How do I know if my surge suppressor is working ? I know it has a LED that stays lit as long as it is protecting, but does it really ? Is that light just there for amusement ? Most of the suppressors that I have seen just have a MOV soldered between the hot and neutral. If that's all these suppressors are, they why can't I open one up and just solder in some more MOVs and up the protection ? Thanks Sid.
SURGE SUPPRESSOR
Started by ●April 9, 2021
Reply by ●April 9, 20212021-04-09
On 2021-04-09, Sid 03 <sidwelle@gmail.com> wrote:> How do I know if my surge suppressor is working ? I know it has a LED that stays lit as long as it is protecting, but does it really ? Is that light just there for amusement ? Most of the suppressors that I have seen just have a MOV soldered between the hot and neutral. If that's all these suppressors are, they why can't I open one up and just solder in some more MOVs and up the protection ?In a MOV's usual wear-out mechanism they typically fail shorted. When the MOV fails it blows a fuse and with the fuse blown the LED goes out. It's possible (but rare) for the MOV to fail open (eg. one of the leads breaks due to external vibrations), If that happens the fuse will not blow and the LED will stay lit. -- Jasen.
Reply by ●April 9, 20212021-04-09
On Friday, April 9, 2021 at 1:00:54 AM UTC-5, Jasen Betts wrote:> On 2021-04-09, Sid 03 <sidw...@gmail.com> wrote: > > How do I know if my surge suppressor is working ? I know it has a LED that stays lit as long as it is protecting, but does it really ? Is that light just there for amusement ? Most of the suppressors that I have seen just have a MOV soldered between the hot and neutral. If that's all these suppressors are, they why can't I open one up and just solder in some more MOVs and up the protection ? > In a MOV's usual wear-out mechanism they typically fail shorted. > When the MOV fails it blows a fuse and with the fuse blown the LED > goes out. > > It's possible (but rare) for the MOV to fail open (eg. one of the leads breaks due > to external vibrations), If that happens the fuse will not blow and > the LED will stay lit. > > -- > Jasen.Thanks for that info. So when purchasing, how does one tell a good Suppressor from a not good ? -or- all they all about the same ? (as long as the Joules are the same) Or can you just open it up and add as many MOVs as you feel needed ? Sid.
Reply by ●April 9, 20212021-04-09
Reply by ●April 9, 20212021-04-09
On 4/9/2021 3:59 PM, Sid 03 wrote:> On Friday, April 9, 2021 at 1:00:54 AM UTC-5, Jasen Betts wrote: >> On 2021-04-09, Sid 03 <sidw...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> How do I know if my surge suppressor is working ? I know it has a LED that stays lit as long as it is protecting, but does it really ? Is that light just there for amusement ? Most of the suppressors that I have seen just have a MOV soldered between the hot and neutral. If that's all these suppressors are, they why can't I open one up and just solder in some more MOVs and up the protection ? >> In a MOV's usual wear-out mechanism they typically fail shorted. >> When the MOV fails it blows a fuse and with the fuse blown the LED >> goes out. >> >> It's possible (but rare) for the MOV to fail open (eg. one of the leads breaks due >> to external vibrations), If that happens the fuse will not blow and >> the LED will stay lit. >> >> -- >> Jasen. > > Thanks for that info. > So when purchasing, how does one tell a good Suppressor from a not good ? > -or- all they all about the same ? (as long as the Joules are the same) > Or can you just open it up and add as many MOVs as you feel needed ? > > Sid.The ones that offer a warranty/insurance policy on the equipment connected to them up to X-thousand dollars might be good place to start
Reply by ●April 9, 20212021-04-09
On 4/9/2021 1:14 AM, Sid 03 wrote:> How do I know if my surge suppressor is working ? I know it has a LED that stays lit as long as it is protecting, but does it really ? Is that light just there for amusement ? Most of the suppressors that I have seen just have a MOV soldered between the hot and neutral. If that's all these suppressors are, they why can't I open one up and just solder in some more MOVs and up the protection ? > > Thanks > Sid. >The better-quality ones have two LEDs, one that says "Grounded" and one that says "Protected" and I would imagine some internal circuitry to determine whether this is actually so.
Reply by ●April 9, 20212021-04-09
On Thu, 8 Apr 2021 22:14:05 -0700 (PDT), Sid 03 <sidwelle@gmail.com> wrote:>How do I know if my surge suppressor is working ? I know it has a LED that stays lit as long as it is protecting, but does it really ? Is that light just there for amusement ? Most of the suppressors that I have seen just have a MOV soldered between the hot and neutral. If that's all these suppressors are, they why can't I open one up and just solder in some more MOVs and up the protection ? > >Thanks >Sid.Why bother?
Reply by ●April 10, 20212021-04-10
On Fri, 9 Apr 2021 16:41:54 -0400, bitrex <user@example.net> wrote:>On 4/9/2021 3:59 PM, Sid 03 wrote: >> On Friday, April 9, 2021 at 1:00:54 AM UTC-5, Jasen Betts wrote: >>> On 2021-04-09, Sid 03 <sidw...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> How do I know if my surge suppressor is working ? I know it has a LED that stays lit as long as it is protecting, but does it really ? Is that light just there for amusement ? Most of the suppressors that I have seen just have a MOV soldered between the hot and neutral. If that's all these suppressors are, they why can't I open one up and just solder in some more MOVs and up the protection ? >>> In a MOV's usual wear-out mechanism they typically fail shorted. >>> When the MOV fails it blows a fuse and with the fuse blown the LED >>> goes out. >>> >>> It's possible (but rare) for the MOV to fail open (eg. one of the leads breaks due >>> to external vibrations), If that happens the fuse will not blow and >>> the LED will stay lit. >>> >>> -- >>> Jasen. >> >> Thanks for that info. >> So when purchasing, how does one tell a good Suppressor from a not good ? >> -or- all they all about the same ? (as long as the Joules are the same) >> Or can you just open it up and add as many MOVs as you feel needed ? >> >> Sid. > >The ones that offer a warranty/insurance policy on the equipment >connected to them up to X-thousand dollars might be good place to startRead carefully what that insurance policy actually require you to do, since you might need to upgrade your electric system, such as improving grounding or even add spark gaps at the mains entry :-). After this upgrade this add-on suppressor might not be needed at all. Those surge suppressor that are plugged in the socket protects only equipment (or extension cord) connected to it suppressor , but may fail miserably, if there are other connections e.g. to telephone, CATV or antenna systems or other devices connected to a different mains socket (even it has a same kind of suppressor).
Reply by ●April 10, 20212021-04-10
On Friday, April 9, 2021 at 12:59:22 PM UTC-7, sidw...@gmail.com wrote:> On Friday, April 9, 2021 at 1:00:54 AM UTC-5, Jasen Betts wrote: > > On 2021-04-09, Sid 03 <sidw...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > How do I know if my surge suppressor is working ?> > In a MOV's usual wear-out mechanism they typically fail shorted.> So when purchasing, how does one tell a good Suppressor from a not good ?One doesn't. Brand loyalty is good, but you cannot usefully test components for a once-in-a-lifetime lightning stroke (and even if you could, the surge can jump from adjacent wiring and completely bypass a single 'suppressor'. You can be sure that a reputable manufacturer won't give his products a lightning-test before selling them to you...
Reply by ●April 10, 20212021-04-10
On 4/10/2021 2:45 AM, upsidedown@downunder.com wrote:> On Fri, 9 Apr 2021 16:41:54 -0400, bitrex <user@example.net> wrote: > >> On 4/9/2021 3:59 PM, Sid 03 wrote: >>> On Friday, April 9, 2021 at 1:00:54 AM UTC-5, Jasen Betts wrote: >>>> On 2021-04-09, Sid 03 <sidw...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> How do I know if my surge suppressor is working ? I know it has a LED that stays lit as long as it is protecting, but does it really ? Is that light just there for amusement ? Most of the suppressors that I have seen just have a MOV soldered between the hot and neutral. If that's all these suppressors are, they why can't I open one up and just solder in some more MOVs and up the protection ? >>>> In a MOV's usual wear-out mechanism they typically fail shorted. >>>> When the MOV fails it blows a fuse and with the fuse blown the LED >>>> goes out. >>>> >>>> It's possible (but rare) for the MOV to fail open (eg. one of the leads breaks due >>>> to external vibrations), If that happens the fuse will not blow and >>>> the LED will stay lit. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Jasen. >>> >>> Thanks for that info. >>> So when purchasing, how does one tell a good Suppressor from a not good ? >>> -or- all they all about the same ? (as long as the Joules are the same) >>> Or can you just open it up and add as many MOVs as you feel needed ? >>> >>> Sid. >> >> The ones that offer a warranty/insurance policy on the equipment >> connected to them up to X-thousand dollars might be good place to start > > Read carefully what that insurance policy actually require you to do, > since you might need to upgrade your electric system, such as > improving grounding or even add spark gaps at the mains entry :-). > After this upgrade this add-on suppressor might not be needed at all. > > Those surge suppressor that are plugged in the socket protects only > equipment (or extension cord) connected to it suppressor , but may > fail miserably, if there are other connections e.g. to telephone, CATV > or antenna systems or other devices connected to a different mains > socket (even it has a same kind of suppressor). >These are $19.99 at Amazon: <https://www.amazon.com/ESHLDTY-Protector-Weatherproof-Shockproof-Protection/dp/B08GSFXW77> And holy shit, look at this picture right here: <https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/sc/e898d052-416b-40ba-80a4-e662ed83a6b9.__CR0,0,300,300_PT0_SX300_V1___.jpg> "ESHLDTY outdoor surge protector will effectively prevent the occurrence of short-circuit or electric shock and other safety accidents caused by water splash or light rain." There's no evidence this thing does what it claims. It has no GFCI. There's no evidence it even well-protects the equipment connected! The IP-X standards have nothing to do with protecting the _user_. Does anyone believe it's really ETL certified? Here's Tripp-Lite's insurance policy: <https://www.tripplite.com/support/insurance-policy> Someone said that price is a deciding factor, at my local brick-n-mortar electronics supply shop 7 outlet Tripp-Lite power strips with the guarantee up to $75,000 are the _same price_ as the above: <https://www.tripplite.com/protect-it-7-outlet-surge-protector-7-ft-cord-2160-joules-white-housing~SUPER7> Though it doesn't claim to be "waterproof" or show pictures of someone sticking fuckin' tweezers in it, damn.
