Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!think!ames!lll-tis!afit-ab!dbaden
From: dbaden@afit-ab.arpa (Doug L. Baden)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Surge Protection on Power Lines
Message-ID: <253@afit-ab.arpa>
Date: 11 Dec 87 16:22:11 GMT
References: <882@PSUECLB>
Reply-To: dbaden@afit-ab.arpa (Doug L. Baden)
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology; WPAFB, OH
Lines: 32
Summary: some suggestions about lightning protection.

[this line for the voracious mailer in you]

I worked in a pager house (we rented and operated pagers) until a 
few years back (I got my progamming degree).  As second engineer, I
had the fun of cleaning up after lightning strikes.  The worst problem
I encountered was that breakers take time to release.  Lots of time as 
far as lightning is concerned.

So much in fact that the electronic components get fried.  Completely.
Guess what most of those power strips use for overload protection.
Yep, circut breakers.  A fuse will melt very fast to give you the 
best protection possible in  a very bad situation.  MOV's will not 
do it if they have been hit once with a good jolt.  They can burn out 
too.  Another thing, don't forget the CRT terminal too.

Another little hint to all of you netlanders out there on modems,
don't forget the telephone wires.  The worst cleanup I ever did was 
when the phone lines got me.  There are lightning arrestors for phone 
lines, but I really don't know how well they work.  We made our own with 
phone company approved arrestors (much like neon bulbs) and two 500
millihenry cores in series with the line (one on each line).  Lightning
has a high frequency and just HATES this.  So it will take the easier
path, the lightning arrestor.  This worked.  Cut the line level though...

But after all is said and done the best lightning protection is this:

Unplug it.

This always works.  The rest of the protection is only for when you 
forget this.

(donning asbestosis causing flame retardent suit :-))