Comments on: Controlling Power Surges

By: Bill Maginnis

Bill Maginnis — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:59:21 +0000

I’ve also heard of lightening hitting power lines, traveling down the line and taking out networking switches or ports on a switch. Not much to do there except put a really decent surge suppressor (with high # joule clamping) to provide clean power to the networking equipment.

By: Bill Maginnis

Bill Maginnis — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:55:36 +0000

I live in the Southwest (Tucson) and we have incredible summer “monsoon” storms with some of the most intense lightening storms. Lightening strikes can travel through phone lines from up to a mile away and take out your computer through your phone line plugged into your DSL modem or internal modem. I don’t know if the same is true for coax for cable TV/modem into the PC through the Ethernet cable, but why tempt fate?!?
Unplug the PC during lightening storms.

By: Marji Snider

Marji Snider — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:39:44 +0000

What is the correct surge protector to have installed at the fuse box to protect our home? We live in the country and experence surges often. Thank you

By: Jeanette Lland

Jeanette Lland — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:15:42 +0000

Thank you so much for the information.J. Land

By: ben

ben — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:38:20 +0000

Jeanette,
Good question. As someone who was once struck indirectly by lightning, I have a very personal interest in the subject. The effectiveness of lightning rods has been questioned ever since they were invented by Benjamin Franklin in the 1700s. The current thinking is that while they don’t attract a strike or prevent one from occurring, they can help reduce damage by directing the electricity to the ground. This is mainly a factor if you live in a tall or exposed building. Regardless, I would still use a surge protector for electronic equipment and unplug it from the wall during a storm. And don’t forget to unplug cable and telephone lines from the equipment, too, since a surge from lightning can come in on those as well.

By: Jeanette Land

Jeanette Land — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 05:27:07 +0000

What about lightening rods,
Do these work to potect home against a lightening strike?