Guest guest Posted February 11, 2004 Report Share Posted February 11, 2004 Sorry Doug, your right, a true lightning hit is going to blow it if it's hooked to it. Of course even unplugging sometimes doesn't help. Growing up, one of neighbor's TV got blown out. He had unplugged it and had just let the cord drop to the floor, somehow the lightning came through and still jumped the distance to the cord and blew the TV. As the insurance man said, " That TVs time had just come! " dale Electrical Storms > As an electrician for 30 yrs before PLS diag, there is no way, > including surge protectors for phone lines, to protect from being > zapped if lightning hits a phone line. The protection value is > measured in " Joules " , 950 is a good one, but the number would need to > be in the millions to stop a lightning bolt. A surge protector is only > good for small spikes on the line. > The only way to be totaly SAFE is not to be physicaly connected. > Unplug the line during a storm, modem phone line and power to the > computer. > Or you have to set up a wireless connection for the system, and that > would only protect you from a phone line strike and it cost more to > set that up. > The safest way is to disconnect the computer from power and phone line > during a storm or when there is a thunderstorm warning. > Yes that can be a hassle but it beats having to buy a new computer. > AND DON'T JUST TURN IT OFF... UNPLUG IT. > Hope this helps. > Doug > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 Hey Doug Very well put .Now if you take alot of us the computor is stuck into a desk and the desk is against a wall this is going to be a major task .Now being a Sparky LOL heres an idea Just suppose you made a gadget that has a contactor or relay for these with a remote control ,Now the physcal connection has been broken by the relay or contactor. Only down fall is the lightning would jump the gap ? in the contactoror relay? sounds like a new invention could be in the works esspecially for a Sparky GEO Electrical Storms As an electrician for 30 yrs before PLS diag, there is no way, including surge protectors for phone lines, to protect from being zapped if lightning hits a phone line. The protection value is measured in " Joules " , 950 is a good one, but the number would need to be in the millions to stop a lightning bolt. A surge protector is only good for small spikes on the line. The only way to be totaly SAFE is not to be physicaly connected. Unplug the line during a storm, modem phone line and power to the computer. Or you have to set up a wireless connection for the system, and that would only protect you from a phone line strike and it cost more to set that up. The safest way is to disconnect the computer from power and phone line during a storm or when there is a thunderstorm warning. Yes that can be a hassle but it beats having to buy a new computer. AND DON'T JUST TURN IT OFF... UNPLUG IT. Hope this helps. Doug ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 I misspoke the other day when I said there was no way to protect your equipment from a lightning strike. A whole-house option is available, electronic line sensors and arestors, multiple lightning rods in the ground, along with high quality surge protecters on every wire coming into your house. The cost could run to $5000 or more depending on where you live. As GEO pointed out some of us aren't able to move desks, but if you can reach the back of your computer, monitor and all your electronic components, 99% of the time you can just pull the power cord from the device itself. You might have to reset the VCR but you'd have to setup the new one anyway. The point is to remove all wire connections from the outside. Antenna, cable, phone and power. If you must use a phone use a wireless phone, the worst that can happen is you fry your phone but you are safe because YOU aren't wired to the phone line. Just as important is to stay away from any water source, sink, shower, anything. Every water source has a drain with a vent to above the roof, leaving your water and drainage system an alternate path into your living space. Anyone interested in protection might want to look into Lightning Strike Insurance Be carefull. Doug > Hey Doug > Very well put .Now if you take alot of us the computor is stuck into a desk and the desk is against a wall this is going to be a major task .Now being a Sparky LOL heres an idea Just suppose you made a gadget that has a contactor or relay for these with a remote control ,Now the physcal connection has been broken by the relay or contactor. Only down fall is the lightning would jump the gap ? in the contactoror relay? sounds like a new invention could be in the works esspecially for a Sparky GEO > Electrical Storms > > > As an electrician for 30 yrs before PLS diag, there is no way, > including surge protectors for phone lines, to protect from being > zapped if lightning hits a phone line. The protection value is > measured in " Joules " , 950 is a good one, but the number would need to > be in the millions to stop a lightning bolt. A surge protector is only > good for small spikes on the line. > The only way to be totaly SAFE is not to be physicaly connected. > Unplug the line during a storm, modem phone line and power to the > computer. > Or you have to set up a wireless connection for the system, and that > would only protect you from a phone line strike and it cost more to > set that up. > The safest way is to disconnect the computer from power and phone line > during a storm or when there is a thunderstorm warning. > Yes that can be a hassle but it beats having to buy a new computer. > AND DON'T JUST TURN IT OFF... UNPLUG IT. > Hope this helps. > Doug > > > > -------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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