westom wrote:
On Mar 21, 11:47 am, mac davis wrote:
We have a lot of small power fluctuations here and have surge protectors on most
things..That sounds like a much better way to go!

The best information on surges and surge protection I have seen is at:
http://www.mikeholt.com/files/PDF/LightningGuide_FINALpublishedversion_May051.pdf
- "How to protect your house and its contents from lightning: IEEE guide
for surge protection of equipment connected to AC power and
communication circuits" published by the IEEE in 2005 (the IEEE is the
major organization of electrical and electronic engineers in the US).
And also:
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/practiceguides/surgesfnl.pdf
- "NIST recommended practice guide: Surges Happen!: how to protect the
appliances in your home" published by the US National Institute of
Standards and Technology in 2001

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

That is what the one 'whole house' protectors
does.

Service panel suppressors are a good idea.
But from the NIST guide:
"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
[electronic equipment], 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 NIST guide suggests most equipment damage is from high voltage
between power and phone/cable wires. That is primarily computers (with
phone connection) and TV/related equipment (with cable connection).

Service panel suppressors do not prevent high voltages from developing
between power and signal wires. To limit the voltage you need a *short*
wire connecting the cable/phone entrance protectors to the "ground" at
the power service. A ground wire that is too long is illustrated in the
IEEE guide starting pdf page 40.

For equipment with just power connections, like a lathe, a service panel
suppressor should provide good protection.

But only more responsible manufacturers sell 'whole house'
protectors.

Most "responsible manufacturers" that make service panel suppressors
also make plug-in suppressors.

As true for every protector, it will only be as effective as the
quality of and distance to its earthing electrode.

w believes that surge protection must directly 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 by
clamping (limiting) 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 if you are using a plug-in suppressor, all interconnected
equipment needs to be connected to the same 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.

w is a well know internet nut that searches google-groups for "surge"
to post his beliefs. Some of what he says is very good. Some is nonsense.

Both the IEEE and NIST guides say plug-in suppressors are effective.

--
bud--