[Elecraft] [OT} Whole House Surge Protection

[Erik Basilier]

Don,

 

I also have Tripplite power strips in the shack, which I got many years ago
when I was impressed with their warranty for connected equipment. I use a
couple of them chained to provide enough outlets, and then unprotected units
chained off of that to provide even more outlets. Some of the unprotected
outlets are fed through a new circuit from the new panel that I put in along
with a 220 V line for the PA. As I was looking to buy even more Tripplites
to have everything protected, I called Tripplite for advice, and also
grilled them on the warranty terms. That is when I first learnt that the
warranty is void if there is any chaining of strips, and also if another
circuit is involved with the same equipment, tied together even by a ground
strap or an audio cable, etc. A little later I came across the advice on
this reflector (probably by Jim) that whole house protection is superior and
power strips with MOV's may even be harmful. I don't have any UPS's.

 

The newer Tripplite protectors had network and phone line protection built
in. Now I don't want to waste money buying any more of those expensive
protectors. I figure the first priority is to get a whole house protector. I
believe I should put all the ham gear and computers on the new circuit. I
will need two levels of outlet strips. Maybe the first level could be one of
the old Tripplite's which would provide equal MOV protecton to everything,
but I need to think more about whether that is right. Anyway, it seems
desirable to add independent protection for network connection and maybe
phone line. I need to find suitable units at reasonable price. Having a UPS
for computers seems very desirable, but if it has built-in MOV on the input
side it should maybe be removed based on what others have said.

 

73,

Erik K7TV

 

 

Don Wilhelm wrote:

 

I cannot comment on your particular 'high-leg' entry system  - mine is plain
vanilla 240 volt single phase with neutral.

 

I can only speak from my experience.  I have an entry panel surge protection
device in my power entrance panel.  I also use local surge protectors
(Tripplite) at the ham station, and the computers have UPSs that offer surge
protection.  All the hamshack runs off the same AC receptacle.

 

We had a close lightning event last summer and there were no incidences of
damage on the AC side, although all the GFCI breakers tripped.

 

The wired Ethernet devices were not so fortunate, I lost a router, 2 8 port
switches, an access point, a NAS storage device, and 4 computers after that
event, that did not mention the Ethernet connected network printer that lost
its Ethernet capability, but still worked with a USB connection - all
apparently due to the surge coming in over the Ethernet cables.
Fortunately, no data was lost, the devices did not work due to damaged
network ports.

 

So the AC protection did work, but the unprotected Ethernet devices did not
survive.

 

The 'whole house' protection did work.