Re-upping this since the south is going to suffer severe storms today and tomorrow.
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I learned: it's always best to completely unplug anything you value, before the lightning strikes.
Very true. The counterpoint to this is that you can't always be home when these events happen. If I am home, or know a big storm is coming I turn off my hifi system, but I have too many devices around the house I cannot do this for every time. Computers, networking infrastructure, TV in the bedroom, Wifi enabled light switches, thermostats, etc. I take the belt and suspenders approach. Surge suppressor in the panel, and at the devices as well as network surge protectors on either side of the cable modem and I'm about to install a 3' air gap using fiber optic cable between the cable modem and the rest of my home infrastructure. |
You can also add coaxial gas tube arrestors upstream of the modem and off air antennas to add another layer.
Heh, already ordered. :) |
We pulled fiber optic cables through the attic and connected all the
switches and router together with glass to fully isolate everything.
That's funny because that's kind of what I'm thinking of doing. Not that extensively. The whole house is wired for Ethernet, but I am going to put together a fiber gap between the modem and main house router. |
There are also electrical panel protection systems that guard against surges from hits to the ground or hits to the main wiring miles away. These run about $500-$1000. These can be a little cheaper. The Seimens BoltShield I just purchased was $150 and was plug and play for my panel. GE and Square D make even less expensive units. The problem with unplugging systems when not in use is that assumes you know when something bad will happen. We often do not, so I do go with the dual protection route, and if things get really dicey then I do unplug them because I’m squeamish. Don’t forget to put a properly grounded surge protector on any coaxial cables that enter the home. A surge there can infiltrate your electronics and wreak havoc. |
When linesmen work on high tension lines, they don't attach themselves to the ground, they bond themselves to the high tension line!
Scary as f**** to me, but the physics is real.
Best,
E
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just unplug when there is a storm brewing and if your going to be gone
for days. my friend back in the 70's was sitting listening to music and
his tv/fm antenna was struck and it took out his Pioneer turntable,
Marantz receiver and Norman speakers
Which is great if you know the event is coming, but what do you do about all your other appliances? The combination of small surges that damage over time plus major appliance damage make whole house protection worthwhile. |
Near the water between Savannah and Charleston.
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I am moving to a lightning prone area this month. My electric service provider does not offer in-meter surge protection like some do, but I will be adding it to my service panel, and using Furman's near my gear.
Best,
E
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It had a scratchy volume pot that could not be replaced and Dan
D'Agostino had no intention to fix it. It was a custom pot that was out
of stock. He told me to get a pot from Radio Shack and mount it on top! I
am absolutely not kidding!
That is the funniest thing I've read all year, thanks @mijostyn ! |
After losing a couple of satellite receivers in a row after mere wind storms,
I definitely recommend that all outdoor antennas be surge protected.
Satellite receivers can blow from static discharge of air blowing across reflector.
These devices are hard to guard properly. You need a surge/grounding block on the outside, plus a ground isolator on the inside, which has to have power, since you also block DC. The external house ground often causes ground loops internally, which is why I think installers don't bother.
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To give you an idea, I used to work in a place that assembled solid state audio gear, most of it op amp based, and a certain manufacturer's parts, perhaps Fairchild? (1980's) was super susceptible to static during assembly. The little zap that a human could apply, sometimes unnoticeable, was not enough to harm the technician, anymore than say rubbing your shoes across carpet and zapping an unsuspecting family member.
The fuses however don't go until there's enough current to melt the metal inside them.
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What struck me as odd is in neither case did a circuit breaker blow; and
in none of the burnt out equipment did the fuses blow. Maybe someone
w/ more expertise than I have can explain why not?
Speed, and current. You can fry solid state equipment with microamps. Just have to have the high voltage there for a microsecond, and poof. The fuses and circuit breakers never have time to respond. Fuses don't respond to voltage. |
