w_tom wrote:


Excellent information on surges and surge protection is in an IEEE guide at:
http://omegaps.com/Lightning%20Guide...ion_May051.pdf
And one from the NIST at:
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/p.../surgesfnl.pdf

The IEEE guide is aimed at those with some technical background. The
NIST guide is aimed at the unwashed masses.



Any protection that might work on its power cord is already inside
the air conditioner. The plug-in device adds nothing.

Complete nonsense.

But it uses
the words 'surge' and 'protector'; therefore it must do something?
You are being sold on science based in 'word association'.

Geez - it even fooled the IEEE and NIST. Both guides say plug-in
suppressors are effective.


Do you believe that protector stops what three miles of sky could
not? It must to stop or absorb surges. Effective protectors don't
stop or absorb surges.

The IEEE guide explains plug-in suppressors work by CLAMPING the voltage
on all wires (signal and power) to the common ground at the suppressor.
Plug-in suppressors do not work primarily by earthing (or stopping or
absorbing). The guide explains earthing occurs elsewhere. (Read the
guide starting pdf page 40).

Note that all interconnected equipment needs to be connected to the same
plug-in suppressor, or interconnecting wires need to go through the
suppressor. External connections, like phone, also need to go through
the suppressor. Connecting all wiring through the suppressor prevents
damaging voltages between power and signal wires. These multiport
suppressors are described in both guides.

Ratings range from junk to very high.


If your air conditioner needs a protector, then critical items need
a protection more desperately.

As others have said, an air conditioner is not particularly vulnerable.

According to NIST guide, US insurance information indicates equipment
most frequently damaged by lightning is
computers with a modem connection
TVs, VCRs and similar equipment (presumably with cable TV
connections).
All can be damaged by high voltages between power and signal wires.

Since that
protector does not have the dedicated earth ground connection, it also
does not even claim to provide protection from each type of surge.
Did they forget to mention each type of surge?

More complete nonsense.

Plug-in suppressors have MOVs from H-G, N-G, H-N. That is all possible
combinations and all possible surge modes.


Radio Shack is not on that list.

Because it is w_’s list.

Radio Shack solution has not
dedicated earthing wire; does not even discuss earth ground.

w_ has a religious belief (immune from challenge) that surge protection
must use earthing. Thus in his view plug-in suppressors (which are not
well earthed) can not possibly work. The IEEE guide explains plug-in
suppressors work primarily by CLAMPING, not earthing.


Take that $2 plug assembly. Add some $0.10 parts.

One of the MOVs in a plug-in suppressor I recently bought has a rating
of 75,000A and 1475Joules. Provide a source for that MOV for $0.10.


Get your earthing upgrades because earthing provides the
protection. Then install one 'whole house' protector to make that
'less than 10 foot' earthing connection.

Surge suppressors at the service are a good idea.
What does the NIST guide say?
"Q - Will a surge protector installed at the service entrance be
sufficient for the whole house?
A - There are two answers to than question: Yes for one-link appliances,
No for two-link appliances [equipment connected to power AND phone or
cable or....]. Since most homes today have some kind of two-link
appliances, the prudent answer to the question would be NO - but that
does not mean that a surge protector installed at the service entrance
is useless."

The question is not earthing - everyone is for it. The only question is
whether plug-in suppressors work. Both the IEEE and NIST guides say
plug-in suppressors are effective. Read the sources.

There are 98,615,938 other web sites, including 13,843,032 by lunatics,
and w_ can't find another lunatic that says plug-in suppressors are NOT
effective. All you have is w_'s opinions based on his religious belief
in earthing.

–-
bud--