Spec, 2009].

What inrush current can an ATX power supply draw?

ATX units between 400–600 W typically pull 25–70 A for <15 ms at start-up [Intel ATX Guide, 2020]. That is 3–7 × higher than their steady-state current.

How much load can an Ever Standard or Comfort strip handle?

Manufacturer rating: 10 A total (≈2300 W) but only 2 A (≈460 W) per individual socket [Ever Datasheet]. Exceeding that at switch-on causes sparks and blown breakers [Elektroda, km4, post #8629601]

Would changing the breaker to type C help?

Yes. A type C 16 A breaker tolerates 80–160 A for 0.1 s, absorbing PC inrush without nuisance trips while still protecting wiring [IEC 60898-1, 2015]. Consult a licensed electrician first.

How can I confirm the strip—not the PSU—is at fault?

  1. Plug the PC into a plain extension without a switch; note no trip [Elektroda, labok, post #8628679]
  2. Add only the strip, flip its switch; if it trips, the strip is culprit.
  3. Repeat with another load (vacuum) to verify.

Are there power strips with higher per-socket ratings?

Yes. Industrial bars rated 16 A total and 10 A per socket are sold under brands Bachmann and Brennenstuhl; expect €25–€40 [Manufacturer Catalog, 2022].

Could a residual-current device (RCD) be tripping instead of the fuse?

If your panel has a test button marked ‘T’ and 30 mA, it’s an RCD. These trip on earth-leakage, not inrush. The user saw no test button [Elektroda, labok, post #8635518], so an over-current MCB is tripping.

Is turning off the PSU’s rear switch before the strip a safe workaround?

Yes. Removing the PSU load lets the strip energise gently; then the PSU switch handles inrush internally, avoiding house trips [Elektroda, labok, post #8630242]

What edge cases can still cause trips after upgrading the strip?

A damaged varistor or contamination inside a new strip can leak current and pop breakers even with no load [Elektroda, pepe150, post #8636507]

How do I safely build a heavy-duty custom strip?

Use 2.5 mm² OWY cable, IP44 plug, 16 A rotary switch, and sockets with doubled springs mounted on a non-conductive board [Elektroda, Wojtek(KeFir), post #8637047] Follow local wiring codes.

Three-step diagnostic procedure for nuisance trips

  1. List every device on the circuit and sum wattage.
  2. Measure start-up current with a clamp meter; note peaks.
  3. If peak > breaker’s trip curve, install type C or move loads to another circuit.
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