Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cwjcc!gatech!udel!burdvax!bam
From: bam@PRC.Unisys.COM (Brian A. McCreadie)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Lightning protection
Message-ID: <11561@burdvax.PRC.Unisys.COM>
Date: 26 Sep 89 18:41:01 GMT
Sender: news@PRC.Unisys.COM
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Does there exist a method of protecting emp sensitive components
from lightning, short of putting them in a Faraday cage and
unplugging them?

I have an Adcom pre-amp that has twice been killed by a nearby
lightning strike.  It uses IC's to select between sources
rather than mechanical switches.  It turns out that these
IC's are super sensitive.

The mains power cable for the unit is a two-prong polarized
plug.  It has a ground for the phono input and also one for 
the AM antenae.  

The first time it got nailed, the pulse also took out the surge
protector.  I discovered (too late) that surge protectors can only
deal with the first 200-300 volts of a spike. I didn't bother
buying another one.

The local TV cable enters my house close to the
power for the preamp. Is it possible that the cable picks up
the pulse from a nearby strike and since the preamp isn't
grounded, has no place else to go once it is in the preamp?

Could I rig up something with BIG caps to absorb the energy
before it does damage (assuming BIG caps are cheaper than preamps)

Thanks in advance.