I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

--
You know you've spent too much time on the computer when you spill milk and the first thing you think is, 'Edit, Undo.'

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.


For 230V RMS?

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100 quid (this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the 100 quid ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double the peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the surge was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to **** up a computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go bang, I suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges getting past it?

Or.... does 650V mean peak to peak as opposed to zero to peak?

--
Nagry: the state of emotion a woman is in when yelling at her husband

Uncle Peter presented the following explanation :
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors as
low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100 quid
(this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the 100 quid
ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double the
peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the surge
was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to **** up a
computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go bang, I
suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges getting past
it?

Absolutely not! I've just done a partial rebuild of a gaming machine
for someone that has cost United Utilities (their electricity supplier)
over £1,500 after it was hit by a voltage surge - same house also had
two TVs and a microwave oven blow up too. And about twelve other houses
were affected so not a happy time for UU.

Or.... does 650V mean peak to peak as opposed to zero to peak?

In article ,
Steve writes:
Uncle Peter presented the following explanation :
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors as
low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100 quid
(this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the 100 quid
ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double the
peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the surge
was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to **** up a
computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go bang, I
suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges getting past
it?

Absolutely not! I've just done a partial rebuild of a gaming machine
for someone that has cost United Utilities (their electricity supplier)
over £1,500 after it was hit by a voltage surge - same house also had
two TVs and a microwave oven blow up too. And about twelve other houses
were affected so not a happy time for UU.

This sounds like a loss of neutral fault, and a MOV is useless for
protecting against such a sustained fault - it will just burst into
flames if the fault goes over the clamping voltage (and they have
been known to start fires).

Consequently, the MOV must have a clamping voltage above the 3-phase
peak of 570V. Secondly, each time it takes a significant spike, its
clamping voltage drops a bit, and it must still remain over 570V after
this.

The device is used up a bit by each spike (unless the spike is tiny).

Finally, a MOV (or any surge supression) just across live and neutral
is remarkably ineffective for protecting against lightning, where the
spike tends to be between different services, such as the phone line
and mains, or mains and ground, etc. and not between live and neutral.
It won't generally protect against broken neutral (which sees the mains
voltage rise to up to 400V). Just what is it you are trying to protect
against?

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:24:57 -0000, Andrew Gabriel wrote:

In article ,
Steve writes:
Uncle Peter presented the following explanation :
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors as
low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100 quid
(this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the 100 quid
ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double the
peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the surge
was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to **** up a
computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go bang, I
suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges getting past
it?

Absolutely not! I've just done a partial rebuild of a gaming machine
for someone that has cost United Utilities (their electricity supplier)
over £1,500 after it was hit by a voltage surge - same house also had
two TVs and a microwave oven blow up too. And about twelve other houses
were affected so not a happy time for UU.

This sounds like a loss of neutral fault, and a MOV is useless for
protecting against such a sustained fault - it will just burst into
flames if the fault goes over the clamping voltage (and they have
been known to start fires).

I've seen that. At my 2nd last place of work, an electrician mixed up the wiring as they had some old colours and some new, causing L1 and L2 to be connected to a ring of 13A sockets instead of L1 and neutral. A surge protected plug on a digital projector melted, and the bulk capacitors in all 20 computers in the room burst (they had no surge protectors), giving off some stinky smoke. All this tripped the circuit breaker for the room, which presumably stopped any further damage or a fire. After I replaced all the capacitors, the computers were fine.

Consequently, the MOV must have a clamping voltage above the 3-phase
peak of 570V.

Why? If I get a momentary spike or surge between single phase peak and three phase peak, I want it removed. Also one above the 3-phase peak I want clamped down to the 1-phase peak, not the 3-phase peak!

Secondly, each time it takes a significant spike, its
clamping voltage drops a bit, and it must still remain over 570V after
this.

The device is used up a bit by each spike (unless the spike is tiny).

Finally, a MOV (or any surge supression) just across live and neutral
is remarkably ineffective for protecting against lightning, where the
spike tends to be between different services, such as the phone line
and mains, or mains and ground, etc. and not between live and neutral.

This one claims to be across any pair of pins. I thought they all were.

It won't generally protect against broken neutral (which sees the mains
voltage rise to up to 400V).

Why does it rise? If there was no neutral, and the load on all three phases was equal, nobody would notice. You'd get a rise (or fall) if your phase was not the same as the other two.

Just what is it you are trying to protect against?

A spike or surge. I don't want it just trimmed to 650V! The spike is still there!!

--
I'm not so think as you drunk I am...

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:57:45 -0000, Steve wrote:

Uncle Peter presented the following explanation :
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors as
low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100 quid
(this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the 100 quid
ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double the
peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the surge
was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to **** up a
computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go bang, I
suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges getting past
it?

Absolutely not! I've just done a partial rebuild of a gaming machine
for someone that has cost United Utilities (their electricity supplier)
over £1,500 after it was hit by a voltage surge - same house also had
two TVs and a microwave oven blow up too. And about twelve other houses
were affected so not a happy time for UU.

Maybe it depends how long the surge was. See my other post (reply to a reply to yours) where a room full of computers was fine when connected to two phases by mistake. Just the bulk capacitors in the PSUs blew. I've also accidentally connected a printer and a computer to 240V instead of 110V when the switch was incorrectly set at the back. Also I've seen about 10 computers with the switch set wrongly on purpose by kids. Just a bang and a new capacitor required. I would have expected the fuse or breaker to blow before the voltage got through to the equipment in your case though - the bulk capacitors go short circuit?

--
The world's largest fruit are giant pumpkins. The world record is 1061lbs (481.3 kg).

"Uncle Peter" wrote in message
news On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:57:45 -0000, Steve wrote:

Uncle Peter presented the following explanation :
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have
a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as
low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100
quid
(this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the 100
quid
ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double
the
peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the
surge
was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to **** up a
computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go bang, I
suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges getting
past
it?

Absolutely not! I've just done a partial rebuild of a gaming machine
for someone that has cost United Utilities (their electricity supplier)
over £1,500 after it was hit by a voltage surge - same house also had
two TVs and a microwave oven blow up too. And about twelve other houses
were affected so not a happy time for UU.

Maybe it depends how long the surge was. See my other post (reply to a
reply to yours) where a room full of computers was fine when connected to
two phases by mistake. Just the bulk capacitors in the PSUs blew. I've
also accidentally connected a printer and a computer to 240V instead of 110V
when the switch was incorrectly set at the back. Also I've seen about 10
computers with the switch set wrongly on purpose by kids. Just a bang and a
new capacitor required. I would have expected the fuse or breaker to blow
before the voltage got through to the equipment in your case though - the
bulk capacitors go short circuit?

A fuse can carry four times it's rated current for an hour before it melts.
MCBs are a bit better.

They are clumsy overcurrent devices, voltage makes no difference.
In no way will they protect electronic devices.
They are not anti-surge protectors.

Uncle Peter wrote:
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they
have a clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of
protectors as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100
quid (this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the
100 quid ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double
the peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the
surge was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to
**** up a computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go
bang, I suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges
getting past it?

Or.... does 650V mean peak to peak as opposed to zero to peak?


Computers are designed to withstand about 2.5KV spikes and survive
minor lightning strikes. A 650V surge protector is quite adeaquate, but
might not last long as my local supply frquently gets 1500V fast
transients (microseconds), zero to peak. The surge protector is
bidirectional, ie it doesn't care which way round the volts are. The
current flowing is purely determined by the source impedance, which for
lightning strikes is close to zero if local. For interference spikes,
surge protectors work OK, but if your supply is cables in the air, then
they may well fail quite soon. My worst experiences have been "brown
outs", where the supply suddenly reverses phase or skips cycles, which
causes transformer saturation and doubles the peak supply volts(up to
700V zero to peak) for a cycle, which then takes a few cycles to settle
down. This also buggers up switched mode PSUs, which don't like having
their dc supply briefly doubled. If this happens, no surge protector
will operate correctly and survive. IME, unless you have a transformer
fed supply with a good UPS you are going to lose a few PSUs with the
current state of our electricity supply. I lost a couple last year. Just
be thankful you are not in the US, where lightning strikes are common
and the supply is frequently crap as well.

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:58:18 -0000, Capitol wrote:

Uncle Peter wrote:
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they
have a clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of
protectors as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100
quid (this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the
100 quid ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double
the peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the
surge was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to
**** up a computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go
bang, I suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges
getting past it?

Or.... does 650V mean peak to peak as opposed to zero to peak?

Computers are designed to withstand about 2.5KV spikes and survive
minor lightning strikes. A 650V surge protector is quite adeaquate, but
might not last long as my local supply frquently gets 1500V fast
transients (microseconds), zero to peak. The surge protector is
bidirectional, ie it doesn't care which way round the volts are. The
current flowing is purely determined by the source impedance, which for
lightning strikes is close to zero if local. For interference spikes,
surge protectors work OK, but if your supply is cables in the air, then
they may well fail quite soon.

They're cheap, I don't care, and they have an LED to indicate they're still running.

My worst experiences have been "brown
outs", where the supply suddenly reverses phase or skips cycles, which
causes transformer saturation and doubles the peak supply volts(up to
700V zero to peak) for a cycle, which then takes a few cycles to settle
down. This also buggers up switched mode PSUs, which don't like having
their dc supply briefly doubled. If this happens, no surge protector
will operate correctly and survive.

Explain how the phase can get reversed?

And why not have a surge protector that absorbs anything over 340V? Yes it wouldn't protect an extended double voltage, but it would remove more of the spikes.

IME, unless you have a transformer
fed supply with a good UPS you are going to lose a few PSUs with the
current state of our electricity supply. I lost a couple last year. Just
be thankful you are not in the US, where lightning strikes are common
and the supply is frequently crap as well.

I've got a good UPS on the only computer with data on it, but that was mainly to stop it going off if there was a short powercut for a second or two, which I get a lot of in bad weather. I've never known a power supply break here.

--
Father walks into his son's room and starts talking.
"Son, masturbating will cause you to go blind."
"But dad, I'm over here!"

"Uncle Peter" writes:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:58:18 -0000, Capitol wrote:

Uncle Peter wrote:
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they
have a clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of
protectors as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100
quid (this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the
100 quid ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double
the peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the
surge was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to
**** up a computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go
bang, I suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges
getting past it?

Or.... does 650V mean peak to peak as opposed to zero to peak?

Computers are designed to withstand about 2.5KV spikes and survive
minor lightning strikes. A 650V surge protector is quite adeaquate, but
might not last long as my local supply frquently gets 1500V fast
transients (microseconds), zero to peak. The surge protector is
bidirectional, ie it doesn't care which way round the volts are. The
current flowing is purely determined by the source impedance, which for
lightning strikes is close to zero if local.

No, the current flowing depends also and usually mainly on the V/I
curve of the surge protector, which for an MOV shows a fairly gradual
increase in current at first but increasing more or less exponentially
as the voltage rises.
Current through the zener diode type of surge limiter rises faster, but
they're still not a zero resistance.

For interference spikes,
surge protectors work OK, but if your supply is cables in the air, then
they may well fail quite soon.

They're cheap, I don't care, and they have an LED to indicate they're still running.

My worst experiences have been "brown
outs", where the supply suddenly reverses phase or skips cycles, which
causes transformer saturation and doubles the peak supply volts(up to
700V zero to peak) for a cycle, which then takes a few cycles to settle
down. This also buggers up switched mode PSUs, which don't like having
their dc supply briefly doubled. If this happens, no surge protector
will operate correctly and survive.

Explain how the phase can get reversed?

And why not have a surge protector that absorbs anything over 340V? Yes it wouldn't protect an extended double voltage, but it would remove more of the spikes.

IME, unless you have a transformer
fed supply with a good UPS you are going to lose a few PSUs with the
current state of our electricity supply. I lost a couple last year. Just
be thankful you are not in the US, where lightning strikes are common
and the supply is frequently crap as well.

I've got a good UPS on the only computer with data on it, but that was mainly to stop it going off if there was a short powercut for a second or two, which I get a lot of in bad weather. I've never known a power supply break here.

--
Windmill, Use t m i l l
J.R.R. Tolkien:- @ S c o t s h o m e . c o m
All that is gold does not glister / Not all who wander are lost

"Uncle Peter" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100
quid (this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the
100 quid ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double the
peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the surge
was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to **** up a
computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go bang, I
suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges getting
past it?

Or.... does 650V mean peak to peak as opposed to zero to peak?


RMS=Root of the Mean Squared.
It gives the equivalent of the DC for the purpose of calculating power usage
etc.

It is the peak voltage x 0.707 = RMS voltage (but only for sine waves).

So if you have 650Vpeak, the RMS value will be 460V

Mains power 230 volts (RMS) peak value is 325 volts.

So the cable insulation has to stand 325 volts.

For square waves the factor is 0.5

On Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:06:23 -0000, harryagain wrote:


"Uncle Peter" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100
quid (this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the
100 quid ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double the
peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the surge
was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to **** up a
computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go bang, I
suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges getting
past it?

Or.... does 650V mean peak to peak as opposed to zero to peak?


RMS=Root of the Mean Squared.
It gives the equivalent of the DC for the purpose of calculating power usage
etc.

It is the peak voltage x 0.707 = RMS voltage (but only for sine waves).

So if you have 650Vpeak, the RMS value will be 460V

Mains power 230 volts (RMS) peak value is 325 volts.

So the cable insulation has to stand 325 volts.

For square waves the factor is 0.5

Yes, so I'm only preventing something that's more than double the standard voltage getting through.

--
Prostration - the act of exposing your genitalia to your god.

"Uncle Peter" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 -0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:48:25 -0000, "Uncle Peter" wrote:

I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

For 230V RMS?

Yes.

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Don't know what micromark offer, but if it's just a few twopenny MOVs
I shouldn't bother.

This: http://petersphotos.com/temp/surge.jpg

It's to protect computers. Looking at other surge protectors up to 100
quid (this one was 4 quid), nothing is lower than 650V. And some of the
100 quid ones are 750V!

Am I right in thinking 650V is rubbish? I mean the surge could double the
peak supply voltage without the protector doing anything, and if the surge
was more, it would clamp it down to double, which is enough to **** up a
computer. Mind you if it's just the power supply caps that go bang, I
suppose it doesn't matter. Does a PC power supply stop surges getting
past it?

Or.... does 650V mean peak to peak as opposed to zero to peak?

Voltages in AC are normally referenced to zero unless otherwise specified.

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:15:06 +0000, Graham. wrote:

650 is the peal to peak equivalent, but I think it's just the peak
voltage that's relevant here, so anything less than 325v is no good,
and you are going to need some margin above that.

Aye mains voltage spec is 230 V -6% +10% or 216 to 253 V. The peak
for 253 is 358 V.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Dave Liquorice was thinking very hard :
Aye mains voltage spec is 230 V -6% +10% or 216 to 253 V. The peak
for 253 is 358 V.

All they are intended to do is temporarily short out a brief surge,
maybe even long enough to pop the fuse, after which they (the MOV) need
to be replaced. In many cases, without having the means to none
destructively test them, you will not even know the MOV has failed.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

In article , Harry
Bloomfield writes

All they are intended to do is temporarily short out a brief surge,
maybe even long enough to pop the fuse, after which they (the MOV) need
to be replaced. In many cases, without having the means to none
destructively test them, you will not even know the MOV has failed.

Time to trot this out again :-)

This is a photo of two failed 13A power strips. Each has two neons, one
to show 'power on' and another to show 'surge protection working'.

The 'SP working' neons were still lit despite the MOVs having vaporised
:-)

http://jasper.org.uk/pics/Boom.jpg

--
(\_/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

In article ,
Mike Tomlinson writes:
In article , Harry
Bloomfield writes

All they are intended to do is temporarily short out a brief surge,
maybe even long enough to pop the fuse, after which they (the MOV) need
to be replaced. In many cases, without having the means to none
destructively test them, you will not even know the MOV has failed.

Time to trot this out again :-)

This is a photo of two failed 13A power strips. Each has two neons, one
to show 'power on' and another to show 'surge protection working'.

The 'SP working' neons were still lit despite the MOVs having vaporised
:-)

http://jasper.org.uk/pics/Boom.jpg

They've been responsible for some fires in the US, and I believe UL
are cracking down hard on MOV devices.

I know we had to stop using them in computer systems we manufactured
sometime around 1980, due to regulatory changes due to fire risk.

In power strips, they are a gimmick. Power strips are produced for
under £1. The MOV devices cost in the order of 10p in bulk, but
the addition of this 10p device enables you to market the power
strip for at least £5 more. Hence you can ship a higher margin
product, even though the added value pretty much useless.

I generally make a point of making sure power strips that I buy do
*not* have any MOV devices in them.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for perfectly
good reasons.

If you want true protections then you should be looking at an Online UPS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninter...ble-conversion


At least if that goes down, your equipment will still be working, and
furthermore will offer protection against power outages.

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:59:24 -0000, Fredxxx wrote:

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for perfectly
good reasons.

What are the reasons? I can't find any details about clamping voltage online, just a brief description of what it is.

--
Cetus: What were you doing in the flooded sections of the city?
O'Neill: The backstroke
Talus: What are you planning?
O'Neill: I was planning to retire.

Uncle Peter wrote:
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:59:24 -0000, Fredxxx wrote:

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for perfectly
good reasons.

What are the reasons? I can't find any details about clamping voltage
online, just a brief description of what it is.


Because under fault conditions the mains peak can reach 700V. This is
very rare, so 650V is a reasonable compromise. I suggest you look up
varistor characteristics for more information.

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:18:51 -0000, Capitol wrote:

Uncle Peter wrote:
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:59:24 -0000, Fredxxx wrote:

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for perfectly
good reasons.

What are the reasons? I can't find any details about clamping voltage
online, just a brief description of what it is.

Because under fault conditions the mains peak can reach 700V. This is
very rare, so 650V is a reasonable compromise. I suggest you look up
varistor characteristics for more information.

Exactly, "fault conditions". Surely the point of a surge protector is to remove faults? Maybe it won't last long, but even if it sacrifices itself, and trips the breaker, you've save the more expensive equipment. What I seem to have here should be called a spike protector.

--
Peter is listening to "Who's the best - DJ Mad Dog feat. Tommyknocker"

On 24/02/2014 17:33, Uncle Peter wrote:
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:18:51 -0000, Capitol wrote:

Uncle Peter wrote:
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:59:24 -0000, Fredxxx wrote:

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they
have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand
modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for
perfectly
good reasons.

What are the reasons? I can't find any details about clamping voltage
online, just a brief description of what it is.

Because under fault conditions the mains peak can reach 700V. This is
very rare, so 650V is a reasonable compromise. I suggest you look up
varistor characteristics for more information.

Exactly, "fault conditions". Surely the point of a surge protector is
to remove faults? Maybe it won't last long, but even if it sacrifices
itself, and trips the breaker, you've save the more expensive
equipment. What I seem to have here should be called a spike protector.

Mains impedance is very low with a short circuit current measured in kA,
so a MOV has to dissipate a lot of energy if it should start to conduct.

How big an MOV do you want to use, or how many?

Unless you have a crowbar type of protection no breaker is ever going to
open under a fault condition before it's all too late.

A surge protector does not remove faults. It merely reduces the symptoms
of a fault. A bit like closing a stable door whilst the horse is escaping.

Capitol submitted this idea :
Uncle Peter wrote:
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:59:24 -0000, Fredxxx wrote:

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for perfectly
good reasons.

What are the reasons? I can't find any details about clamping voltage
online, just a brief description of what it is.


Because under fault conditions the mains peak can reach 700V. This is very
rare, so 650V is a reasonable compromise. I suggest you look up varistor
characteristics for more information.

That is a much better description of what they can effectively deal
short spikes with very little current behind the spikes.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 18:09:48 -0000, Harry Bloomfield wrote:

Capitol submitted this idea :
Uncle Peter wrote:
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:59:24 -0000, Fredxxx wrote:

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for perfectly
good reasons.

What are the reasons? I can't find any details about clamping voltage
online, just a brief description of what it is.


Because under fault conditions the mains peak can reach 700V. This is very
rare, so 650V is a reasonable compromise. I suggest you look up varistor
characteristics for more information.

That is a much better description of what they can effectively deal
short spikes with very little current behind the spikes.

But the short spikes will only be reduced to 650V will they not? I'd much rather they were reduced to 340V and lose a surge protector now and again.

--
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 18:09:48 -0000, Harry Bloomfield wrote:

Capitol submitted this idea :
Uncle Peter wrote:
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:59:24 -0000, Fredxxx wrote:

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for perfectly
good reasons.

What are the reasons? I can't find any details about clamping voltage
online, just a brief description of what it is.


Because under fault conditions the mains peak can reach 700V. This is very
rare, so 650V is a reasonable compromise. I suggest you look up varistor
characteristics for more information.

That is a much better description of what they can effectively deal
short spikes with very little current behind the spikes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surge_p...amping_voltage
"The theoretical lowest possible let-through voltage for 120 V power lines was 180 V. New technology, high quality surge suppressors can now clamp voltage at 130 V."

--
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.

"Uncle Peter" writes:

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:59:24 -0000, Fredxxx wrote:

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for perfectly
good reasons.

What are the reasons? I can't find any details about clamping voltage
online, just a brief description of what it is.

The varistors a.k.a. MOVs I'm familiar with have manufacturers'
designations like V130LA20 (rated for 120 volt AC use) and V275LA20
(rated for 240v. AC use).

You should be able to find voltage/current curves on the manufacturer's
spec sheet which will show you what current flows at a given voltage.

ISTR that they also give a 'clamping voltage' which doesn't really mean
what it says; it's just defined as that voltage at which a certain
current will flow (maybe 100 amps? I don't have the data at hand.)

I think the '20' part of the number means it can handle 20 joules. (Once?)
Which isn't a lot.
But it's a long time since I looked at the figures.

--
Windmill, Use t m i l l
J.R.R. Tolkien:- @ S c o t s h o m e . c o m
All that is gold does not glister / Not all who wander are lost

Fredxxx writes:

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for perfectly
good reasons.

If you want true protections then you should be looking at an Online UPS.

Of course the UPS may fail because of a spike|

--
Windmill, Use t m i l l
J.R.R. Tolkien:- @ S c o t s h o m e . c o m
All that is gold does not glister / Not all who wander are lost

On Fri, 28 Feb 2014 11:00:29 -0000, Windmill wrote:

Fredxxx writes:

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

I feel you are on a loser here. Most power supplies can withstand modest
surges in their own right.

Surge protectors offer minimal protection, though I guess any is better
than none.

The voltages you quote are way of the mark. 650V is chosen for perfectly
good reasons.

If you want true protections then you should be looking at an Online UPS.

Of course the UPS may fail because of a spike|

As long as only the UPS fails.

--
404 error - signature not found.

On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

The reality is that these surge protectors offer very little, if any,
protection against lightning strikes. A lightning strike close by can
kill your electronic equipment regardless of what protection you have. I
regard them in the same league as expensive hi-fi interconnects or snake
oil.


--
Peter Crosland

In article , Peter
Crosland scribeth thus
On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

The reality is that these surge protectors offer very little, if any,
protection against lightning strikes. A lightning strike close by can
kill your electronic equipment regardless of what protection you have.


Except that equipment at comms sites and Radio and TV transmitting
stations does survive year in year out;!...

I
regard them in the same league as expensive hi-fi interconnects or snake
oil.

The Ross Andrews lightning conductor!! allows you to use your audio
system in any weather!, made of some unknown to science metal a snip at
£3,000 a yard;!!..



--
Tony Sayer

On 27/02/2014 12:48, tony sayer wrote:
In article , Peter
Crosland scribeth thus
On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

The reality is that these surge protectors offer very little, if any,
protection against lightning strikes. A lightning strike close by can
kill your electronic equipment regardless of what protection you have.


Except that equipment at comms sites and Radio and TV transmitting
stations does survive year in year out;!...

That's as may be, but they tend to have rather better quality protection
on all their connections than a cheapie "surge protected" 13A strip with
a tuppenny MOV in it.


--
Tciao for Now!

John.

On Thu, 27 Feb 2014 13:22:40 -0000, John Williamson wrote:

On 27/02/2014 12:48, tony sayer wrote:
In article , Peter
Crosland scribeth thus
On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

The reality is that these surge protectors offer very little, if any,
protection against lightning strikes. A lightning strike close by can
kill your electronic equipment regardless of what protection you have.


Except that equipment at comms sites and Radio and TV transmitting
stations does survive year in year out;!...

That's as may be, but they tend to have rather better quality protection
on all their connections than a cheapie "surge protected" 13A strip with
a tuppenny MOV in it.

I once had a surge protected 13A plug, with a 13A fuse, powering an extension cord. Into that extension cord was plugged a UPS (among other things). Into the UPS was plugged a computer and a monitor, which I was using. I didn't notice anything had happened until the UPS bleeped to inform me the battery was almost empty (3 hours later - it had an extended battery). I then checked the surge plug, which had a brown indicator on it instead of white, to indicate it was expired. The 13A fuse had blown. No appliances were damaged, and I was drawing nowhere near 13A on that extension cord, so I can only guess the plug removed a surge, blew the fuse, and prevented the surge hitting any equipment. The plug was undamaged, didn't smell bad, just had a brown indicator.

--
What do you call it when a blonde drives down the street with her head out the window?
Refueling.

tony sayer wrote:
In articlePPidnW5aTOHycJPOnZ2dnUVZ8mWdnZ2d@brightvie w.co.uk, Peter
scribeth thus
On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

The reality is that these surge protectors offer very little, if any,
protection against lightning strikes. A lightning strike close by can
kill your electronic equipment regardless of what protection you have.


Except that equipment at comms sites and Radio and TV transmitting
stations does survive year in year out;!...

I
regard them in the same league as expensive hi-fi interconnects or snake
oil.

The Ross Andrews lightning conductor!! allows you to use your audio
system in any weather!, made of some unknown to science metal a snip at
£3,000 a yard;!!..



Perhaps I can interest you all in a new magnetic water softener!

On 27/02/2014 12:48, tony sayer wrote:
In article , Peter
Crosland scribeth thus
On 24/02/2014 13:48, Uncle Peter wrote:
I've got a few cheap micromark surge protectors, and noticed they have a
clamping voltage of 650V.
Anyone know where I can get a much lower one? I've heard of protectors
as low as 270V, but I can't find any to buy.

The reality is that these surge protectors offer very little, if any,
protection against lightning strikes. A lightning strike close by can
kill your electronic equipment regardless of what protection you have.


Except that equipment at comms sites and Radio and TV transmitting
stations does survive year in year out;!...

Those have considerably better design against damage from electrical
storms. Nevertheless they are not immune to damage. Likewise aeroplanes.
In a domestic situation it is quite common for large amounts of
electronic equipment to be damaged by nearby lightnings strikes without
there being any evidence of a direct strike on the equipment.


--
Peter Crosland

replying to Peter Crosland , westom wrote:
johnwilliamson wrote:
That's as may be, but they tend to have rather better quality protection
on all their connections than a cheapie "surge protected" 13A strip with
a tuppenny MOV in it.


Described was a simple and well proven solution used in radio stations,
telco switching centers, and even munitions dumps so that surges
(including direct lightning strikes) do not cause damage. Quite a few
here are posting denials based in feelings; not justified by any
professional source, personal experience, or basic electrical concepts.

For example, an average lightning strike is about 20,000 amps. And is
routinely made irrelevant by a properly connection to earth. Lightning can
be as high as 100,000 amps. So rare that most here have probably never
seen one. Meanwhile an IEEE paper in the late 1970s says what happens
when a rare 100,000 amp lightning strike hits incoming AC wires. 40,000
typically goes to earth via the 'primary' protection system (including the
earth ground for each transformer). Another 20,000 amps may go off to
other connections. And 40,000 amps may be incoming to the nearby
building. Why do professionals recommend at least 50,000 amps protector
for 'secondary' protection? Numbers published by professionals define the
problem.

tony wrote:
No, they do sometimes dissipate a charge before it builds up to form a
much bigger discharge...


Good luck finding even one responsible source (ie IEEE, NFPA, FAA, BS,
ISO, etc) that makes that claim. ESE devices have long been cited by
professional sources as, at best, unproven.

Nothing stops lightning. And yet that is what adjacent protectors or ESE
devices must do.

In any facility that cannot have damage, protection has always been about
connecting surges (such as lightning) harmlessly to earth. Lightning rods
do that to protect structures. Dedicated ground wires or 'whole house'
protector to utility wires does that to protect interio appliances. In
every case, protection is always about making a more conductive and lower
impedance connection to earth. Earth is where hundreds of thousands of
joules harmlessly dissipate.

Devices that claim to block, absorb, or avert surges such as lightning
(ie series mode filter, plug-in protectors, ESE devices, magic boxes that
claim to convert tiny surges into useful energy) are bogus. As indicated
by claims even contradicted or not supported by manufacturer
specifications. Voting is useless. since an only useful recommendation
says why with numbers. As found in professional papers and manufacturer
specifications.

Telco switching centers all over the world use properly earthed 'whole
house' protectors. Since that less expensive and superior solution is
also proven by over 100 years os science and experience. Similar solutions
also implemented in muntions dumps since explosions are unacceptable. No
other device (not even ESE) have that credibility. Protection is and has
been always about the quality of and connection to earth.

Should you want more, well, ask and be buried in professional citations
and case studies. But then only a fewest here actually did this stuff.
And have describes in siginifcant detail and numbers how and why those
proven solutoins work.

The protector at 650 volts means it starts doing protection at 650
volts. If a surge current is larger, voltage on that protector increases
to over 1000 volts (current, not voltage, is the relevant parameter).
Eventually that voltage becomes so high that a protector fails
catastrophically. How high might voltage go? That is why the 'whole
house' protector starts at 50,000 amps. Another example of how to
separate hearsay from experience. Experiences describes concepts with
well proven numbers traceable to responsible sources.


--

replying to Peter Crosland , westom wrote:
g6jns wrote:
The reality is that these surge protectors offer very little, if any,
protection against lightning strikes. A lightning strike close by can
kill your electronic equipment regardless of what protection you have.


--
And then an engineer who did this stuff cites experience tempered by
knowledge. A lightning strike (maybe 20,000 amps) stuck the building's
lightning rod That wire to earth was only four feet away from an IBM PC.
The PC did not even blink. Nothing inside was interrupted or damaged by
20,000 amps on a nearby wire. If nearby strikes are destructive, that PC
should have been damaged or at least only crashed. It was not for one
simple reason. Only wild speculation says nearby strikes create massive
fields that do damage.

Another example. Lightning must connect a cloud to earthborne charges
maybe 5 kilometers distant. A shortest electrical path is three km down
to a tree. And 4 km through earth to those charges. Only 10 meters from
that tree was a dead cow. Did the nearby bolt create fields that killed
the cow? Those who know from speculation assumed so. Science says
something completely different.

A shortest 4 km path from tree to distant charges was up the cow's hind
legs and down its fore legs. What others assumed was a nearby strike was
actually a direct strike to a tree and cow.

Nearby strikes are only destructive when wild speculation creates a
conclusion. Knowledge comes from first learning 100 years of well proven
science - and demanding numbers.

Any golfers? What happened to that cow should also have your attention.


--

On Fri, 28 Feb 2014 22:45:02 +0000, westom
wrote:

replying to Peter Crosland , westom wrote:
g6jns wrote:
The reality is that these surge protectors offer very little, if any,
protection against lightning strikes. A lightning strike close by can
kill your electronic equipment regardless of what protection you have.


--
And then an engineer who did this stuff cites experience tempered by
knowledge. A lightning strike (maybe 20,000 amps) stuck the building's
lightning rod That wire to earth was only four feet away from an IBM PC.
The PC did not even blink. Nothing inside was interrupted or damaged by
20,000 amps on a nearby wire. If nearby strikes are destructive, that PC
should have been damaged or at least only crashed. It was not for one
simple reason. Only wild speculation says nearby strikes create massive
fields that do damage.

Another example. Lightning must connect a cloud to earthborne charges
maybe 5 kilometers distant. A shortest electrical path is three km down
to a tree. And 4 km through earth to those charges. Only 10 meters from
that tree was a dead cow. Did the nearby bolt create fields that killed
the cow? Those who know from speculation assumed so. Science says
something completely different.

A shortest 4 km path from tree to distant charges was up the cow's hind
legs and down its fore legs. What others assumed was a nearby strike was
actually a direct strike to a tree and cow.

Nearby strikes are only destructive when wild speculation creates a
conclusion. Knowledge comes from first learning 100 years of well proven
science - and demanding numbers.

Any golfers? What happened to that cow should also have your attention.

W_Tom, I'm not quite sure what you're trying to put across with the
tree and cow example. From the details you gave, cow showing post
mortem signs that the electrocuting charge had passed between the fore
and hindlegs whilst a mere 33 feet away from the ground strike point
(the hapless tree), suggest the cow was either facing towards or away
from the tree at the time and was killed by the potential gradient
created by the lightning strike in the ground it was standing on[1].

There is video evidence[2] of this effect exemplified by half the
players on a sodden football pitch being stunned by a direct hit to
the metalwork of the grandstand creating perhaps a kilovolt or more
per metre voltage gradient on the pitch.

Any players who happened to have both feet in contact with the ground
would have suffered an electric shock varying in intensity which
depended not only how far they were from the (effective) entry point
of the lightning strike but also their orientation and the seperation
distance of their feet.

Those lucky enough to have both feet out of contact at the critical
moment would have felt nothing, others who happened to have just one
foot in ground contact would have experienced a lesser electric shock
through that foot which would have also varied according to
orientation and distance from the strike point.

[1] Possibly a 'ground leader' but most likely due to Ground Current
or "Step Potential" as quoted from the wiki article here (second
paragraph):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_strike

[2] Surprisingly, I can't track this video down. It seems to have been
'pulled' despite there being no fatalities in this case. My memory of
the video suggests it was the second non-fatal incident reported he

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/203137.stm

--
Regards, J B Good

replying to Johny B Good , westom wrote:
johnny-b-good wrote:
I'm not quite sure what you're trying to put across with the
tree and cow example. From the details you gave, cow showing post
mortem signs that the electrocuting charge had passed between the fore
and hindlegs whilst a mere 33 feet away from the ground strike point
(the hapless tree), suggest the cow was either facing towards or away
from the tree at the time and was killed by the potential gradient
created by the lightning strike in the ground


No harmful gradient from a field existed as many assume with a term
'induced surge'. Had a cow been on the other side of that tree, then
current would not have flowed up its hind legs and down its fore legs.

Destructive current had to be incoming on one path and outgoing on
another. Induced transients (E-M gradients) do not cause damage or death.
Actual current from a lightning strike must pass through (with an
incoming and outgoing path) to cause damage. Damage is defijned by where
current flows.

Another example. A nearby lightning strike hit l0 meters from a long
wire antenna. Thousands of volts appear on that antenna's lead. Connect
a NE-2 glow lamp (a milliamp lamp) to that antenna lead. The resulting
current is so tiny as to barely cause that light to glow. And voltage
drops from thousands to tens of volts.

Many see thousands of volts to assume a nearby surge is destrutive.
Conduct a millimap or less to make that induced surge completely
irrelevant. Induces surges are that easily eliminated. Simplest
protection in all electronics means no damage from nearby strikes. To
have damage means the item is part of that surge current path. That
defines both an incoming and outgoing current path.

Farmers encircle barns with a buried ground loop. So that current from
a lightning strike passes around the barn; not destructively through
animals inside. Protection is always about where current flows; or does
not flow.

Your wikipedia citation is discussing a lightning bolt - the plasma
'wire'. We are discussing what actually does damage - an electrical
current. Simultaneous current is same in the 'direct' lightning bolt and
'indirect' bolt. Relevent here is that actual electrical current. Either
current is created by a nearby, induced or indirect surge (generated by
electromagnetic fields). Or a current is what flows directly from cloud
to distant charnges. Latter is the current that causes hardware damage.

Earth a protector so that the current does not flow incoming and outgoing
through any appliance. Then nearby strikes (with massive E-M fields)
cause no damage.


--

Farmers encircle barns with a buried ground loop. So that current from
a lightning strike passes around the barn; not destructively through
animals inside. Protection is always about where current flows; or does
not flow.


We _must_ have W_Tom back again as no farmer in England would do
anything to protect their cows like that!..

All in its just a very simple shunt job to shunt the lightning discharge
around what it is you need to protect. Use a low resistance and as low
INDUCTANCE a path as possible and thats more or less that..

That bit re lightning charge dissipation came from a handbook provided
by Messers Furse of Nottingham who have been making lightning protection
systems for use world-wide for some 120 odd years now!..


--
Tony Sayer