[Elecraft] KPA-1500 issue (power surge?

[Bob McGraw]

Sure, power strips are inexpensive.  But they really only protect 
against one type of power surge.   If the voltage spikes, the breaker 
should trip. However, this isn’t always instantaneous.  Delicate devices 
can still be damaged, and many other types of surges will just pass 
right through without tripping the  surge protector.  Not the best 
solution. Despite being called a surge protector, this name doesn’t give 
you the whole story.  These don’t even come close to the protection 
whole house surge protectors offer you.

Additionally, many consumers overlook their most expensive possessions 
when using power strips as a surge protector. Is your phone and laptop 
always plugged in to a surge protector?  What about appliances like your 
stove, washer and dryer?  A gnarly surge can also take these out!  Most 
of those are 240V, and you don’t often see a surge protector on those 
outlets!  Those things aren’t cheap!  It’s estimated most households 
have around $10,000 of unprotected electronics 
<https://toronto.citynews.ca/2007/01/30/power-surges-can-fry-your-sensitive-electronics/> 
with no surge protector. That’s a whole lot of money on the line!   {pun 
intended}

With a growing reliance on electronics and inevitable move towards smart 
homes, it’s just not feasible to get a power strip for every single 
outlet in your whole home. But, you can protect every electronic device 
in your home with a small investment in a whole house surge protector 
and a little elbow grease.

I strongly recommend and suggest one install a whole house surge 
protector in or at the main breaker panel.  Also careful

bonding of all ham station equipment is a must.   And ALL outside 
grounds must be bonded together and to the AC Mains

ground.

73

Bob, K4TAX



> Message: 21
> Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2021 11:30:18 -0700
> From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 issue (power surge?)
> Message-ID:
> 	<f3c5a953-7922-07fb-9be2-11f4bd6d01b0 at audiosystemsgroup.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
> On 7/10/2021 3:55 AM, Jim Cary wrote:
>> I posted a note yesterday that I took a power surge
> That's probably because some part of your station was getting power from
> a circuit that had an MOV "surge protector" in it, and your station was
> not properly bonded. Study N0AX's ARRL book on the topic, to which I
> contributed, and/or this slide deck for talks I've done on it.
>
> http://k9yc.com/GroundingAndAudio.pdf
>
> MOV "surge protectors" are a common CAUSE of destructive failures.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
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> End of Elecraft Digest, Vol 207, Issue 11
> *****************************************
>