Safe & Low Cost Insurance For Your Computer & Hardwares

[=TWP=WOLF]

Hi mates.

Since we all know that electricity combined with lightning-strike can cause real damage to our computers and hardwares. I do recommend you to take a closer look at APC SurgeArrest, course you never know when Thor is going to swing his hammer in your neighborhood.

APC SurgeArrest Performance.
http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=176

This is NOT in commercial purpose, just some wisdoms from a experienced and caring old man.

WOLF.

[Frick]

I'm not sure those things can stop the lightning.

[Fourstaff]

Originally Posted by Frick

I'm not sure those things can stop the lightning.

Yeah, they can. But the problem is, a good power supply should do the trick too, so most of the time, its not needed. Useful for another line of defence though.

[Soylent Joe]

I'm running 4 of these really nice Monster surge protectors that we got an incredible deal on. They're all about 4 years old and probably need replacing though, as I've heard their surge resistance lessens after time.

[Frick]

Originally Posted by Fourstaff

Yeah, they can. But the problem is, a good power supply should do the trick too, so most of the time, its not needed. Useful for another line of defence though.

Ok. How do they do that?

[phanbuey]

Originally Posted by Frick

Ok. How do they do that?

they have a fuses and power regulation, if too much power tries to get through, they shut off. Worst case scenarios is the strip is bricked.

[erocker]

They can maybe protect against a small surge, but for lightning strikes, not a chance. Best way to do it is have protection on your home's circuit breaker and a ground from the highest point in your house.

[AthlonX2]

If your home is wired correctly the lightning strike will be diverted to your ground wire.
also +1 to what erocker said i have a line conditioner/supressor on the main line coming into my house.

[Frick]

Originally Posted by erocker

They can maybe protect against a small surge, but for lightning strikes, not a chance. Best way to do it is have protection on your home's circuit breaker and a ground from the highest point in your house.

That was pretty much what I was thinking.

[=TWP=WOLF]

Well......I was only thinking more then about my self.

Ofcourse theres basic needs that have to be done in your house first, like grounded outlet and so on. I'm from Sweden and they know how to build safe houses here (except those that cheats course of greed).

But since there is more of a brain competition then caring, I would not make the same mistake twice.

By the way, who said anything about stopping lightning!

WOLF.

[dhdude]

Thanks for the useful info Wolf, I appreciate it

[TheMailMan78]

I use an APC already but FYI guys nothing stops lighting.

[blkhogan]

Originally Posted by erocker

They can maybe protect against a small surge, but for lightning strikes, not a chance. Best way to do it is have protection on your home's circuit breaker and a ground from the highest point in your house.

Thats about the best protection you can get right there. Ive seen even the "best" power protectors fail to keep equipment safe. I always shut mine down and unplug at the first sign of thunder storms.

[Kreij]

Your house ground (if installed correctly) will mitigate most damage from a lightning strike.
However, the ambient static electricity that will be in the area of your home during that event can toast many things. A good UPS/surge protect WILL protect you in most cases from a surge on your electricl curcuits.

What people fail to realize is that you need surge protection on all of your connections to your computer ... phone, LAN and Power. Miss one and say goodbye to anything connected.

[LiNKiN]

So easy a Caveman can do it!

[Kreij]

Are you calling me a caveman, Link ? That's it. I'm reporting your post.

On topic : People, do get some type of surge protection. Even moderate protection is better than nothing.

[dr emulator (madmax)]

read this Another Good reason to buy a quality surge protector
(if you've 2hours to spare)

[=TWP=WOLF]

Originally Posted by dhdude

Thanks for the useful info Wolf, I appreciate it

Hi dhdude!

You are more then welcome my friend

Remember, It's for grounded wall sockets.

Take care mate!

WOLF.

[MohawkAngel]

Remember Nikolai Tesla who lightened bulbs at distance with electro magnetism ? Same shit with your house...if he could turn on wat distance with millions of volt then pretty sure the lightning can fry your electronic with its magnetism too

[=TWP=WOLF]

Originally Posted by Fourstaff

Yeah, they can. But the problem is, a good power supply should do the trick too, so most of the time, its not needed. Useful for another line of defence though.

I have Enermax Revolution 85+ 1250W (ERV1250EGT) power supply and I'm not that moneyed to test the limit of my power supply.

By the way, I have 6 computers at home (I'm a former computer technician as well as a handyman) and I do what I can to preserve them in the best condition for long term usage.

WOLF.

[Kreij]

I've got one computer with a 1500W(VA) UPS on it that protect everything incoming.
I don't care if the television melts into a quivering glob of protoplasmic silicone, but my rig is going down fighting.

[westom]

Originally Posted by Kreij

Your house ground (if installed correctly) will mitigate most damage from a lightning strike.

Which ground? Safety ground (also called equipment ground) is electrically different from earth ground. The wall receptacle cannot earth a surge. Wire has too many sharp bends. Is bundled with other wires. Is sometimes in metallic conduit. And most important, is more than 10 feet from earth ground.

Will that 2 cm part inside an APC stop what three miles of sky could not? Of course not. But if your information source is a retail salesman or advertising, then that damning question was never asked. Will those hundreds of joules in an APC absorb surges that are hundreds of thousands of joules? Of course not. A majority will recommend the APC – because retail propaganda is that convincing. Because so many blindly believe what they are first told to believe – and do not ask damning questions. Do not demand manufacturer numeric specs.

All computers contain serious protection that makes most anomalies irrelevant. Your concern is a rare event - typically once every seven years - that might overwhelm that protection.

Computer protection means energy is not inside the building. If inside, that energy hunts for earth destructively via household appliances. How protection has been done for over 100 years. Once energy is inside the building, nothing will prevent the hunt.

Informed consumers upgrade their single point earth ground to both meet and exceed post 1990 National Electrical code. And do nothing to interior wires. This solution easily implemented even on 1930 wiring.

Every wire in every incoming inside every cable must connect short (ie 'less than 10 feet') to single point ground. Either directly without any protector (cable TV, satellite dish). Or earthed via a 'whole house' protector (AC electric, telephone). More responsible companies provide effective solutions.

Monster's history is to identify scams. Then sell the same product for even higher profits. That APC or Monster is the same protector circuit selling for $7 in grocery stores. These are not on the list of more responsible companies.

An informed homeowner obtains a 'whole house' protector from responsible companies such as Siemens, Square D, Intermatic, Leviton, Polyphaser, Keison, or General Electric. An effective protector from Cutler-Hammer sells in Lowes and Home Depot for less than $50. Effective solutions are numerous – and cost less money.

Every incoming wire first connects short to the single point earthing electrode. Either via a direct wire connection. Or via a 'whole house' protector. Protection is always - always - about where energy dissipates. Either energy is absorbed harmlessly outside in earth. Or that surge goes hunting for earth destructively via appliances. Sometimes a plug-in protector makes damage even easier.

It was that simple even 100 years ago. And why even munitions dumps suffer direct lightning strikes without explosion. Why does you telco work without damage through every thunderstorm. They also only use 'whole house' protectors - do not waste money on plug-in protectors. Bottom line - how to identify the effective protector. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground.

[Kreij]

You are right, Westom. A direct house hit is going to cook almost everything.

We had a direct lightning strike about 10 feet from the front door. Molten dirt was thrown about 10 feet into the air (I happen to be standing in front of the living room window when it happened).
It melted our underground phone line from the house to the street, and melted the box on the side of the house (it was a miracle it did not catch fire).
All of the phones in our home were toast. Nothing else, and that was a hit only ten feet away.

FYI ... it scared the shit out of me when it happened.

[westom]

Originally Posted by Kreij

You are right, Westom. A direct house hit is going to cook almost everything.

That is not what I posted. And that is not what happens when lightning directly strikes your telco CO, commercial radio stations, or munitions dumps. Routine is to have a direct lightning strike without damage. That means installing the well proven solutions.

For example, those protectors from responsible companies start at 50,000 amps. A direct lightning strike is typically 20,000 amps. If protection was properly installed, then a direct lightning strike does not even harm a protector. A direct lightning strike - and nobody even knew a surge existed. But that means 20,000 amps is connected short (ie 'less than 10 feet') to be absorbed harmlessly in earth.

Routine is to have a direct lightning strike without damage when earth ground is properly installed. Protection is always about where energy dissipates. Harmlessly outside a building. Or destructively inside.

[=TWP=WOLF]

If I new that my "little goodwill thinking" was going to start "a 60 minutes issue" I would never been spoken.

I'm sorry for that.