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is it normal for Belkin surge protectors / conditions to run warm?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dizzyboy
  • Start date Start date
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Dizzyboy

Enthusiast
Feb 19, 2008
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I recently bought a Belkin PF60 and I notice that it runs very warm for at least a few hour a day, and cool to the touch at other times. This is the case even when none of the gear plugged into it had been turned on for 24 hrs - it still fluctuates between warm and cool. Should I return my unit or is this normal? It seems weird for a surge protector to run warm at all, frankly.
 
There are two transformers in that unit, and they do get warm.
So if the heat you feel is on the top left side, it's radiating from those two transformers.
 
Ah, thanks. Does it make sense that the units alternates between being warm and cool?
 
It's not what I would call hot, but it does at times get very warm (again, often when nothing that's plugged into it is in use, which kind of freaks me out a little).
 
Oh man, you're sure? It's going to be brutal trying to send this back.
 
Dizzyboy said:
Oh man, you're sure? It's going to be brutal trying to send this back.
Click to expand...

I can't say for sure without seeing the schematics but it does not make sense for it to alternate between warm and cool when nothing is plugged into to it. May be you should talk to their technical support about it.
 
Oh! To be clear(er), many things are plugged into it, just not being used very often. Having said that, the standby power draws on various components, including a satellite box, would be making the Belkin work, just not enough to break a sweat. Could that be enough to make it alternate temperatures?
 
Belkin is a reputable manufacturer and if there is a fire hazard they'd rather have you send it in than to have your house burn down. Very warm is too warm. Call them and stop using it. I don't want to have to break out pictures of what happens when Surge protectors get too hot.
 
That's scary to hear. The heat is coming from the left side, which a previous poster says would be normal as this is where the unit's transformers are located. It gets warm, but not hot, or uncomfortably warm. Just warmer than I would have expected - as I didn't expect it to generate any heat at all. You think this may still be cause for concern?
 
Dizzyboy said:
That's scary to hear. The heat is coming from the left side, which a previous poster says would be normal as this is where the unit's transformers are located. It gets warm, but not hot, or uncomfortably warm. Just warmer than I would have expected - as I didn't expect it to generate any heat at all. You think this may still be cause for concern?
Click to expand...

Now that you have clarified there are many things plugged it, just not being used but on standby I am not worry about it getting warm at all but why would it alternate between warm and cool? Unless one (or more) of the loads switch between standby and off, or is changing the load under temperature control or someting. It may even be possible there is a temperature controlled fan inside the Belkin but unlikely.

Have you tried unplugging everything? If it runs cool with nothing plugged in then you can start plugging things back one at a time to identify which one is causing the symtom. If you have the gear and know how to do it then you could also measure the current to see what the heck is going on.

Best yet still, contact the manufacturer.
 
Dizzyboy said:
That's scary to hear. The heat is coming from the left side, which a previous poster says would be normal as this is where the unit's transformers are located. It gets warm, but not hot, or uncomfortably warm. Just warmer than I would have expected - as I didn't expect it to generate any heat at all. You think this may still be cause for concern?
Click to expand...

You are being wishy washy a bit. If it's just warm it's probably the transfromers. If it's hot then you got a problem.
 
It really helps to be clear and concise when asking for help.

:confused: How did we go from "none of the gear plugged into it had been turned on for 24 hrs"
Then to...."many things are plugged into it, just not being used very often. Having said that, the standby power draws on various components, including a satellite box"
 
This should cool it off. :D

dummies.jpg
 
Rickster71 said:
It really helps to be clear and concise when asking for help.

:confused: How did we go from "none of the gear plugged into it had been turned on for 24 hrs"
Then to...."many things are plugged into it, just not being used very often. Having said that, the standby power draws on various components, including a satellite box"
Click to expand...

None of the gear that had been plugged into it had been used for a 24-hour period at the time of my first post on the subject.

Since that time, the connected gear has not been used very often. I posted the more recent bit of info to clarify the fact that the unit wasn't getting warm without anything being plugged into it at all, just not being turned on and used (although still drawing some degree of power in standby).

I'm going to try the other poster's suggestion about unplugging everything to see if it still gets warm and alternates. I can't believe I didn't think of that!
 
I would bring the unit back to the place of purchase and ask for a replacement. If the replacement is same, then that's how the unit works. When you say hot, is the unit near melting point? Then that's too hot..How many amps are you drawing through this unit when everything is turned on. Belkin is a very good company and I am sure you'll get it straight.
 
It's nowhere near melting point, just warm the way an amp would be after some use.
 
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