Surge / Ground / Lightning

[NB]

Who is W_TOM and why has he appeared in every single thread that has contained those keywords since 2001???

[Bates]

And yet so far he has not appeared in this thread.

W_TOM are you there?

[Hugh]

Maybe he's another Tesla.

[salty]

Many have recently filtered out Googlegroups becauise it's become the overwhelming source of newsgroup spam. That's coincidentally who wacko_tom posts through. I only see his nonsense if someone else is foolish enough to respond to his rants.

[trader4]

Maybe he taken a hiatus after the right propper whopping he got here last week. I thought it was hillarious after he derided the makers of plug-in surge protectors and then gave us his list of "real companies", like Intermatic, GE, Leviton, etc., that were experts at it. Only problem was, all of the companies on his list sell plug-in ones too.

[w_tom]

Trader ignored a reply that corrected his misconceptions. I, too, would sell plug-in protectors to 'experts' who never learned how electricity works. If one wants to stay ignorant, then I, too, would be happy to reap profits from their ignorance. But, effective protectors are sold only by companies with high reputations. Trader never understood that part.

Some are foolish as to believe APC, Tripplite, Belkin, and Monster Cable are responsible manufacturers. Effective 'whole house' protectors are sold by GE, Leviton, Square D, Siemens, Cutler-Hammer, Keison, and Intermatic - to name but a few. APC, Tripplite, Belkin, and Monster Cable don't sell effective protectors. Their products do not even claim to provide protection. But those who know using insults would also recommend those APC, et al protectors. I would also sell trader the Brooklyn Bridge should he remain that naive.

Well, this 'sound byte' is already too long for those to know only by attacking the messenger. Others who would spend tens of times less money to have significant protection can easily identify the scam protector. 1) It has no dedicated earthing wire. 2) Its manufacturer does not discuss earthing. 3) It does not claim protection from each type of surge in manufacturer spec numbers. All three points identify every protector from APC, Belkin, Tripplite, and Monster Cable. A grocery store protector is the same ineffective protector circuit selling for a smaller profit. At a profit? Equivalent to that profitable $7 protector is a circuit inside that $150 Monster Cable protector. Higher price means better protection? Yes, when one would also buy the Brooklyn Bridge. Protection in a $150 Monster Cable product is equivalent to that $7 grocery store protector. Both protectors make the same protection claims in numeric specs.

Responsible lurkers ignore the insults; instead learn facts. Every responsible engineering source defines what the effective protector does: divert a surge into earth where energy is harmlessly dissipated. Numerous above posters claim a surge protector somehow absorbs energy that even three miles of sky could not stop. Does that silly little one inch part stop what three miles of sky could not? Many posters believe that myth.

An earthed 'whole house' protector means surge energy gets dissipated harmlessly in earth AND protector remains functional after a direct lightning strike. Effective protection means nobody knows a surge even existed. Did you grasp that technical reality - or know only because others have posted insults? A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Three point are provided to quickly indentify the ineffective (highly profitable) protectors.

[ransley]

Whaaat, you say my Triplights that offer a life time warranty to damages from from surges and lightning offer non such claim or warranty, thats pure barf. Triplight surge protectors are only one step a homeowner needs to hopefully protect you. Ive been hit several times, anything you do helps a bit. Sure to do it right can cost

10000.00 for protection. But if a storm is commin, even with my mains lightning arrestor and surge protection, and individual Trip units, I still unplug.

[w_tom]

Actually some things installed will decrease protection - ie the TV destroyed because the plug-in protector earthed an 8000 volt surge through it. Gross assumptions are also behind that warranty. Did you read the fine print and learn from so many others who never got that warranty honored?

For example, some plujg-in protectors state that a protector from any other manufacturer in the building means their warranty is void. Another says that if you don't submit the claim on their forms, the claim may be rejected. Another says reinbursement is based on depreciation meaning the computer has zero value in a few years. Another says that every electrical conductor that touches that appliance must connect through their protector. Did they forget to mention that a table top is considered an electrical conductor? How many fine print exemptions make a warranty void? Fine print is chock full of exemptions. Warranty says nothing about protection.

Steve Uhrig on 17 Jun 2003 in the newsgroup comp.home.automation entitled "UPS for computer and TV"

Did that protector do protection? Well, how many dishwashers have been surge damaged during the same surges? How many dimmer switches? Where are these surges that the Tripplite protected from? Only way you know that Tripplite provided protection is when everything else - every smoke detector, clock radio, dimmer switch, washing machine, etc was destroyed. You have no idea what that Tripplite did. In fact, Page 42 Figure 8 - the Tripplite may even make create damage to other items in that room.

[Douglas Johnson]

Who?

Who has invalidated a warranty because the device is on a table top?

-- Doug