On Apr 18, 2:07 pm, "Robert11" wrote:
Thanks for help and info.
Appreciate it.

You are right; the 4870 model doesn't seem to be listed anymore.

Probably replaced by something newer.
Will give them a call Monday and ask.

Accurate replies define protection as earth ground. No protector is
protection. Protection is where that surge energy gets dissipated -
earth ground. Protectors are simply connecting devices to earth.

Therefore the Intermatic will only be as effective as the earth
ground - as others have noted. That means a breaker box ground wire
should not go up over the foundation and down to earth. Instead, that
ground wire should be through the foundation and down to earth. Every
wire foot shorter means better surge protection. No sharp bends. No
splices. And all grounds (telephone, cable) make a 'less than 10
foot' connection to this earthing electrode.

Most electricians don't have the 'radio frequency electricity'
knowledge to appreciate why sharp wire bends to earth means diminished
protection. That ground wire must be rerouted separated from other
non-earthing wires. Remember, that ground wire is carrying lightning
electricity into earth.

Telephone NID box also has a 'whole house' protector. That
protector also must be earthed to the same common point. Cable TV
needs no protector since it gets earthed only with a wire. But again,
connection should be 'less than 10 feet', no sharp bends, etc.

How to make that Intermatic even better? Expand a single point
earth ground with more rods or buried bare copper wire. If your
utilities do not enter at a common location, then the buried wire
interconnects all ground electrodes to create a single point ground
and to further enhance earthing. See a utility app note:
http://www.cinergy.com/surge/ttip08.htm

Most electricians don't understand why they must 'exceed' post 1990
National Electrical Code requirements since electricians only
understand 60 Hertz electricity - not RF electricity. What makes any
protector effective? Its connection to earth.

Same protector that makes lightning surges irrelevant also makes
irrelevant the 'inside the house' surge. If household appliances are
creating surges, then you are trooping daily to hardware stores for
new dimmer switches, clock radios, and bathroom GFCIs. Why are you
not replacing these devices daily? Protection inside all electronics
makes those 'inside the house' surges completely irrelevant.

Install a 'whole house' protector so that significant protection
already inside all appliances is not overwhelmed. IOW we install
protectors to earth direct lightning strikes and to remain functional.
Yes, MOV protectors are sufficient sized to earth direct lightning and
not fail. Then protection inside all appliances is not overwhelmed.
How good will that protection be? How good is your earthing
connection - both with better electrodes AND with shorter wire
connections? A protector is only as effective as its earth ground -
where surge energy must be dissipated.