I have a "Defiant" (Home Depot) brand surge protector that my tv/stereo/blu-ray/roku is plugged into. Like this one:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-10-Outlet-Metal-Surge-Protector-with-15-ft-Cord-45-Degree-Angle-Flat-Plug-YLPT-46/203353698
Recently when I have turned on my TV, I've noticed the power light blinking, and then the Roku restarts like th epower was cut off. The surge protector is only a year old, and the TV is even newer (Samsung 50"). My thought is that the surge protector can't handle the power that the TV requires to turn on, and cuts power to the other outlets. Which makes me think that the surge protector should be replaced. Any other thoughts on why this would happen? The other stuff that is plugged into it is generally off/at standby. The Roku is basically always on (no power switch).
That surge strip is rated for 15 amps. Even power hog plasma TVs don't draw that much. Do you have a multimeter? If so, plug the probes in to one of the strips outlets and observe the voltage while powering on the TV. The blinking light on your TV may be an error code. Observe how many times it blinks and google your model number with the corresponding amount of blinks. Your Roku likely has a "wall wart" type of power supply with a worldwide voltage input rating of 100-240VAC, which should be very good at smoothing out minor voltage drops. You can observe the DC output of the Roku adapter when you power on the TV with the aforementioned multimeter, as well.
If only the roku box goes off, it's not the surge protector, when those things cut power they cut it to everything at once.
I do have a multimeter. I will check it out. The blinking light is actually the power light for the surge protector though. The Roku does have a wall wart.
I'm not sure about the other things that are plugged into it (they are almost always off). I'll try turning some of those on before the TV next time.
Thanks!
I would assume that the blinking power light in your power strip is the itty bitty neon bulb in the switch itself flickering like they all eventually do.
Also check the outlet itself, I have seen GFCI outlets crap out much the way you are describing
I thought that too, but it is a pretty distinct blinking...
I will check the outlet too. I can't remember if it's a GFCI or not.
Even if the outlet itself is not GFCI, it could be slaved off of one.
I haven't found my multimeter yet, but I did find another older surge protector. In the process of playing with the Defiant I determined that the light on the power button stayed off until the TV was turned on, after which it would blink 4 or 5 times and then stay on. I put the other surge protector in and plugged everything in, and it works fine. Just now I plugged in the Defiant again, and the light stays on when the switch is turned to on. So now I'm not sure what to think.
Also, the outlet I'm using is not GFCI/behind another GFCI. The kitchen outlets are on a different breaker, and my bathroom circuits have GFCI breakers.
