westom

None of those protectors did any protection. Each did what its manufacturer spec numbers said it would do: no protection from that type of surge.

Superior protection already exists in each appliance. Some appliances were overwhelmed. Others were not. Please learn first how surges do damage. And what protectors do.

Lightning energy was inside the house searching for earth ground. That energy selected which appliances to connect, destructively, to earth. If an appliance made a better connection to earth, then massive current flowed through it.

Please explain how that surge protector stopped what three miles of sky could not? It didn't. But that myth is widely believed. Promoted by those who assume rather than learn. Some ten cent protector parts inside a $3 power strip sells for $7 in a supermarket. Or a same circuit costs $25 or $70. Because it is more expensive, then it must be better? No. Because each does the same near zero protection, then similar products sells for $7 – or for $150 under the Monster label. The word scam applies.

A majority are educated only by advertising myths. "Surge protect*or* sounds like surge protect*ion*. So it must be same." Nonsense.

Well proven science: protection means energy is not inside a building. For over 100 years, protection from direct lightning strikes has been an earthed 'whole house' protector. Once energy is inside, then nothing - absolutely nothing - will stop hundreds of thousands of joules finding earth destructively via appliances. Informed consumers earth one 'whole house' protector so that energy does not go hunting.

A 'whole house' protector does not do protection. No protector does protection. An effective protector always - as in no exceptions - always makes a short connection to single point earth ground.

Energy from a direct lightning strike must dissipate somewhere. Always. Where does that energy get absorbed? Either harmlessly outside a building. Or destructively inside.

Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. A minimal 'whole house' protector starts at 50,000 amps. Earths direct lightning strikes and remain functional. But if a protector fails, then the most naïve will recommend it. Knowledge from observation is called junk science. Effective protection means nobody knew a surge existed. Even a protector is undamaged. But no damage means the most naïve cannot recommend what actually works. Another reason why so many waste money on plug-in protectors.

Solutions are provided by responsible companies include Siemens, ABB, Intermatic, Leviton, Square D, and General Electric. A Cutler-Hammer solution sells in both Lowes and Home Depot for less than $50. That is $50 to protect everything – including the dishwasher and furnace. Each has what must always exist for protection: a dedicated, separate, and short wire for earthing. This solution exists in every facility that can never suffer damage. A short connection to earth means less than 10 feet. Distance to earth is critical.

Your telco connects their computers to overhead wires all over town. Suffers maybe 100 surges with every thunderstorm. How often is your town without phone service four days after each thunderstorm? Telcos waste no money on plug-in protectors. Telcos use 'whole house' protectors connected as short as possible to earth. As was done 100 years ago. And what every homeowner needs if transistors exist.

An average home suffers one surge every seven years. Informed homeowners earth so that all appliances are protected. So that no energy is inside hunting destructively. The superior solution costs $1 per protected appliance. Based in 100 years of well proven science. Read spec numbers. How do those hundreds of joules in a power strip absorb surges that are hundreds of thousands of joules? They don’t have to. Their purpose is not protection. A $3 power strip with ten cent protector parts selling at $25 or $150. Profits. The superior solution costs about $1 per appliance.

Are you educated by advertising and hearsay? Or do you have what is used even in munitions dumps because surge damage must never happen. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Hundreds of thousands of joules must dissipate harmlessly. Protection is only and always about where energy dissipates. Consumers educated by advertising will never ask damning questions such as, "How does it stop what three miles of sky could not?" Informed consumers earth one ‘whole house’ protector so that energy is not inside the building.

This and other layman information (including what Franklin demonstrated in 1752) was provided in Surge Protectors on 14 Jan 2011 at:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-89793-9.htm#2272712