Electric Co. backs down

Tony,

I agree with your opinion on providing clean power. However, the problem in these cases is not the duration of the power outage, but the transients introduced when it is restored. Besides current spikes, the power can overshoot above the

120/240 volt standard and/or oscillate around that value until things settle down. That plays havoc on any electrical system. One thing I try to do, if I can catch it in time, is turn off all equipment, especially the AC unit in preparation for the power coming back up. Sometimes it could be a power station faulty relay that will 'chatter' turning the power off and on in rapid succession. I'm not sure these fancy grounding systems can compensate for that.

Sherwin D.

Reply to
sherwindu
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In situation as described, an igniter was powered off. But igniter was damaged. How? A transient that would have harmed that igniter, instead, must be earthed where AC enters the building. Turning off power did not protect igniter - in this scenario.

First, that surge solution uses something that is unreliable - human action. Second, the igniter was even off when damaged. If utility switching creates a surge that seeks earth ground, then surge may seek earth ground, destructively, through household electronics due to missing earthing or no earthed 'whole house' protector.

One can complain about utility power. Complaints don't change reality. Transient that typically overwhelms internal appliance protection is why all homes now require post 1990 earthing and a properly earthed 'whole house' protector. That has been reality since

1970s. Complaints don't change that reality.

A 'whole house' protector is not 100% protection. A roof is also not

100% protecti> I agree with your opinion on providing clean power. However, the problem in

rapid

Reply to
w_tom

ok, so a ignitor which had worked faithfully for many years up to and shortly before a power outage, suddenly fails almost immediately after power is restored is just some kind of wierd coincidence? I don't think so. Like many other devices, the power off switch does not isolate ALL the circuitry from the outside world.

Sherw> In situation as described, an igniter was powered off. But igniter

in rapid

Reply to
sherwindu

Defined was why that damage would happen AND why it would not be a frequent occurrence. Defined are what all homes have needed since 1970s and the arrival of transistors in homes. Defined is igniter damage maybe because your building has a wiring problem.

Lightning or AC utility switching can create a type of transient that seeks earth ground destructively via transistors. Power on or powered off - with or without plug-in protectors - that transient may still seek earth ground via the unswitched wire AND may be outgoing via gas pipe. Again, is it acceptable to have electric currents flowing down a gas pipe? And again, this failure would be possible if your building earthing does not meet post-1990 code AND if you do not have the 'whole house' protector.

Defined was how damage could have occurred, why building earthing is so essential (for so many reasons), and why homeowners need a properly earthed 'whole house' protector. Reread what was posted. Your reply implies that you did not understand a technical reply that explains how igniter damage happened. Defined is why a household electrical system must be inspected, why it might be upgraded, AND why you must inspect what the utility has installed. All this because you had damage. Clearly defined was why an igniter could be damaged when switched off. Please reread the previous post since it is the only post that defines how your damage could have happened AND defines how you avoid a repeat of same damage.

You have work to do. Igniter damage may simply be a warning that human safety problems also exist. Grasp warnings in those previous posts that also explain why igniter damage could have occurred.

This, your latest reply, implied you misread the previous and technical post.

sherw> ok, so a ignitor which had worked faithfully for many years up to and shortly before

power off

Reply to
w_tom

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