Re: MT nightmare

Protection is earth ground. This posted previously in a
discussion in sci.med.transcriptions entitled "Modems" on 2
Jul 2001 at
http://tinyurl.com/2nl4d
and in numerous other places such as "Surge Supressors?" on
13 Jun 2003 in the newsgroup alt.video.ptv.tivo at
http://tinyurl.com/qbj9

Plug-in protectors are not effective, cost tens of times
more money per protected appliance, and are too often grossly
undersized. Doubt it? Then post the joules number for each
plug-in protector. Notice no claim from that plug-in
protector manufacturer for protection from each type
transient. A plug-in protector does not even claim to protect
from the type of transient you have suffered AND therefore
would have you believe that all transients are same.

The electric company installed your 'whole house'
protector. But they are not responsible for the earth
ground. You are. No protector is protection. The protector
is simply something that connects each utility wire to
protection. And protection is single point earth ground -
which is better defined in those previous discussions.

So how did your damage occur? Well if electricity worked
just like a wave on the beach, then the surge crashed in on
phone lines, damaged appliances, and stopped. Unfortunately,
even 2nd grade science taught that electricity must first form
a complete circuit. That means the transient was entering and
leaving each damaged appliance. To have damage, the appliance
must have a incoming wire and an outgoing wire.

The telephone line also have a 'whole house' protector
installed for free by the telco. This is often the outgoing
path for damaged electronics. Incoming on AC electric.
Outgoing to earth ground on phone line. Now we have a
complete circuit which is why some things are damaged and
others are not.

In those previous discussions, notice the repeated reference
to "single point" earth ground. That means your cable wire,
your phone wire, and AC electric all must be earthing - not
just grounded - earthed to the same point.

Just a few ideas why your existing protection 'system'
failed. And yes, a protector is only one component of a
'system' - which is why those previous discussions are so
important.

Again, earth ground is your responsibility. Not the
electric company that only installed the protector. For all
protectors - the protection is only as effective as its earth
ground. After that simple statement, the complexity
begins. Details on why your Tivo, sever, etc were all damaged
is defined by quality of and length of connection to single
point earth ground.

However the electric company is responsible for earthing
your primary protection. Pictures demonstrate what you must
inspect for:
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html

Change your perspective. Posted was as if surge protectors
provide protection. They do not. A protector is only a
temporary wire connection to protection. Your protection is
only as effective as its earth ground.

After reading those previous discussions, one should have
many more questions as so many did in that previous in
sci.med.transactions discussion entitled "Modems". Damage is
so routinely avoided that your phone company's $multi-million
computer worked undamaged right through that thunderstorm as
it must everywhere else everytime. Effective transistor
protection even for your home can be installed at little cost.
But you must install the right things and don't waste money
instead on plug-in protectors. #1 suspect is the integrity
and connection distance to your building's earth ground
(secondary protection) AND if the utility's primary protector
is still properly earthed.

Barbara Carlson wrote:
> We had some sort of surge protectors recommended by TIVO on both the
> TIVO boxes that were blown. My modem line is now wired directly to
> the outside box and I wonder if that would not make it even more
> vulnerable. When my server gets back and we set up through the
> router again, I am going to bring the phone line into the UPS and
> connect through that, which has been recommended. But, if anyone
> knows a better way of protecting phone lines please pass it along.
> South Florida is lightning capital of the country, but we have been
> here nearly 19 years and never lost anything other than the TIVO
> units before and I have protectors on everything electrical--in
> addition to the whole house protector.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: PC dmaged by lightning
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  • Re: Lightning and computer?
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    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Surge protectors to use with home electronics when grounding is not available?
    ... does not depend on ground as part of the device protection. ... earth ground are earthing surges destructively through equipment. ... State Building) and no damage. ... locations may suffer a serious surge once every seven years without ...
    (sci.electronics.basics)
  • Re: Lightning and computer?
    ... Does every incoming utility wire make a 'less than 10 ... That earth ground rod means nothing about earthing the ... the appliance internal protection saved those appliances. ... some appliances make a better connection to earth ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: PC dmaged by lightning
    ... that electricity must have a complete circuit for current flow AND that ... AC electric might be an incoming path. ... and still suffer damage. ... Effective testing for protection does not exist. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)