[Test-Equipment] Re: [TekScopes2] Mains protection for work bench test equipment?

[Gary Pewitt]

Well John, I've lost 3 modems, 1 video card, 1 sound card, 2 hard 
drives, and the 2 starting capacitors on my air conditioning 
compressor to lightning caused surges and we had underground power 
lines in the immediate area.  I wouldn't even turn my computer on 
without a -good- surge protector and since a power failure while on 
line took out several entire folders on my hard drive I also refuse 
to do without a U.P.S..  Older tube equipment is not nearly as 
sensitive but why take a chance?  You may get an opportunity to check 
out that $250,000.00 insurance policy that comes with some of them.
73  Gary




At 06:02 PM 2/17/2008, J Forster wrote:
>OK. I'll venture into the alligator pond.
>
>IMO, unless you live a long way from a city and depend on long overhead
>power lines subject to lightning strikes, I think 'surge protectors' are
>a total waste of time and money. Even if there is a line spike, most gear
>will not be damaged at all.
>
>I used to spend my summers on an island in the St. Lawrence River. It was
>composed mostly of sand (think quartz..  a pretty good insulator). One
>evening we were watching TV and there was a nearby thunderstorm. I heard
>a bang from a nearby strike and saw a spark jump from the light switch on
>the living room wall to a floor air heating vent...  roughly 6 feet. No
>surge protector, no damage to anything in the house, TV included.
>
>I would recommend that your line strip be plugged into a GFI outlet and
>that you NOT clip ground pins on line cords.
>
>Flame shields up !
>
>Best,
>-John
>
>
>
>davec wrote:
>
> > I've got a nice 6-foot, 20-outlet power strip strapped to the back of
> > my work bench. It does not, however, have any surge protection or
> > filtering.
> >
> > What kind of protection do y'all use for mains power for your test
> > equipment? Surely not the cheap "surge-protector" power strips?
> >
> > Is there some protection I can add prior to my power strip that will
> > be sufficient to protect my equipment investment?
> >
> > Recommendations welcome.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Dave
>
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end
Gary Pewitt  N9ZSV   n9zsv at magtel.com  479 675 4376
1500 French Prairie Rd. Booneville, Arkansas  72927
Sturgeon's Law "Ninety percent of everything is crap"  But it's that 
other 10% that makes life worth living.