Surge protectors do not help much. A UPS offers much better protection. Not only does it protect equipment from voltage spikes, it assists with blackouts and brownouts.
Many years ago when I lived in a third floor apartment there was a lightning strike nearby. Most electric devices within my apartment were connected to UPSes and had no damage. A digital clock and TV located in different rooms were each connected to a surge protector. The clock was damaged beyond repair. The TV acted strangely. It would not power on. At first I thought it too was fried. I unplugged it for a minute to drain any stray charge. After I plugged in the TV again it worked normally. Now I only use surge protectors to extend an outlet from a UPS, as when connecting a small AC adapter. During a storm you have to disconnect the antenna and possibly other things. I spent my early life growing up in the Chicago area, which had powerful summer thunderstorms. One night I was surprised to see flashes of light on the coil of an uncovered antenna tuner! My gear was not damaged, but now I had another problem: disconnecting the antenna while the storm is in progress and not get injured. Fortunately, everything worked out. Mark W5KXX -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of William Levy Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 3:05 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Elecraft] Surge Protection Gents, I do not think it is worthwhile to buy surge protection for individual items. I live in NW CO and we have thunderstorms all summer and for years I used surge protectors individually until my electrician suggested I put surge protectors on my electric panels coming into my house, shacks, barns, guest houses, library etc. So each building out west now has a surge protector on the electrical panel which hisses and clicks during thunderstorms and of course we tend to unplug ham sets and tv's and hi fi's and wifi's and all the rest of the stuff. Nothing man makes can protect your electronics from a direct hit to your antennas or house and by direct I mean within 100 feet. Try as you might it's bigger than us. So unplug and ground all antennas all the time. 73, Bill N2WL ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
