-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Weather

After seeing the damage to a PC (via the dial-up modem line) from a  
lightning strike to ground near a phone cable pit,  must confess I 
unplug modem line as well as power lead when storms are about.

Mal


Keyboard Cowboy wrote:

>Oh not at all <G>  I think we're probably in violent agreement <chuckle>   I 
>certainly would not dispute that unplugging is better than not unplugging when 
>you know there is a storm about.  On the other hand, I strongly recommend a 
>surge protector when you are plugged in.  
>   Regards from
>
> Bob -- the "Keyboard Cowboy",
>           ,,,,,,,,
>          Ô¿Ô¬
>    Cincinnati, Ohio
> Scottsdale, Arizona
> ==========<[0]>===========
> Tuesday  2/28/2006  9:27:26 PM
>
> "Life is Tough, but it's tougher when you're  stupid."
>
> --  John Wayne
>
>
>==========<[O]>==========
>On Wed, 01 Mar 2006 15:27:08 +1300, DH (Rick) Holmes wrote:
>|  Hi, Bob,
>|
>|  I agree with all you say here, but would add that to rely on
>|  commonly found surge protectors as guard against lightning and
>|  therefore not unplugging is not a totally sound belief.  As you
>|  say, a lightning 'force field' is virtually unstoppable.  In turn
>|  this may cause a surge elsewhere as circuits disabled by the
>|  strike attempt to restore their services. I  have been aware of
>|  surges occurring when a car hits a powerpole and brings down a
>|  power line!
>|
>|  Destruction of computer data and programs is extremely unlikely
>|  when plugs are removed, and this includes modem cables connected
>|  to phone lines.
>|
>|  For the best 'within safety' protection I have a '40gb pocket HDD'
>|  to back everything up, and most times this is disconnected from my
>|  computer and hopefully no passage of mega-volts will pass through
>|  it.as there's no escape to earth.  I won't try for any additional
>|  security under present conditions.
>|
>|  I hope you won't regard this as an argument against your
>|  statement. I just as this for the information of the uninitiated.
>|
>|  All the best
>|
>|  Rick H
>|  Keyboard Cowboy wrote:
>| |  Actually, I'd add to that Rick.  The real purpose for a surge
>| |  protector is to take a certain amount of spike charge.  It's
>| |  measured on joules (sp?) vs. time. Some are better than others.
>| |   Most work well for normal surges in line activity, whether
>| |  caused by electrical storms or by problems with the power
>| |  provided to your home.  Additionally, these surge protectors
>| |  have a limited life.  After so many charges, they begin to
>| |  degrade and should be replaced.  When your surge protector is
>| |  tripped a few times, it might be a good idea to replace it. Now
>| |  a direct, or very near hit from lightning will not, as you
>| |  said, be protected by a surge protector.  Such a near hit will
>| |  cause a "force field" of electricity that it can affect the
>| |  electrical devices --even if not plugged in--.  Obviously an
>| |  unplugged device is far less likely to be damaged, but it can
>| |  be damaged.   About seven years ago when I was building my
>| |  house in Cincinnati I was also building a HAM radio room and
>| |  did quite a bit of research on lightning.  What I found was
>| |  that to have a high degree of confidence in protection, I would
>| |  actually have to build a grid in the walls of the room to "soak
>| |  up" any electrical charges.  I didn't go that far, but I put a
>| |  hell of a ground system in the house, and on the tower near by.
>| |
>| |  Regards from
>| |
>| |  Bob -- the "Keyboard Cowboy",
>| |
>|
>|  --
>| 
>
>
>  
>


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