APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7T (Z98010214399)

The APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7T is a seven-outlet surge protector manufactured by APC (American Power Conversion) in 1998 as part of the company's SurgeArrest Personal product family.

The model combines seven grounded outlets, telephone-line protection, site-wiring diagnostics, and APC's SurgeArrest surge-suppression technology within a compact consumer-oriented enclosure. The documented example is particularly significant because it was manufactured during the production period later affected by APC's 2013 SurgeArrest recall and is accompanied by documentation indicating participation in the recall program.

As the first documented SurgeArrest Personal artifact preserved by the OldSurge Archive, the PER7T provides an opportunity to compare APC's consumer-oriented Personal series with the better-known SurgeArrest Professional family.

• 
  Overall view of the documented APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7T specimen.

Overview

The APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7T is a consumer surge protector intended to provide surge suppression and power distribution for personal computers, peripherals, modems, printers, and other home or office electronics.

The design incorporates seven grounded outlets together with APC's Protection Working and Site Wiring Fault diagnostic indicators. A rocker power switch is positioned near the cord-entry end of the enclosure, while an attached six-foot power cord provides flexibility in desktop and home-office installations.

The documented example is noteworthy because it represents APC's consumer-focused SurgeArrest Personal product line, a family that existed alongside the company's higher-end SurgeArrest Professional series during the late 1990s.

The artifact is also significant due to its association with APC's later 2013 SurgeArrest recall. Documentation accompanying the archived specimen indicates that it was submitted to APC's recall program in 2021, providing a rare example of a recalled surge protector with documented participation in the replacement process.

As the first Personal-series artifact documented by the OldSurge Archive, the PER7T expands the archive's APC coverage beyond the Professional-family products that presently dominate the collection.

Historical Context

During the 1990s APC marketed multiple SurgeArrest product families aimed at different segments of the surge-protection market. While the SurgeArrest Professional series targeted users seeking premium protection and advanced features, the SurgeArrest Personal series was positioned as a more affordable consumer-oriented alternative intended for home and small-office environments.

By the late 1990s personal computers, dial-up Internet access, fax machines, and other electronic equipment had become increasingly common in homes and small businesses. Products such as the PER7T reflected growing consumer demand for affordable surge protection capable of safeguarding both power and communication connections.

The PER7T belongs to APC's recall-era SurgeArrest generation manufactured between 1993 and 2002. Products from this period were later included in APC's 2013 SurgeArrest recall after reports of overheating, smoking, melting, and fire-related incidents. The documented example's 1998 manufacturing date places it within the affected production range.

Compared with the contemporary APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 family documented elsewhere in the archive, the Personal-series design appears intended for a more consumer-oriented market segment. The enclosure utilizes a wider footprint, incorporates dedicated diagnostic indicators, and emphasizes ease of use while retaining APC's established SurgeArrest branding and protection technologies.

The documented specimen therefore occupies an important position within APC's product history, illustrating how the company differentiated consumer and professional surge-protection products during the personal-computing era.

The PER7T demonstrates APC's practice of marketing multiple SurgeArrest product families using substantially similar mechanical platforms. While the Professional and Personal product lines were positioned differently within APC's lineup, the documented examples share closely related enclosure architecture and external control layouts.

Documented Example

• OldSurge ID: OS-0029
• Manufacturer: APC (American Power Conversion)
• Product Family: SurgeArrest Personal
• Model: PER7T
• Serial Number: Z98010214399
• Manufacturing Date: 1998

Specifications

The APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7T combines seven grounded outlets, telephone-line protection, diagnostic site-wiring indicators, and APC's SurgeArrest surge-suppression technology within a compact enclosure shared with other APC seven-outlet surge-protector designs of the late 1990s. The model is particularly notable because it belongs to APC's consumer-oriented Personal product family while retaining many characteristics observed on contemporary Professional-series products.

• Manufacturer: APC (American Power Conversion)
• Product Family: APC SurgeArrest Personal
• Model: PER7T
• Device Type: Surge Protector
• Country of Origin: China

• Outlets: 7 grounded outlets
• Protection: AC power-line surge suppression, telephone-line protection

• Length: Approximately 10.25 in (26.0 cm)
• Width: Approximately 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
• Height: Approximately 1.75 in (4.4 cm)

• Weight: 1 lb 10.7 oz (757 g)

• Power Cord Length: Approximately 6 ft (1.83 m)

• Plug Type: NEMA 5-15P
• Plug Style: Straight-Blade

• Cord Type: SJT
• Conductors: 3 × 14 AWG (expected)
• Cord Manufacturer: HRSA
• UL File Number (Cord): TBD
• CSA File Number (Cord): TBD

• Surge Protector UL File Number: E111219
• UL 1363 Power Tap
• UL 1449 TVSS

• TVSS Ratings:
  • Line-to-Neutral (L-N): 330V
  • Line-to-Ground (L-G): 330V
  • Neutral-to-Ground (N-G): 330V

Notable Characteristics

• First documented APC SurgeArrest Personal-series artifact preserved by the archive.
• Recall-era specimen manufactured in 1998.
• Integrated telephone-line protection.
• Dedicated Protection Working and Site Wiring Fault indicators.
• HRSA-manufactured six-foot power cord.
• Documented participation in APC's recall-replacement program.
• Molded regulatory-information panel rather than a large adhesive label.
• Two keyhole-style wall-mounting slots.
• Seven-screw enclosure construction.
• Identical UL file number (E111219) to the archive's 1998 APC PRO7 specimen.
• Telephone-line protection integrated into the enclosure end cap.

Weight

The documented APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7T weighs approximately 1 lb 10.7 oz (757 g).

The weight places the PER7T between the archive's earliest and latest APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 examples. The archive's 1998 PRO7 specimen weighs approximately 1 lb 15.9 oz (903 g), while the 2006 and 2017 PRO7 examples each weigh approximately 1 lb 9.6 oz (726 g).

The lower weight relative to the contemporary 1998 PRO7 may reflect differences in telephone-protection circuitry, filtering components, internal bus-bar construction, or overall surge-suppression architecture. Additional comparison will be possible following teardown examination.

Despite incorporating seven grounded outlets, telephone-line protection, diagnostic indicators, and a six-foot power cord, the PER7T remains noticeably lighter than APC's professional-oriented PRO7 product of the same period.

• 
  APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7T on a digital scale showing a weight of approximately 1 lb 10.7 oz (757 g).

Physical Characteristics

The APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7T utilizes a beige molded enclosure measuring approximately 10.25 inches (26.0 cm) long, 4.25 inches (10.8 cm) wide, and 1.75 inches (4.4 cm) tall.

The upper surface incorporates seven grounded receptacles arranged in a single row together with APC's "Protection Working" and "Site Wiring Fault" indicators. A black rocker power switch is positioned near the cord-entry end of the enclosure.

Unlike the APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 family, the Personal-series enclosure utilizes a broader footprint and a flatter overall profile.

The documented example incorporates a six-foot power cord manufactured by HRSA and the underside incorporates two keyhole-style mounting slots intended for wall or furniture mounting.

The enclosure closely resembles the APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 family documented elsewhere within the archive. Overall dimensions, indicator placement, outlet arrangement, and general enclosure architecture appear substantially similar despite the different product-family branding.

Telephone-line protection is provided through modular input and output jacks located at one end of the enclosure. Examination of the connectors indicates that only the center pair of contacts is populated, suggesting support for a single analog telephone line rather than multi-line service.

A molded marking reading "R9802" is present on the underside of the enclosure. The significance of this marking has not yet been determined and may represent a tooling identifier, mold revision, or manufacturing code.

The underside closely resembles contemporary APC SurgeArrest Professional products. Features include molded regulatory information, a serial-number label, two keyhole-style wall-mounting slots, and a UL hologram certification label.

Unlike later APC SurgeArrest products documented by the archive that utilize large adhesive regulatory labels, the PER7T incorporates most electrical ratings and certification information directly into the enclosure tooling through molded lettering.

The underside incorporates molded electrical and regulatory information together with a separate serial-number label. Unlike later APC products that rely extensively on adhesive regulatory labels, much of the PER7T's certification and rating information is permanently molded into the enclosure.

A holographic UL listing label remains present on the documented example. The label identifies the device as a listed Power Tap and transient-voltage surge suppressor (TVSS).

Several deep scratches are present on the underside of the enclosure, particularly near the recessed serial-number area. The damage appears cosmetic and is consistent with long-term use or storage.

Photographs

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  Overall view of the documented APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7T specimen.
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  SurgeArrest Personal branding with Protection Working and Site Wiring Fault indicators.
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  Power-switch area showing indicator layout and receptacle detail.
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  Side profile showing the rectangular receptacle section and curved upper housing.
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  Opposite side profile showing the smooth enclosure design and switch housing.
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  Telephone-line protection ports with input and output connections.
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  Underside overview showing molded regulatory information, mounting provisions, serial-number label, and attached power cord.
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  Molded regulatory-information panel showing electrical ratings, UL listings, and TVSS voltage ratings.
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  Model and serial-number label identifying the documented PER7T specimen.
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  Cord-entry underside detail showing the serial-number label, mounting provisions, and UL hologram label.
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  UL hologram label identifying the device as a listed Power Tap and TVSS.

Date Codes

Discussion of serial numbers, molded date wheels, labels, component date codes, manufacturing evidence, and production chronology.

• Date-code detail.
  Date-code detail.

Condition Upon Acquisition

The documented example was acquired in used condition and exhibits minor cosmetic wear consistent with long-term residential or office use.

A localized transfer marking is present on the receptacle face near the third outlet from the left. The marking appears consistent with contact from a plug or other object during the unit's service life.

No significant enclosure damage, cracks, missing components, or evidence of overheating were observed during initial examination.

Several deep scratches are present on the underside of the enclosure, particularly within the recessed cord-storage and labeling area. The damage appears cosmetic in nature and is consistent with long-term installation, handling, or storage.

Despite the visible scratches, the enclosure remained structurally intact with no evidence of cracks or missing plastic.

Artifact before cleaning and documentation.

Artifact before cleaning and documentation.

Functional Testing

Description of operational testing, polarity testing, indicator operation, and test results.

• Testing photograph.
  Testing photograph.

Teardown

Description of disassembly, construction details, PCB markings, suppression components, wiring, safety features, and observations.

Include analysis whenever possible:

• How does construction compare to earlier models?
• Is the design unusually robust or simplified?
• What does it suggest about the target market?

• Internal construction.
  Internal construction.

Comparison Notes

Compared with the archive's 1998 APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 specimen, the PER7T utilizes a nearly identical enclosure architecture while adding integrated telephone-line protection and Personal-series branding.

The documented PRO7 utilizes a Bon-Eagle-manufactured power cord, whereas the documented PER7T utilizes an HRSA-manufactured cord assembly. This difference indicates that APC sourced cord assemblies from multiple suppliers during the same general production period.

Further comparison of the internal construction may reveal whether the Personal and Professional product families shared suppression circuitry or diverged internally despite their similar external appearance.

The documented PER7T carries UL file number E111219, identical to contemporary APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 examples preserved by the archive. This suggests that both product families were evaluated under the same APC UL listing despite differing model designations and feature sets.

The documented PER7T carries TVSS suppression ratings of 330 volts for line-to-neutral, line-to-ground, and neutral-to-ground protection paths. These ratings match those documented on the archive's 1998 APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 specimen.

Regulatory and electrical information is molded directly into the enclosure rather than applied using adhesive labels. This approach permanently preserves rating and certification information and mirrors the construction methods observed on other APC products from the recall-era production period.

Later APC SurgeArrest products documented by the archive increasingly relied upon adhesive labels for regulatory and rating information.

The documented PER7T shares the same UL file number (E111219), TVSS ratings (330V across all protection modes), general enclosure architecture, wall-mounting provisions, and seven-screw construction observed on the archive's 1998 APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 specimen. The similarities suggest that APC's Personal and Professional product families shared significant engineering commonality despite their different market positioning.

Recall Information

The APC SurgeArrest Personal PER7T was included in APC's 2013 SurgeArrest recall affecting approximately 15 million APC 7-Series and 8-Series surge protectors manufactured between 1993 and 2002.

According to APC and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), affected units could overheat, smoke, melt, and pose a fire hazard. The recall included multiple SurgeArrest product families, including the Personal, Professional, Performance, and Network series.

The documented example carries serial number Z98010214399 and was manufactured in 1998, placing it within the affected recall period.

Documentation accompanying the artifact indicates that the unit was submitted to APC's recall program in June 2021. A replacement APC SurgeArrest surge protector manufactured in 2021 was reportedly received through the recall process and remains preserved alongside the recalled specimen.

As a result, this artifact represents a rare documented example of a recalled APC SurgeArrest product with a known recall-participation history.

• APC SurgeArrest Recall (2013)

Historical References

Historical advertisements, archived manufacturer literature, patents, magazine references, archived web captures, and period specifications.

Historical reference.

Historical reference.

Notes

• Additional observations.
• Manufacturing details.
• Interesting findings.

Related Articles

• Manufacturer
• Product Family
• Surge Protectors
• Collection Index