Re: Surge protector

On Feb 24, 2:36 am, bud-- <remove.budn...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
I said "a revision to UL1449" which was effective in 1998. Intelligence
is not w_.

UL1449 standard was released in 28 Aug 1985; not in 1998 as Bud
said. Scary pictures show what happens to undersized protectors after
that standard was implemented. Standard was created to reduce fire
threats. The most common solution has been thermal links to
disconnect the protector as fast as possible - leaving the appliance
exposed to the surge.

A plug-in protector can even fail during testing and still get UL
1449 approval. UL1449 does not eliminate the problem. Surge energy
must be dissipated someplace harmlessly. Therefore effective
protectors have that short (ie 'less than 10 foot') connection to
earth ground. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground.

No wonder high reliability facilities (ie telephone switching
centers) do not install Bud's recommendation. An effective solution
that costs less money also is not the problem in 'scary pictures'.

Responsible manufacturers such as Square D, Cutler-Hammer,
Intermatic, Siemens, Leviton, and GE sell one 'whole house' protector
with the essential earthing wire. Not on that responsible list are
products from APC, Tripplite, Belkin, and Monster Cable. A protector
is only as effective as what provides the protection - what dissipates
surge energy - earth ground. Effective protectors are properly sized
and earthed to not create scary pictures.

What does the Gaston County Fire Marshal discuss? Risk created by
plug-in protectors that even meet UL1449. Scary pictures demonstrate
a problem with protectors promoted by Bud:
http://www.hanford.gov/rl/?page=556&parent=554
http://www.westwhitelandfire.com/Articles/Surge%20Protectors.pdf
http://www.ddxg.net/old/surge_protectors.htm
http://www.zerosurge.com/HTML/movs.html
http://www3.cw56.com/news/articles/local/BO63312/
http://tinyurl.com/3x73ol or
http://www.esdjournal.com/techpapr/Pharr/INVESTIGATING%20SURGE%20SUPPRESSOR%20FIRES.doc

From Matthew T. Glennon, P.E. "Guidelines For Providing Surge
Protection at Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Facilities":
http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_lhm/surge.html
Grounding Is Fundamental
A surge protection device (SPD), also known as a transient
voltage surge suppressor (TVSS), is designed to divert
high-current surges to ground and bypass your equipment,
thereby limiting the voltage that is impressed on the
equipment. For this reason, it is critical that your facility have
a good, low-resistance grounding system, with a single
ground reference point to which the grounds of all building
systems are connected. Without a proper grounding system,
there is no way to protect against surges. Consult with a
licensed electrician to ensure that your electrical distribution
system is grounded in accordance with the National Electric
Code (NFPA 70).

Protection: building earthing meets and exceeds post 1990 National
Electrical Code requirements. The OP suffered modem damage is a
building that typically would not have sufficient earthing. An
effective protector makes a short (ie 'less than 10 foot') connection
to that earthing. It's a simple inspection. Does a protector have
that dedicated wire that connects to single point earth ground? If
not, then where does surge energy get dissipated?

Bud refuses to provide manufacturer spec numbers for protection.
Why? His 'magic box' protectors without earth ground are somehow a
complete solution, BUT do not claim to provide protection. That is the
point on Page 42 Figure 8.

Bud even denies protectors need earthing. Bud says his protectors
work without earthing. Even Bud's 1998 date for UL1449 is a lie. One
properly earthed 'whole house' protector negates the need for $2000+
of Bud's plug-in protectors. Surges that don't enter a building will
not find 8000 volt destructive paths through household appliances.

A protector is only as effective as its earth ground - as
demonstrated in quotes from another engineering source. Glennon could
not be more honest and blunt:
Without a proper grounding system, there is no way
to protect against surges.
Bud denies this. Profits are at risk.
.

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