Re: Test for Surge Protector?

["Rich Gosselin" <rich (a*tt) gossel (dut) org>]

Thanks Marc,

I do understand the value of a good earth ground, and am in the process of
installing 2 rods in a location that shold give the proper "whole house"
ground. Given that I actually live in what 50 years ago was considered a
flood plain (really hasn't flooded due to the ditches installed when the sub
was built), I find that the "ground water level" is at or above 6 foot. How
do I know this? Next door neighbor put an in-ground pool in and I was very
interested in the level they had to start their sump at....I like water
table info because somehow...my simple mind thinks water = conductivity =
better ground. So, if I have two #4 cables going out to 2 ground rods...each
out 5 to 10 foot from the foundation (which is a slab anyway, so I don't
think they dig those too deep) I might have a good chance with my "whole
house" installation.

I do realize I also need point of use for individual electronics, but that
still means I need to know if they are actually still working...or just
passing...(gas)....you know what I mean...Actaully, I did all that earth
ground research a few years ago, and that's why I'm putting in the stuff
now...(I'm a bit slow, but I get there...)

Rich

"Marc F Hult" <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ll6rh1h1qj09lodeotch1premeusainigr@xxxxxxxxxx
> On Tue, 6 Sep 2005 09:03:26 -0400, "Rich Gosselin" <rich (a*tt) gossel
> (dut)
> org> wrote in message  <v7CdnfdvX-8EDoDeRVn-pg@xxxxxxxxxxx>:
>
>>I've got a collection of surge protector around, and I want to find a
>>valid
>>and somewhat simple method of testing that they are still providing some
>>protection, without trashing them in a destructive test.
>>
>>I've searched the net for some kind of reference to help with this, and
>>found only proprietary information of specific brands, usually at the
>>manufacturers site on capacity, waveform, etc...test results for that
>>product, but little info on how the test was actually done.
>>
>>1.) I'd assume with MOV based devices (most of the consumer devices) I'd
>>be
>>able to "see" a blown MOV, but I'm not sure. Is there a simple electrical
>>test?
>>
>>2.) Some of the better devices, like Brick Wall and others...that
>>advertise
>>"never fail", well, do we take them at their word, or is there some way to
>>see if they are still ok after some years of hits. Really, at $200 ~
>>$1,000
>>+ per item...they should last forever...
>>
>>Not many folks seem to be into surge protection / UPS / line filtering,
>>but
>>I'm developing an interest for both business & personal reasons...and I'm
>>looking here to learn a bit more about them...
>>
>>Any views? Comments? Good URL's to get info from?
>
> A first good step would be to research the importance of the earth ground
> in
> 'surge protection' and assess the extent to which the surge protectors you
> have actually meet those needs.
>
> Without suffering a direct lightning strike, and despite the usual array
> of
> "surge protectors", the electronic equipment in house (AV, security,
> telephone, computer, GFI's etc) has had major damage from 'surges'. My
> partial solution has been to improve the house's earth ground and to
> provide
> for electrical disconnect during storms. We like in the center of th NA
> continent in a region that is typical with respect to lightning strikes.
>
> Google all groups (including comp.home.automation) for " W_Tom ",  and
> comp.home.automation for "earth ground" and  "lightning".
>
> You may conclude that the surge protectors you have been depending are
> less
> useful than you thought even when new.
>
> HTH ... Marc
> Marc_F_Hult
> www.ECOntrol.org