Quote:
Originally Posted by scottmandue
Not that we get a lot of lighting where I live but is there anyway to protect from this?
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Protection is always defined by a simple question. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate?
Many foolishly by plug-in 'magic' that only claims to absorb hundreds or a thousand joules. What happens when it tries to absorb hundreds of thousands of joules? Although rare, even a fire may result. Even those near zero protector need protection only provided by the proven solution.
We all learned this in elementary school science. Lightning seeks earth ground. If incoming on any utility wire, then it hunts for earth destructively via appliances. It is incoming to everything. Damage are appliances that also make a best outgoing path to earth. Nothing inside will 'block' or 'absorb' that destructive current.
If a surge is provided a low impedance (ie less than 10 foot) connection to earth BEFORE entering, then hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate harmlessly outside. Then no hunt occurs destructively inside.
TV cable is required to already have that hardwire connection to earth.
Telephone wires cannot connect directly to earth. So a telco installs, for free, a 'whole house' protector with low impedance (ie less than 10 foot) connection to single point earth ground. That protector is only doing what a hardwire does better.
Of course who provides, is responsible for, and maintains that single point earth ground? Homeowner. How many even learned that it exists?
AC electric is not required to have proven protection. A 'whole house' protector only exists if a homeowner decides to have protection. This is located in the breaker box or behind a meter. It also must make a low impedance (ie wire has no sharp bends, not in metallic conduit) connection to single point ground.
Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Because any protector that is damaged also did no effective protection. A properly sized 'whole house' protector should not fail even after decades.
This proven solution costs about $1 per protected appliance. It is the only solution found in facilities that cannot have damage. If any appliance needs protection, then all need that protection - including dishwasher, bathroom GFCI, furnace, refrigerator, and the most critical appliance during any surge - smoke detectors.
Each layer of protection is only defined by its earth ground. Above is only the secondary protection layer. One should also inspect their 'primary' protection layer. Pictures (not text) after the expression "open vertical grounds" are relevant. Never forget the only items that does protection - that harmlessly absorbs hundreds of thousands of joules.
A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. How a surge connects to earth (and every provided number) should have all your attention.