Trevor Wilson wrote:
On 28/05/2015 12:21 PM, Ron D. wrote:
On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 5:16:28 PM UTC-4, Ron D. wrote:
I'll point you he http://www.gryphon-inc.com/White_Papers.html
I've had extreme success with Powervar/ONEAC products. Like 25
years on a very critical computer system. The only failures were
mechanical like fans and floppy drives. The hard drive was on 15
years before the system was upgraded. It did cost about $1K USD in
the 80's for about 1000 W. Later, two other systems got the same
technology.
Usually, the warranty and the sales receipt helps a lot. Less
critical systems got the tripp-lite isobar which oneac doesn;t like
either. I did see an ISOBAR fry and Trip-lite replaced the
connected equipment.
I had an APC surge suppressor (given to me) and it's is supposed to
be replaced because it causes fires. I think it's been close to 3
months now and no replacement APC. Furthermore, that APC did not
protect itself. Oh maybe it did? It prevent itself from frying by
blowing a thermal fuse and passing the surge to the equipment and
lighting a LED.
A whole house suppressor would not be a bad idea either.
**For what purpose? An event that is so incredibly rare that the average
person won't see one in several life-times.
Some time after installing a whole house suppressor, we had an instance
where power was going off and on during a storm. A loud crack downstairs,
found suppressor blown. I replaced that one but have not found any other
local supressor faulted that I know of. The model has a lower trip point
voltage to other models I've seen. When I moved in this house the power
company said a surge device was installed and if I wanted to pay monthly
charge. I sad no, but never knew of anybody removing it from the meter,
which would require power interruption.
These things will not help a direct lightning hit.
Greg
The whole 'surge suppressor' industry is a con. It is the only
significant profit area left for retailers of domestic electronic
equipment. Profit margins run to several hundred percent. That said: A
whole house suppressor is a reasonably economical solution to an almost
non-existent problem. It must be fitted by a qualified electrical contractor.
FWIW: The only time I have ever heard of a significant surge on a power
line, was at my previous home, before I moved in. A 5kV railway bearer
fell across the 240VAC mains supply. This was in the early 1970s. It
wiped out the electronic and electrical equipment for several blocks. I
doubt that anything that can be purchased retail can protect against such a rare event.