@PRODUCTS = Why Surge Protectors

@PRODUCTS = Don't Aways Work



@1ST NCS UNJUS = There are so many computers being used today at home 
and in the office. Almost every one of these computers have some form 
of protection against lightning or surges of power. How do you know 
what you've got? Will this surge protector work when you need it, 
or will it only work as long as it is a small surge? We need to know 
a little about how the <169>surge protector<170> works and how to 
install it in order to have complete protection aganist lightning.

@1ST NCS UNJUS = 

@BYLINE = What A Surge Protector Does

@ART NCS 10UNJ = The object of a surge protector is to protect your 
computer from the damaging effects of lightning traveling through 
your electrical outlet. This can be done in two ways: one is to dissipate 
the excess energy and the other is to redirect the energy through 
another path than through your computer. Either method requires that 
there be a path available to ground for the current to travel.

@ART NCS 10UNJ = 

@BYLINE = Law of Current Flow

@ART NCS 10UNJ = There are two important <169>ground rules<170> that 
are always true of electricity:

@ART NCS 10UNJ = 

@ART NCS 10SPC = <MI>1) Any circuit that injects a current into a 
conductor must include a path for that current to return to the point 
of generation.<D>

@ART NCS 10SPC = 

@ART NCS 10SPC = <MI>2) Current always travels the path of least resistance.<D>

@PAR NCS SPECI = 

@ART NCS 10UNJ = The first is important because when lightning comes 
through your electrical outlet to your computer, it has to have a 
return path to follow in order to do any damage. That is why the best 
surge protection is to unplug your computer during lightning storms; 
unfortunately, you won't be able to use your computer. The second 
is important because there are devices that under surge conditions 
create a path of lower resistance that will guide the lightning right 
around your computer.

@ART NCS 10UNJ = 

@BYLINE = Proper Ground

@ART NCS 10UNJ = In order to have a lower resistance path around your 
computer you must have a <169>proper ground.<170> This proper ground 
can cause a lot of problems for people who bought a surge protector, 
however, still got lightning damage to their computer. A lot of times 
the ground that feeds your outlet is not a lower resistance for a 
lightning strike and, therefore, will keep on going through your computer. 
Several of the causes are;

@ART NCS 10UNJ = 

@BULLET = Ground wire too small.

@BULLET = Corrosion of the ground wire or lugs.

@BULLET = Steel being used as a ground conductor and not copper or 
aluminum.

@BULLET = When grounding to water pipes, a <%-2>lot of times there 
are nonconductive<%0> (PVC) pipes being used in place of copper tubing.

@PAR NCS SPECI = 

@ART NCS 10UNJ = It is hard as an individual to test any of these  situations. 
You can buy test instruments that will test the resistance of your 
ground so you can determine if a proper ground does exists. I've seen 
some surge protectors that have these meters built into them, however, 
I'm not sure how effective they really are. You can also have a professional 
come in and test your ground resistance. I've noticed that the later 
technique usually isn't used until after the present surge protector 
didn't work.

@ART NCS 10UNJ = 

@BYLINE = What Can Go Wrong

@ART NCS 10UNJ = The device that is supposed to direct the excess 
current to ground can fail after a series of lightning strikes and 
you won't even know it. There is no way around this except to buy 
a heavy-duty surge protector with a good warranty (at least a 7-year 
full replacement). These types of surge protectors are typically in 
the 50- to 100-dollar range.

@ART NCS 10UNJ = If you look at your wall outlet, you will notice 
three slots. One is for the current going to your computer. Another 
is for the returnpath for the current. And the third is for the ground 
path. To get full protection from lightning you need a device that 
will protect your computer from all three current paths. However, 
due to pricing pressures many surge protectors only protect the path 
going to your computer and not the other paths. Therefore, if a surge 
comes in from the other paths, your computer will be sure to see its 
force.

@ART NCS 10UNJ = 

@BYLINE = Ground Loops

@ART NCS 10UNJ = Sometimes lightning damage can be done to your computer 
and your surge protector didn't even notice it. This can happen if 
you have a ground loop. Remember that all current carrying circuits 
are loops and current always follows the path of least resistance. 
Therefore, if your computer's ground is at a different potential than 
the ground feeding the electrical outlet, current can flow through 
the ground and do all types of strange things or damage.

@ART NCS 10UNJ = 

@BYLINE = Conclusion

@ART NCS 10UNJ = In order to have good surge protection you need to 
make sure that you invested in a quality protector. This protector 
must protect against all paths of current flow. Finally, you must 
also make sure that you have a proper ground for your surge protector 
to be plugged into.  <F129M> o

@ART NCS 10UNJ = 

@ART NCS 10SPC = <BI>(Bryant Jenks is Manager UPS Division for Charles 
E. Singleton, an electrical consulting firm in Tampa, FL.) <D>

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