Re: Surge protection without grounded plugs
- From: w_tom <w_tom1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2007 09:05:27 -0700
On Sep 22, 1:37 pm, David Schwartz <david...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
My son just moved into an older house near his college. We're told
that the electricity isn't entirely reliable and that he should use a
surge protector.
The house's plugs aren't grounded. Will this affect the efficacy of a
surge protector?
Is the computer at risk or just the AC adapter?
Myth purveyors will claim that a surge protector will absorb energy.
Energy that could not be stopped even by three miles of sky.
Protectors don't stop or absorb surges (except where myths are
promoted). Protection means surges are earthed before entering the
building. That energy must be dissipated somewhere. That somewhere
is earth ground.
A protector is nothing more than a connecting device to protection.
Protection is earth ground - where energy is absorbed. Essential is
to have breaker box earthing upgraded to both meet and exceed post
1990 NEC code. That means an earthing electrode with a 'less than 10
foot' connection to the breaker box. Chances are the only earthing
(if it still exists) was to a cold water pipe. That earthing is no
longer sufficient even for human safety. For transistor safety, one
'whole house' protector connected to that upgraded earthing means
massive transistor protection. Protection without rewiring the entire
house.
Every incoming utility must enter at a same location to also make
that short earthing connection. For example, the phone line has a
'whole house' protector installed for free by the telco. But that
protector, also, is only as effective as its earth ground. Even the
cable must be earthed to that same electrode before entering the
building. Cable is protected without a protector. No reason for a
cable protector. Cable is earthed directly with no protector. Again,
what provides the protection? A box? No. Earthing is the
protection.
What even makes a Franklin lightning rod effective? Sharp or blunt
rod? Not relevant. Even a lightning rod is only as effective as its
earth ground because earthing provides the protection.
Do not confuse safety ground in AC wall receptacles with earth
ground. They are electrically different. That AC wall safety ground
is for human safety. No surge protector will correct that missing
safety ground. Far more useful on 'that' unreliable wiring is to
replace selective circuit breakers with Arc fault breakers or GFCI
breakers. Unreliable wiring is a human safety problem. A surge
protector accomplishes zero. But again, read numeric specs for that
surge protector. What does it actually claim to accomplish? Don't
read its color glossy sales brochure. What do its numeric specs says
it does?
It would help if you define which problem needs protection from AND
to define "unreliable wiring". A breaker box GFCI circuit breaker
goes a long way to protecting from unreliable wiring. An arc fault
type is even better protection. The plug-in surge proetctor does
nothing. It's own manufacturer will (quitely) recommend not using a
power strip protector if receptacles are not three wire - a human
safety threat created by connecting a three prong power strip to a two
prong outlet.
Surge protectors are only connecting devices to protection. That
protection is earth ground. If too far away from earth ground, a
surge proetctor must shunt somewhere. It may shunt (connect, divert,
clamp) a surge to earth via the computer. The effective protector
earths before surges can enter the building. A surge properly earthed
will not be inside the building to overwhelm protection already inside
all appliances. All appliances contain any protection that would work
on its power cord. Internal protection that may be overwhelm if the
rare and destructive surge is not earthed BEFORE entering the
building.
.
- Follow-Ups:
- Re: Surge protection without grounded plugs
- From: bud--
- Re: Surge protection without grounded plugs
- From: Jon Slaughter
- Re: Surge protection without grounded plugs
- References:
- Surge protection without grounded plugs
- From: David Schwartz
- Surge protection without grounded plugs
- Prev by Date: Re: What do You think about that
- Next by Date: RCA model SCP-2 Sound Tape Magazine Loaded large cassette recorder- c. 1960- stereo single ended tube amped- serviced- $200 opener- or BIN $350
- Previous by thread: Re: Surge protection without grounded plugs
- Next by thread: Re: Surge protection without grounded plugs
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
