OT:My computer blew up

Some 'whole house' protectors (competitive prices) are sold
in Home Depot (Intermatic) and in Lowes (Cutler Hammer and
GE). Joules determines life expectancy; therefore determines
protector cost.

Meanwhile earthing ground determines how effective that
protector will be. Your household earthing must, at minimum,
meet post 1990 NEC requirements; or even better exceed what
the National Electrical Code calls for. Code defines what is
required for human safety. You would be enhancing that system
to also provide transistor safety.

Nothing complicated about installing (or upgrading) the
earthing system. The rules are simple - but must be followed
carefully. 'Whole house' protectors are relatively easy to
install (which is why they are sold in Home Depot and Lowes).
Alternative is to get an electrician (which is best done in
conjunction without any other electrical corrections
considered).

The 'whole house' protector is part of a secondary
protection 'system'. A plug-in protector would be trying to
accomplish same using a wire too far distant from earth
ground. IOW a plug-in protector would be secondary protection
that was improperly installed.

Primary protection to be inspected (and corrected by utility
as necessary at their cost) is demonstrated by pictures:
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html

Other incoming utilities must connect to the same 'secondary
protection' earth ground - as even required by code - at their
cost. The cable TV makes a direct connection to that ground -
no protector provided. That connection is required by NEC.
Telephone 'whole house' protector is provided free by the
telco. Telco protector also must make a 'less than 10 foot'
connection to the earth ground.

A massive improvement in protection can cost little. But it
requires careful planning and labor.

A utility demonstrates the good, bad, and ugly of an earth
ground:
http://www.cinergy.com/surge/ttip08.htm

Hard part is in planning and labor. Don't get caught up in
some idea that a protector is protection. What makes the
whole thing effective is what is not observed - the single
point earth ground. Wire, rods, and labor required.

For those more technically inclined, concepts behind
earthing were discussed by engineers previously in two
threads. Earthing is what defines the quality of a surge
protection 'system':
Storm and Lightning damage in the country 28 Jul 2002
Lightning Nightmares!! 10 Aug 2002
http://tinyurl.com/ghgv and http://tinyurl.com/ghgm

BTW, this is my favorite type of workout. One that also
builds something.

spodosaurus said:

I did allude to having some electrical work done to the house in terms
of lightning protection, but you put it better with the term "'whole
house' protector". How much would it cost to have one of these installed
(generally) and would it be cost effective in terms of paying for
insurance to replace damaged components over the years (which I thought
home and contents insurance did anyway)? I think we can both agree that
a good backup strategy is important regardless (even if you're protected
from a lightning strike, a thief can still walk off with your computer,
among other potential causes for data loss).

Destructive transients occur something like once every eight
years. A number that varies significantly across the
continent AND even within towns. But since that 'once every
eight year' event is so destructive and is typically so easily
avoided, then even your phone line would have a 'whole house'
protector installed for free by the telco. Even cable TV wire
connects short to a same earth ground before entering the
building (if installed per code requirements). Informed
homeowners now install a 'whole house' protector (costs about
$1 per protected appliance) on AC mains. Solution for a
typically rare event that may be so destructive but is so
easily abolished.

Meanwhile, JimR must install effective protection. His
local history (and statewide numbers) says lightning is a
serious problem that requires good earthing. Further
information and technical details found in hyperlinks to other
newsgroups; provided in a reply here to spodosaurus.

Joe Humble said:

Never once in my whole life every had anything destroyed by lightning.
I also never heard of anyone I know losing anything to lightning. I
do hear warnings about it a lot, however.

I'm thinking it is pretty rare to actually have stuff destroyed by
lightning.

w_tom said:

Destructive transients occur something like once every eight
years.

They occur all the time. It's the main reason we have jails.
--

JMW
http://www.rustyiron.net

JimR' jremick@comcast said:

JMW said:

w_tom said:

Destructive transients occur something like once every eight
years.

They occur all the time. It's the main reason we have jails.

Johns great desire is to throw me in jail...he is a bad man

You're not very transient. And you're only self-destructive.
--

JMW
http://www.rustyiron.net