Power surges and Protectors

[Target]

1) It depends on the surge protector, but most will provide protection even when they are powered off.

2)Yes, you computer/modem can be damaged from a surge or a lightning strike even if the computer is turned off and a surge protector is in place! The only sure way to protect them is to unplug them during a storm.

People I think have a misunderstanding about the difference between what most call power surges, and lightning strikes. Many people think of them as the same thing. While technically they are, its like comparing a firecracker to a 5000 pound bomb.

Sure there are those surge protectors that claim they will protect against a lightning strike, and some even offer insurance that their product will work. But I haven't seen anything available to the home user that can really truely protect against a direct (or nearly direct) lightning strike. Because so much current is present in a lightning strike, and because it is so sudden and so fast, often what happens is that the electricity flows across the circuit breaker, and burns it out on the tail end of the current. Meaning, that the electricity has already flowed over the circuit, getting to your components, before the circuit/fuse burns out and effectivly breaks the path of current flow.

While this is an extreme example, I have witnessed it first hand at a friends home. (BTW, it scares the hell out of you when it happens) Almost all of the electronic components in my friends house were damaged by the strike. Refridgerator, TV, Fish tank pumps, Stereo(s), etc etc. Surge protectors failed to hold back the current on those lines where they were used.... His phone lines were literally melted and blown apart from their connectors on the outside of the house.

So basically, surge protectors are a good idea and will prevent mild power overloads, but don't expect them to protect you from all lightning strikes.

[Paul Hubrich]

Target is absolutely right. You really need to unplug that computer during a thunderstorm, regardless of surge protectors. My 6 year old son has watched me do that so many times that now he runs and pulls out the cords as soon as he hears some thunder. Only problem is that he doesn't always make sure it's shut down first :-O

[geekgrl]

You neeeed a good surge protector! Not only can it get hit by lightening, but line noise and power surges will eventually ruin your system if you aren't careful. It may not be an instant thing, but over time, little things like line noise can really do damage.

[rodan]

Thanks to all of you for your comments and advice. I've heard, too, that there is no comparison between lightning strikes and power surges. In reference to modems, I lost two modems in lightning storms( I failed to get off the computer powered down and pull modem line out quick enough) After losing two modems way, I learned to use a surge protector, with modem protection, too, but, now I'm not sure I'm gonna depend on it to protect......guess the old fashion way is still the safest and surest,,, just unplug the stuff when a bad storm comes through! Good advice! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[tonym]

Hello all,

You still want a surge protector on your line even in the event that you RELIGIOUSLY unplug your computer when you hear the first thunderclap! Buy a protector with the highest Joule rating that you can find (nothing under 1000 Joulesm as they are junk!!). This is not an area to "cheap out"!

Surges aren't just casued by lightning, although it accounts for about 99.5% of the surges/spikes on a system. Heavy industrial equipment in your neighborhood (particularly motors and induction machines) can poison the utility line with high voltage spikes, and some innocent looking devices in your home, like an energy-saving refrigerator can put spikes on the line. And controlled motors, like those found in some heavy-duty drills cause electrical fast-transients (EFT) -- high voltage spikes of fast rise time (in the nanosecond range) and short duration, but nonetheless destructive!

And remember this -- the surges/spikes need not exceed a catastrophic threshold to do damage to the PSU in your computer. Cumulative smaller voltage spikes can degrade and weaken the capacitors in the circuit (the first capacitors encountered in the line branch are "X" safety caps -- they self heal). The non-safety capacitors WILL eventually fail SHORTED.

And sometimes you can be affected by a fault caused by a car hitting a utility pole or a warm-and-fuzzy getting into the transformer area and causing a brief but nasty surge.

I had an expensive FAX machine that was nuked when a car hit a pole just down the street and caused a surge.

Finally, don't forget to protect your telecom lines that enter the house. Even thought most cards are tested for conformance to surges and spikes, the levels are small when compared to a neighborhood area lightning strike. Tis is often overlooked by computer owners and they pay for this when a fault occurs!

Good luck and have fun...


Tony

[rodan]

I have a couple of questions in regard to this topic: 1) Do surge protectors "protect" if they are turned off, yet, the computer and telephone modem are connected to it?
2)If I'm not using a surge protector, can my computer and/or telephone modem be damaged from a surge or lighting strike, if the computer is off, yet, plugged in the wall socket and the modem to the telephone jack?