Turn off computer during thunderstorms?

[Mulreay]

You could always run your entire house from a generator then stick the house and generator inside a Faraday cage... that should do it!

[westom]

surge protectors are good against switching surges and the like on your AC line, caused by operation of power company equipment. They are useless against lightning.

  Why is the benchmark for surge protection the lightning strike?  MOV datasheets use the classic lightning strike waveform (8/20 usecs) for data sheet parameters.  They use lightning strike waveforms defined by ANSI C62.xx.  Why would they use lightning parameters if the surge protector is not for direct lightning strikes? MOVs (the active component in a surge protector) is rated for lightning surges.

  Why do protectors list ANSI/IEEE C62.xx?  Because surge protectors are for lightning protection.  Why do all telcos for the past 100 years routinely install earthed protectors?  Because lightning was always the major threat even to operators with headsets.  Effective surge protectors were installed for lightning protection.  Telephones had to operate constantly during every thunderstorm – without damage and without harm to humans.

  Plug-in protectors are useless for lightning and for other surges.  Some plug-in protectors sold in other nations are required to include this phrase, “Does not protect from lightning.”  What does the effective protector do?  Protect from the rare surge (maybe once ever seven years) that may overwhelm protection inside every appliance.

  Surges too small to overwhelm that internal protection will destroy some plug-in protectors.  Grossly undersizing a protector gets the naive to promote them.  To believe protector failure is normal operation.

  Only the naïve believe unplugging is reliable.  At best, a human is only available one hour in three.  Many surges occur unexpected.  Even in the 1920s, Ham radio operators would disconnect their antenna and put that lead in a mason jar.  And still suffer damage.  Damage only stopped when the antenna lead was earthed – the reliable solution.

  Once inside the house, surges go hunting for earth destructively via appliances.  Things such as wooden tables are electrically conductive.  Current flows even through concrete and linoleum.  Who knows what these currents are flowing through.  More reasons why effective protection is not disconnecting; why effective protection is earthing that energy before it can enter the building.

  We install surge protectors to make direct lighting strike irrelevant.  Then other lesser surges are also made further irrelevant.  Protection is defined by the single point earth ground.

[Mulreay]

Has anyone seen the 'neverending story'? Great film 

[westom]

You could always run your entire house from a generator then stick the house and generator inside a Faraday cage...

 Creating a Faraday cage is, essentially, what 'whole house' protection does.  Properly earthed currents do not travel destructively through appliances inside the house.  Well proven concept is to keep massive currents outside the building.

[Salmon Trout]

surges go hunting for earth destructively via appliances.

Suppose they find a drink and a snack, say pizza and beer, will  they be satisfied and go away?

[Mulreay]

Suppose they find a drink and a snack, say pizza and beer, will  they be satisfied and go away?

 

[westom]

Suppose they find a drink and a snack, say pizza and beer, will  they be satisfied and go away?

   Depends on the conductivity of that drink.  Electrons are very picky.

[Aegis]

Beer would be good.  Distilled water would not be good for electrons.   

[BC_Programmer]

that's like when the atom lost an electron. I asked if he was sure, and he said, "yes, I'm positive"

[smeezekitty]

hahaha
your funny

[Mulreay]

hahaha
your funny

Oh my word BC has a groupy!!

[kpac]

that's like when the atom lost an electron. I asked if he was sure, and he said, "yes, I'm positive"

Is that covalent or ionic?

[patio]

Ionic.

[Aegis]

Ironic, isn't it?   

I'm sorry, I'm sorry!