westom

Let's put numbers to it (do not remember if these numbers were already provided). A properly earth 'whole house' solution does 99.5% to 99.9% of the protection. A plug-in protector (type 3/4) may be an additional 0.2% protection. Explains why facilities that cannot have damage always implement a properly earthed 'whole house' solution. As the IEEE says, In some facilities, an employee might be fired for using plug-in protectors for reasons stated previously and repeatedly. As the Surgex video demonstrates, it can compromise superior protection inside appliances by connecting a surge to safety ground (not earth ground). It can cause fires. It does not claim to protect from typically destructive surges. It only claims to protect from a type of surge that typically causes no damage. Why do a majority not learn about a proven and least expensive solution? Advertising without numbers even has many (if not a majority) foolishly believing even a UPS is a surge protector. Specification numbers aline would dispel that urban myth, But a majority of eyes glaze over with numbers. Most want to be taught subjectively - meaning junk science is alive and well. Series mode filters (Surgex, Zerosurge, Brickwall) have a purpose. But not for protection of everything in the house and not from the larger surges that are typically destructive. Plug-in protectors must be protected by a properly earthed 'whole house' solution most often provided by other companies known for their integrity. And finally, every layer of protection is only defined by an item that harmlessly absorbs massive energy - earth ground (not a protector). Protection of appliances is the 'whole house' solution. Protection of the structure is Ben Franklin's lightning rods. Both examples are only as effective as its earth ground.

Typical surge is defined in datasheets for protector parts. A surge is a microseconds event. A typically surge is called 8/20 microseconds. Defined above is a well less than 500 joules surge. Such surges are often consumed by electronics as electricity to be converted and safely power its semiconductors. Protection already inside electronics makes that near zero surge irrelevant.

Please read what was posted rather than jumping to unjustified conclusions. Stated here repeatedly is that protectors do not provide layered protection. Stated here repeatedly are the 'secondary' and 'primary' protection layers. 6000 volts does not mean 180,000 joules. Where did that number come from? If demonstrating 180,000 joules, then those burn parts were have vaporized explosively. Surgex (and equivalent series mode filters) typically absorb about 6000 joules spike; not 180,000 joules. Only for one or some appliances. If anything needs protection, then everything needs protection. Informed consumers spend about $1 per protected appliance to earth one 'whole house' protector - for protection from all types of surges including and not limited to direct lightning strikes.

First, Surgex demonstration shows how an adjacent protector simply gives a surge more paths destructively into adjacent appliances - ie a destroyed resistor. That plug-in protector (or UPS) failure was stated here repeatedly. Second, MOVs fail (as shown) only when grossly undersized. That happens when a plug-in (near zero) protector (hundreds or thousands of joules) tries to absorb a surge that is hundreds of thousands of joules. Another problem with plug-in protectors that was stated here repeatedly. Third Surex discusses ground contamination while ignoring what was stated here repeatedly. Safety ground (that gets contaminated) is electrically and completely different from earth ground. That difference between receptacle safety and earth ground was stated here repeatedly. Fourth, protection is about where hundreds of thousand of joules harmlessly dissipate. Surgex only claims to absorb maybe 6000 joules? A larger and destructive surge current still passes though a Surgex into attached appliances - but does not damage the Surgex. Protection (only from smaller surges) is about $100 per protected appliance. Effective protection is for everything for about $1 per protected appliance as stated here repeatedly. Fifth, a 'whole house' protector is completely different from protectors that foolishly try to block or absorb surges - plug-in protectors, UPS or a Surgex. Specific model numbers are irrelevant and unnecessary. Since protectors are simple dumb science. An informed consumer goes to his big box hardware store, electrical supply house, or Internet provider to request a 'whole house' protector. It must have that dedicated wire for a low impedance connection to earth. And it must be rated at least 50,000 amps. That simple as was stated here previously. Sixth, a UPS, plug-in protector, or Surgex is only supplementary. A properly earthed 'whole house' protector must be installed even if using those other devices. A properly earthed 'whole house' solution is effective protection with or without those other 'tens of times' more expensive products that also claim to absorb many times less energy.

That question was answered repeatedly with specific manufacturers, numbers, reasons why, and professionals citations that confirm those recommendations in posts 9, 11, end of post 13, 16, 18, middle of 20, 22, 28, what protectors do and do not do in 29, third paragraph and second half of 35, and post 44.

You are worrying about induced transients. A strike to a lightning rod meant maybe 20,000 amps connected to earth on that rod's hardwire. Only four feet away from that 20,000 amps transient was an IBM PC. it did not even blink. Because those induces fields are already made irrelevant by protection routinely found in that IBM PC - and in all other electronics in that office. Plenty of engineering examples demonstrate why induced fields are easily made irrelevant. But the above example is typically of all nearby strikes when the induced field results in near zero voltage - when a milliamp or less is conducted by protection already inside electronics. Thousands of volts (due to that induced field) drops to near zero when standard protection conducts a milliamp or less. Damage due to massive 'energy in air' is hooey mostly generated by fear, no numbers, and no technical experience.

Type X protectors only define human safety issues. A type 3 or type 4 is so undersized that, if too close to earth, these may become potential fires. No protector does protection. Both type 1 and type 2 are the same layer of protection - same tier - defined only by what harmlessly absorbs hundreds of thousands of joules. Both are part of the same 'secondary' protection layer that, if properly installed, makes all direct lightning strikes irrelevant. Type 3 and 4 are only part of the same tier but with an inferior connection to earth. These are for a type of surge that is typically made irrelevant by protection already inside every appliance. And do nothing for destructive types of surges such as lightning. In fact, during a lightning type surge, these type 3 and type 4 plug-in protectors can (and we demonstrated it in the resulting design review) make damage to adjacent appliances easier. As larryllix mentioned, a wire passing through a ferrous metal impedes an earth ground connection because impedance increases. A surge carried by by hardwire or a 'whole house' protector to earth, must be on a low impedance connection. Not only as short as possible and without sharp bends. Connection also must not be inside metallic conduit or pass through ferrous metal holes. All those increase impedance - reduce surge protection. Ground potential rise was discussed previously. Also known as equipotential. A good earth ground means soil beneath a building rises maybe by 10,000 volts. Meaning everything inside is also at the same 10,000 volts. No voltage different means no current and no damage. Equipotential is a fundamental reason why earthing must be a single point ground. And why earthing is the 'art' of protection. Protectors are simply connecting devices to what actually does protection. But protectors without that earth ground get recommended only on hearsay, myths, or even by intentionally misreading an IEEE brochure. Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate. Always. Another also discussed what has far more energy than lightning. A follow-through current (power from an AC utility after a surge is done) can even damage protectors. For example, if the homeowner's 'primary' protection layer is missing or compromised, then a strike to the transformer might connect maybe 13,000 volt primary wire into a household 120/240 volt system. This is often seen as sparks spraying from a wall receptacle. A 'lightning created' short circuit exists if the 'primary' protection layer (the earth ground connection) is missing as demonstrated in pictures: http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html A properly earthed 'whole house' protector often protects from a follow-through current (if earthing is robust). Smaller protectors might degrade. But plug-in protectors (type 3) do absolutely nothing for this type surge (follow-through current) other than fail catastrophically. Catastrophic failure is a first step to fire. Many radio and emergency response systems were fixed only by upgrading the earth ground. Two case studies of how this was done in Nebraska: http://www.copper.org/applications/electrical/pq/casestudy/nebraska.html and in Florida: http://www.psihq.com/AllCopper.htm In each case, damage was due to earthng mistakes (by humans). Future damage averted by upgrading what must harmlessly absorb hundreds of thousands of joules. For every type protector - a protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Protectors never define layers of protection. Only earth ground (what absorbs that energy) defines each protection layer. It was always that simple. Protectors are only dumb science. Earthing is an 'art'.

A 'whole house' protector mounted in the breaker box must make a low impedance connection to an outside earth ground. It uses a same earth ground electrode also required by code for human safety. Follow that bare copper quarter inch wire from breaker box to earthing electrodes. If it goes up over the foundation and down to earth, then protection is compromised. That wire is unnecessarily long, has sharp bends over the foundation, and is bundled with other non-grounding wires. Low impedance means that same wire goes through the foundation and down to earthing electrodes. That shorter distance and no sharp bends seriously reduces impedance - increases protection. As noted earlier, all other incoming utilities must make a low impedance connection to the same earthing at the service entrance. Even a TV antenna wire must be routed to enter and earth there before entering. Bonding is about connecting various internal devices together for human safety. For example, water pipes and metal bathtub must be bonded to the same safety ground that connects to all receptacle safety grounds. That is a ground bus in the main breaker box so that an electrical fault will trip a circuit breaker. Earth ground connection for surges may share some conductors also used in bonding. But earth ground must address something that bonding does not - low impedance. Bonding is concerned with low resistance - a completely different parameter. Numbers: a long wire (ie 50 feet) may have a low resistance and high impedance. IOW it may be less than 0.2 ohms resistance and 120 ohms impedance. Sufficient for bonding for human safety. And woefully insufficient for earthing a surge - transistor safety. This is the 'art' of protection.

A request to learn abut the 'art' of protection rather than denial and accusations. A utility demonstrates good, bad, and ugly (preferred, wrong, and right) solutions: http://www.duke-energy.com/indiana-business/products/power-quality/tech-tip-08.asp A 'whole house' protector must be at least 50,000 amps. it must make a low impedance connection to this single point earth ground (ie 'less than 10 feet, not inside metallic conduit, no sharp wire bends, no splices, separated from other non-grounding wires, etc). Also the 'installed for free' protection for phones, cable, and satellite dish must also make that low impedance connection to the same earth ground. Since protection is always about earthing a surge BEFORE it can enter a building. Manufacturers of proven 'whole house' protectors include (and are not limited to) names well known for their integrity - including GE, ABB, Polyphaser, Ditek, Keison, Novaris, Square D, Cutler-Hammer, Syscom, Clipsal, AEL Group, Intermatic, Leviton, and Siemens. These well proven solution typically costs about $1 per protected appliance.

So your telco disconnects all phone service before each thunderstorm? Why do 100 incoming surges with each storm not damage their $multi-million computer? Proven protection from direct lightning strikes existed even 100 years ago. Informed homeowners learn why that one 'whole house' protector is rated 50,000 amps (or larger). It must even earth direct lightning strikes without damage. Surges are a microsecond event. 'Whole house' protectors respond in nanoseconds. Again, numbers that expose another subjective claim. Also key is wire length to earth ground. His Type 1 and Type 2 protectors are 'whole house' protectors. If connected low impedance (ie 'less than 10 feet') to earth, then direct lightning strikes would cause no damage. His Type 3 and 4 protectors have no earth ground. Those protectors are why so many believe nothing can protect from lightning and other typically destructive surges. Those inferior protectors typically cost more and are provided by manufacturers such as APC, Belkin, Monster, Tripplite, and Panamax. A reference to a 1/2" conductor is vague. For most homes, earthing required by code (ground rods, 6 AWG wire, etc) can be installed to easily and safely earth direct lightning strikes. That 'secondary' protection layer in conjunction with the 'primary' protection layer should be more than sufficient protection for most homes. But that means learning some basic electrical concepts that, for example, Teken clearly refuses to learn. Apparently he cannot unlearn lies he was first told. Electronics atop the Empire State Building would suffer 23 direct strikes annually without damage. Such protection is routine all over the world. But not where one refuses to learn basic electrical concepts such as wire impedance. The AT&T forum in post 22 http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/16803-thinking-about-getting-a-whole-house-surge-protector/page-2?do=findComment&comment=148940 could not make this any layman simpler. Direct quotes he ignored in the IEEE brochure and provided in post 28 http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/16803-thinking-about-getting-a-whole-house-surge-protector/page-2?do=findComment&comment=148974 also demonstrate what must always exist to have direct strikes without damage. Examples of fire and other damage demonstrated when foolishly only using plug-in protectors with near zero joules ratings. Direct strikes without damage are so routine that damage is often blamed on a human mistake. Why is a 'whole house' protector at least 50,000 amps? So that lightning (typically 20,000 amps) does not even damage a protector. Always amazing how the first myth told, hearsay, subjective text in advertising, and wild speculation has greater credibility than an engineer who posts numbers, professional citations, and did this stuff for decades. How often is your town without phone service for four days after every thunderstorm? Disconnecting is a least effective solution. How many times a year do you disconnect the refrigerator, all clocks, the furnace, stove, bathroom and kitchen GFCIs, central air. all CFL and LED bulbs, smoke detectors, etc? Never? So why are they not damaged? Destructive surges are rare due to superior protection already inside each appliance. A 'whole house' protector makes that rare and destructive surge (ie lightning, linemen error, rodent induced surge) further irrelevant. This stuff is really quite simple once we eliminate wild accusations and urban myths by including numbers.

Earth grounding must exist for human safety. That same ground both meets and exceeds code requirements to also do transistor safety. These concepts are well defined by sources that recommend effective and proven appliance protection. Even discussed in so many previous citations including the AT&T forum. A utility demonstrates what every homeowner must provide to have protected appliances. Demonstrated is good, bad, and ugly (preferred, wrong, and right) solutions: http://www.duke-energy.com/indiana-business/products/power-quality/tech-tip-08.asp That Tech Tip should be obvious to anyone who knows surge protection and the relevant electrical concepts. It is only the 'secondary' protection layer. Again what defines every protection layer? Earth ground (not a protector). Homeowners should also inspect their 'primary' surge protection layer. Pictures demonstrate what to inspect: http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html Every homeowner can earth one 'whole house' protector for about $1 per protected appliance. That needs no explanation since it was explained previously and repeatedly. If you know otherwise, then provide numbers from your own experience. Or go out and learn by doing this stuff. Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate. For all protectors - a protector is only as effective as its earth ground.

Repeating relevant electrical engineering concepts. Wire is never a perfect conductor. Wire is another electronic component. The expression was repeated often: low impedance (ie less than 10 feet). This concept is understood from basic electric knowledge taught to first semester EE students. Many only assume think wire thickness is relevant. It is not. Wire length is critical. Even sharp wire bends, splices, and metallic conduit can compromise protection. These also increase impedance. Safety ground at a wall receptacle clearly is not an earth ground for so many reasons including splices, wire bends, conduit, wire length, and not separated from other non-grounding wires. You must know basic concepts BEFORE making protection recommendations. Protection is always about a connection to earth. Why does an IEEE brochure (figure 8 ) show an adjacent protector earthing a surge 8000 volts destructive into a nearby TV? Because it is only connected to a safety ground. It does not connect low impedance to earth ground - an electrically different ground. UL1449 is a human safety standard - it says nothing about appliance protection. So a power strip protector must have that third prong for human safety. That human safety ground is only for human protection - does not do transistor protection. We even traced surges earthed by plug-in protectors through a network of powered off computers. Because that adjacent protector was too far from earth ground. Plug-in protectors damaged many computers for the same reason Figure 8 shows a protector earthing a surge 8000 volts destructively via nearby TVs. Even figure 8 shows that safety ground is not earth ground. Please read (stop ignoring) these technical citations. Engineers who must design protection so that even direct lightning strikes cause no damage are very familiar with those completely different grounds, damage due to high impedance (protector too far from earth ground), and other relevant concepts such as equipotential. Unfortunately most who recommend plug-in protectors only know what hearsay and advertising recommends. Even ignore near zero specification numbers in most plug-in protectors. How many joules does it claim to absorb? A plug-in protector without a properly earthed 'whole house' protector can even make appliance damage easier and in rare cases - fire. Informed homeowners spend about $1 per protected appliance for one properly earthed 'whole house' protector - to protect everything from all types of surges - including direct lightning strikes. This technology has been proven by over 100 years of science and experience. It is the only solution always found in every facility that cannot have damage. Why need I explain it again? The AT&T forum in post 22 http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/16803-thinking-about-getting-a-whole-house-surge-protector/page-2?do=findComment&comment=148940 explained this quite bluntly. Why do you even ignore post 22 and the so many other professional citations - that even demonstrate that wall receptacle safety ground is not earth ground. Please learn these basic electrical concepts before recommending a near zero protector.

Then why recommend SPDs that have no earth ground? A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. A plug-in protector without earth ground is clearly not a layer of protection AND does not claim to protect from destructive surges. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground - which means protectors from many listed companies of integrity. And not near zero (and many times more expensive) plug-in protectors only recommended by hearsay. A plug-in protector can even compromise superior protection inside appliances AND has a history of creating fire. Homeowners have a simple and well proven solution. One properly earthed 'whole house' protector for about $1 per protected appliance means protection even from direct lightning strikes. That is the simplest, least expensive, and only proven solution. Again, plug-in protectors have no earth ground - do not claim and cannot provide effective protection. And must be protected by one properly earthed 'whole house' protector. It was that simple even 100 years ago.

Teken once called himslef Bud. He is paid to promote plug-in protectors. He must avoid discussion of what makes hundreds of thousands of joules irrelevant. Since a plug-in protector has no earth ground. It will not claim to make hundreds of thousands of joules irrelevant. And has a history of even making adjacent appliance damage easier (IEEE brochure Figure 8 ). Should we ignore a history of fire? All over the world, facilities that cannot have damage use properly earthed 'whole house' protection. Homeowners can install this for about $1 per protected appliance (repeated because Teken distorts the expression to misrepresents it - it is his job). 'Whole house' protectors come from other companies with integrity. A proven Cutler-Hammer solution sells in Lowes and Home Depot. Other sources of effective solutions include General Electric, Siemens, ABB, Square D, Syscom, Polyphaser (an industry benchmark), Keison. Leviton, and Intermatic. All names known for quality. Ineffective products are sold by APC, Belkin, Panamax, and Tripplite. Monster has a long history of identifying scams. Then selling an equivalent product for even higher prices. Monster makes products that are similar to APC, Belkin, etc. Did Teken ignore that APC recently admitted many of their plug-in protectors have caused house fires - must be removed immediately? Another problem found with grossly undersized and plug-in protectors designed to increase profit - not to provide effective protection. How does that near zero protector block or absorb surges when even its specification numbers do not claim such protection? Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate. Even the protector must not fail. An IEEE brochure (that Teken quotes selectively) says earthing is essential to surge protection. Multiple paragraphs with page numbers were quoted. Earthing harmlessly absorbs hundreds of thousands of joules so that protection inside every appliance is not overwhelmed.. So that even plug-in protectors do not cause fires. Did someone deny plug-in protectors have caused multiple fires - to protect sales? Every source cited by Teken said 'whole house' protection is essential to protection - to even protect plug-in protectors. But then I did this stuff generations ago - as an engineer. Teken is a sales promoter paid to promote near zero but highly profitable protectors. As a result, he turns every discussion nasty - hoping you will tune out. He cannot say where hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate. Honesty would only harm profits. In some facilities, an employee can be fired for using products he recommends. They do not spend tens of times more money on products that can even create fires - and that do not protect from the other and destructive surge. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. As stated by sources that discuss protection - with spec numbers. Including an IEEE paper from Teken's IEEE guru - who says 'point of connection' (plug-in) protectors can even make appliance damage easier. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Teken cannot say. it is his job to obfuscate. Protection means a surge is connected low impedance (ie less than 10 foot) to what does protection - single point earth ground. Ineffective and very expensive plug-in protectors do not have that connection, will not discuss earth ground, and will not say where energy harmlessly dissipates. Otherwise you might become informed. No way around over 100 years of proven science and experience. Why does your telco suffer 100 surges with each storm and not suffer damage? They don't use plug-in protectors. They only use properly earthed 'whole house' protectors - even 100 years ago. Each protection layer is only defined by earth ground - which plug-in protectors do not have and will not discuss. Any protector without an earth ground is not a protection layer. Page 33 (Adobe page 42) figure 8 - a protector without earth ground can even earth 8000 volts destructively through an adjacent TV - from Teken's IEEE brochure. He conveniently forgets to mention figure 8. That would harm sales. Informed homeowners properly earth one 'whole house' protector - to even protect Teken's plug-in protectors - to even avert a potential house fire. Each layer of protection is defined by what a protector connects to - by what harmlessly absorbs hundreds of thousands of joules - a 'whole house' protector connect low impedance (ie less that 10 feet) to single point earth ground. As understood even 100 years ago.

OP asked about surge protection. Even surge protectors will not protect from (will ignore) those anomalies. Why not return to other irrelevant topics such as EMP and GFCIs. OP asked about surge protection - especially from lightning. That is the topic. Proven by over 100 years of science and experience is a properly earthed 'whole house' solution. For homeowners, this costs about $1 per protected appliance. This superior solution is also a least expensive one. It is the only solution for the OP - and all others here. It is the only solution always found in every facility that cannot have damage.

Optical isolation was not used even 100 years ago when each thunderstorm resulted in about 100 surges to each Telco CO (switching center) without damage. Homeowners can easily do same. But that means addressing the only item that must always exist or be upgraded to have effective protection - single point earth ground. That does not enhance profits for his company. But that is the only solution that worked effectively even 100 years ago and is the primary solution today. Nobody said 'whole house' protection is 100% effective. But the IEEE provides numbers that describe how effective when using proper earthing: Best protection that costs about $1 per protected appliance means no house fires, protection that is a practical choice, and does not enrich employees of his plug-in protector company. I am an engineer who actually did this stuff. He is a sales promoter. Professionals strongly recommend proper earthing of a 'whole house' protector. And ignore outright lies that plug-in (undersized) protectors have not caused fires. In every facility that cannot have damage, earthing is upgraded to both meet and exceed NEC requirements. Some facilities also use a 'whole house' protector. Other facilities do not even need that protector. But every properly protected building (including homes) always has every incoming wire connected low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to that single point earth ground. Either via a protector (telephone, AC electric) or directly via a hardwire (cable TV, satellite dish). He will not discuss this because it may reduce his company's profits. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground - which an expensive Panamax clearly does not have and will not discuss. Informed consumers earth a 'whole house' protector from any of those 'companies of integrity' cited earlier. Then a plug-in protector does not make surge damage easier. IEEE's Page 33 Figure 8 - a plug-in protector earthed a surge 8000 volts destructively through a nearby TV. He even denied plug-in protectors created fires. Otherwise sales might be harmed.

Plug-in protectors do not work by earthing a surge. Because plug-in protectors are only for a surge that is already made irrelevant by protection inside every appliance. He conveniently ignores what that IEEE guide says. I now recognize who he is. His job is to promote plug-in protectors. So let's add what in that guide was ignored: Page 15 Those are required to even protect plug-in protectors. Since plug-in protectors do not claim to do any of that; to protect from a typically destructive type of surge. Without a 'whole house' protection (service entrance SPD), then plug-in protectors do virtually nothing - can even create house fires. Page 22: Page 22 All professionals state this. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. That is where hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate. Critical is that low impedance (ie less than 10 foot) connection to single point earth ground. Plug-in protectors do not have it. Only the protectors that do 99.5% to 99.9% of the protection always have that earth ground connection. So that protection even from direct lightning strikes costs about $1 per protected appliance. Page 27: Even 100 years ago, protection was always about earthing a surge BEFORE it could enter the building. Then protection inside every household appliance is not overwhelmed. Finally on page 33 is what happens when plug-in protectors are used without a properly earthed 'whole house' solution. Page 33 Figure 8 shows a plug-in protector earthing a surge 8000 volts destructively through a nearby TV. Just another reason why facilities that cannot have damage earth 'whole house' protectors. Upgrade their earthing to increase protection. Want protectors within feet of earth ground and up to 50 meters distant from electronics (increased separation increases protection). And ignore spin that sells magic box protectors. The NIST guru even defines how plug-in protectors can damage electronics in his 1994 IEEE paper: Plug-in protectors without a properly earthed 'whole house' solution, according to Martzloff, can even make appliance damage easier - just like the IEEE brochure shows in figure 8. Destructive surges may occur once every seven years. Effective protection is installed only for those anomalies that can actually overwhelm protection inside all household appliances. 'Whole house' protection is an absolute necessity to avoid such damage. Plug-in protectors without that 'whole house' solution can even make damage easier. As for fire, Sharron posted in 2008 in "Surge Protector fire hazard? yes in this case" Kimbertonfire.org explains why plug-in protectors (with too few - thousand - joules) cause a fire: Of course the new owners of APC discovered plenty of APC protectors were so fire prone as to be removed immediately. But half truths posted by another says protector fires do not exist. On March 2014: https://forums.thefirepanel.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=6334 Be wary of those near zero joules protectors that will magically provide protection. Especially if a properly earthed 'whole house' protector is not installed.

From an AT&T forum on surge protection: AT&T discussion is layman simple. A Panamax does not do and does not claim to accomplish any of what is required to have effective protection..

Electronics are destroyed in microseconds. Fuses and circuit breakers take millisecond, seconds, or even minutes to trip. A small current that destroys electronics will not even trip a breaker or fuse. But the resulting large current that follows (due to damage) does eventually blow a fuse ... to avert fire ... to protect human life. Fuses and breakers are defined and sized by standards such as the National Electrical Code - written by a fire safety organization called the National Fire Protection Association. To avert fire. Another example - MOVs can be grossly undersized as to fail on surges even too tiny to damage electronics. UL does not care if a protector does protection. UL does not care whether any appliance performs properly. UL is only a human safety organization - protection of human life. A thermal fuse (typically less than 1 amp) must disconnect failed MOVs as fast as possible - so that a grossly undersized protector does not create a fire. That surge remains connected to appliances. A thermal fuse blows (trips) after an MOV has failed. To disconnect a failed MOV so as to avert fire and protect human life.. You did not even know that electronics are destroyed in microseconds while fuses take milliseconds or longer to trip. Fuses clearly trip / open AFTER damage has occurred. Another example of your knowledge only from hearsay and subjective speculation. And not from doing this stuff or learning how electricity works. Your denials are subjective - always missing required facts and numbers. No wonder you also foolishly believe UL1449 rates protector performance. UL1449 defines human safety - to avert fires created by protectors. UL1449 was created because so many plug-in protectors created fires. Moving on - your Leviton citation is an example of a 'whole house' protector that I recommended. View its specification numbers. 50,000 amps defines protector life expectancy. It meets that minimal number. That says nothing about UL1449. UL1449 says nothing about protection. UL is about human safety. Other protectors that also meet UL1449 do not even meet that minimal 50,000 amp requirement. But again, I have posted numbers that you clearly do not understand AND therefore ignore. Why do you assume UL 1449 defines protection? Because hearsay said so? Please. Can that Leviton protector be part of a system that harmlessly dissipates hundreds of thousands of joules? Yes. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Leviton would have that earhing. That Panamax clearly does not. Does not claim to protect from destructive surges. But also meets UL1449 to hopefully not cause a house fire when a surge also damages attached appliances. UL does not rate protector performance. UL is only about human safety issues. If I say it enough, will you finally learn what UL 1449 is? Again, more irrelevant EMP postings. OP asked about protection from lightning and other typically harmful anomalies. EMP is irrelevant to protection of household appliances. Why do you harp on the irrelevant? Meanwhile an IEEE paper defines correcting a nuclear hardened maritime communication station to avert damage from EMP and lightning. What did they do? Corrected defective earthing. So you say authors of that IEEE paper are wrong because subjective hearsay and a bogus Panamax protector provided knowledge? Why did professionals avert EMP problems by fixing earth ground? Apparently authors of IEEE papers must be wrong using your logic - that is only subjective. Mil-Std-419, British engineering standards and others contradict your hearsay denials. Even a simple ground has you completely befuddled. You do not even know what fuses and circuit breakers do. And are totally confused by UL 1449 (a human safety standard). Please stop posting circular denials, subjective (junk science) reasoning, and myths. Please first learn some basic electrical concepts and numbers before recommending anything. Next post will quote more professionals who define what is essential for appliance protection - single point earth ground

Useful protection recommended by an engineer who did this stuff. Recommended are products from General Electric, Polyphwers (an industry benchmark), Square D, Siemens, ABB, Leviton, Syscom, Cutler-Hammer, Intermatic, General Electric and so many other manufacturers known for quality. Not listed are Belkin, Tripplite, Panamax, and APC. Monster has a long history of identifying scams. Then selling an equivalent product at even higher prices. Monster is also selling it. That says much about equivalent protectors from Belkin, Tripplite, etc. Not one specification number claims that Panamax protects from another and typically destructive surge. Those many Panamax recommendations are subjective - using logic that also once proved smoking cigarettes increased health. A superior and proven solution from companies with integrity costs about $! per protected appliance - to even protect from direct lightning strikes. OP is strongly encouraged to separate urban myth from professional experience. Honest recommendations are not subjective and accusatory. Honest posts include manufacturer specification numbers. Where are Panamax's spec numbers? Never provided. For over 100 years, the proven protection even from direct lightning strikes is earthing - and a 'whole house' protector when a direct hardwire cannot be used..

Again posted are your feelings - not science and not numbers. Your accusations again are not supported by citations. Posted is your hearsay - subjective claims that only accuse rather than demonstrate basic electrical knowlege. That is typical of recommendations for ineffective and obscenely profitable protectors.. Grounding and bonding are routinely performed to make EMP irrelevant. EMP also is not relevant to this topic. Like GFCIs, you are again posting what is totally irrelevant. OP asked about 'whole house' protectors to protect from damage due to thunderstorms. Provided with citations and numbers are why 'whole house' protection is so effective. Things completely irrelevant to his question such as Type 1-4 protectors, wire thickness, SSR to block a surge, price, GFCI/AFGI, etc ... all do not answer the OP's question and are irrelevant to protecting transistors. You confuse human safety with transistor safety. You even posted a famous myth about induced surges from nearby lightning. So where is one manufacturer specification that claims to make destructive surges (ie hundreds of thousands of joules) irrelevant? Never cited. Subjective claims are also called junk science reasoning. Posted are subjective denials - and never relevant facts and numbers - such as where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Manufacturers of integrity that provide real world protection for about $1 per protected appliance were listed. Even Mil-Std-419 defines protection: British Standard BS6651 defines when protection is effective: Your recommendations cannot and do not do that. Sun Microsystems’ "Planning guide for Sun Server room": Magially your Panamax will stop surges when responsible sources (ie Sun) say that cannot happen. Responsible sources are based in over 100 years of science and experience. Based in facts that include numbers. If a surge cannot jump your Panamax optical isolation and transformer, well, those same features are already inside electronic power supplies. That is the robust protection already inside electronic appliances. As required by international design standards that even existed before the IBM PC. A surge that does damage blows through optical isolation and isolation transformers already inside electronics. So your Panamax will do what cannot work inside electronics? Why spend so much money to only do what is already exists? Because Panamax is recommended when one does not even know what already exists. A homeowner's concern is a surge that can overwhelm protection already inside appliances. That Panamax does not claim protection that you have only speculated - without even one Panamax numeric spec number. Panamax needs protection only possible by properly earthing a 'whole house' solution. But again, how does that Panamax make hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Why do you ignore that damning question? Because it has numbers. And because it is based in solutions proven and demonstrated over 100 years ago. Unfortunately a majority can be manipulated by subjective claims from sales brochures rather than learn that same protection already exists inside appliances. Will even discuss irrelevant GFCIs, Type 1-4 protectors, wire thickness, and EMP to muddy discussion. Then people will not notice - all denials were made without any numbers and no professional citations. All denials are only subjective. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Your subjective denials are contradicted by so many industry professionals including the US military, Sun Microsystems, and British Standards for surge protection.

A GFCI or AFCI is protection of humans. It says and does nothing to protect transistors. Again, an GFCI/AFCI or that Panamax respond in milliseconds. That means 300 consecutive surges could destroy attached equipment before those device even begin to trip open. Destructive type of surge is a current source. That means voltage increases to blow through anything that might try to stop it ... include SSR. Destructive surges easily blow through anything that foolishly tries to stop it. Nothing blocks or stops the type of surge that typically does damage. Also irrelevant is resistance and wire thickness. Those are relevant to human safety. Transistor safety involves something completely different - impedance. Wire length (not thickness) is relevant. Ufer grounds and other earth grounds upgraded for surge protection (transistor safety) involve a completely different concept - equipotential - not resistance. In one location, a rocky mountaintop also meant good earthing was diffiuclt. But an Ufer ground (properly upgraded earth ground) meant direct lightning strikes without damage: http://scott-inc.com/html/ufer.htm If household appliances create surges, then you are trooping to hardware stores daily to replace damage appliances. Reality - household appliance only create noise - a transient that is typically less than ten volts. Even plug-in protectors ignore anything that is less than 330 volts. That household transient myth is popular only because it is a first thing so many heard - without any numbers. Simply include numbers here to see through that myth. How often daily are your GFCIs, smoke detectors, LED bulbs, clocks, etc damaged by transients created repeatedly every day by household appliances? Never. Meanwhile, if household appliances create that transient, then a 'whole house' protector also makes that transient irrelevant. Type 1 through 4 SPDs are about human safety - not transistor safety. A type 3 protector located too close to a service entrance is more likely to create a house fire. Those Type numbers are about human safety - say nothing about transistor safety. 'Whole house' protector is necessary to even protect plug-in protectors. More numbers - from the IEEE. A properly earthed 'whole house' protector provides 99.5% to 99.9% of protection. Leaving the plug-in protector to provide maybe another 0.2%. Plug-in protector does nothing for destructive surges IF a 'whole house' solution is not properly earthed. Again, every layer of protection is never defined by a protector; always defined by each protection layer's earth ground. Defined was 'primary' and 'secondary' protection layers. Plug-in protectors without earth ground are not a protection layer - only protect from transient already made irrelevant by protection inside every appliance. Same existing internal protection also makes irrelevant appliance generated noise and dirtiest power from a UPS in battery backup mode. Induction is another myth exposed by numbers and example. For example, a lightning strike only ten feet from a long wire antenna may put thousands of volts on that antenna. Then we connect an NE-2 neon glow lamp (also seen in lighted wall switches). Less than a milliamp through that neon lamp reduced thousands of volts to tens of volts. Induce surges are routinely averted by what is already inside every appliance. Lightning struck the building's lightning rod. Maybe 20,000 amps flowed on that lightning rod's connection to earth. Only four feet away from that 20,000 amps was an IBM PC.... that did not crash or have damage. That was a maximum induced surge as close as possible - that causes nothing in the office to even blink. Induced surges are popular myths when numbers are ignored. Little electrical difference exists between a $10 Walmart protector and more expensive ones from APC, Belkin, Tripplite, etc. In fact, some APC protectors were so deficient that APC recently announces those protectors must be removed immediately - to avert fire. Fire is another, although rare, problem created by near zero protectors. Monster also sold a similar product for around $100. Then many knew that similar protector from Monster must be better because it was more expensive and had expensive looking paint. Relevant facts include specifications numbers - that you did not post. Answer to this always required question: where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? And yes, without properly earthed 'whole house' protection, then those power strips are potential house fires - as documented by so many fire houses and homeowners. Troubling is continued assumptions that GFCI or Panamax disconnecting does transistor safety. It clearly does not - as demonstrated repeatedly by numbers. Also troubling is ignoring impedance (not resistance ) and wire length (not wire thickness). Even a sharp bend in a hardwire connection to earth can compromise transistor protection; but would not compromise human protection. Electrical nature of transistor protection is completely different from what is required for human protection - even though a same earth ground must address both. You repeatedly cite resistance when impedance is only relevant. Protection is always about quality of and connection to single point earth ground - in sandy soil, rocky mountaintops, or any other earthing material. Anything that tries to stop a surge by disconnecting means voltage increases as necessary to blow through that ineffective solution. And so facilities that cannot have damage never use that solution; always use a properly earthed 'whole house' solution. If discussing effective protection, then most of your post should be discussing what does the protection - earth ground. Protectors are simple connecting devices. The 'art' of protection is always each earth ground. Ineffective protectors (such as that Panamax) will not discuss the most critically important component in every protection system. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Effective protectors come from companies with integrity including ABB, Polyphaser (an industry benchmark), Syscom, General Electric, Leviton, Siemens, Ditek, Keison, Intermatic, and Square D - name but a few. Not listed is Panamax, APC, Belkin, Tripplite, and Monster. An effective Cutler-Hammer solution sells in Lowes and Home Depot.

More numbers. Surges that are destructive are done in microseconds. Anything that disconnects takes milliseconds or seconds to respond. Obviously that Panamax protector cannot. Second, a surge that cannot be stopped by three miles of sky will be stopped by a millimeters gap created by the Panamax? Nonsense. Third, how does that adjacent protector connect to ground? Not safety ground as you have assumed. That surge is incoming because the appliance makes a best connection to earth - destructively. What did the Panamax do? It simply connected a surge on one AC wire (ie black) to all other wires (ie white and green). Now that surge has more paths destructively into the adjacent appliance. Repeatedly mentioned was a critically important term with numbers: low impedance (ie less than 10 feet). A protector that does not make a low impedance connection to single point earth ground does not claim to protect from destructive surges. That are four reasons (all provided by an engineer who did this stuff even decades ago) that say why the Panamax, Tripplite, APC, Monster, et al must be protected by properly earthed 'whole house' protection. And why facilities that cannot have damage do not waste money on the near zero protection defined here as Type 3. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. No way around that reality. Protection means one can always say were hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate. All statement supported by numbers that also define why the Panamax does not claim to protect from the other and destructive type of surge. Nobody said anything about GFCIs, fuses, or circuit breakers for surge protection. Those devices are only for human safety; not for transistor safety. Each takes milliseconds, seconds, or hours to respond. Each only create millimeters gaps. Obviously each cannot and do not claim to protect from surges. Why was GFCI even mentioned?

Much information is correct only if numbers are ignored. For example, where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Protection means an answer exists. A 'whole house' protector is a standard solution in all facilities that cannot have damage because it connects low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to a single point earth ground. Best protection for cable connected appliances is a wire from that incoming coax cable low impedance (ie hardwire has no sharp bends) to single point earth ground. No protector required. Earthing must be where that wire enters the building. What always defines protection? What harmlessly absorbs those joules? Single point earth ground. Telco already has that protection installed for free (as long required by code). Since phone lines cannot be hardwired to earth ground, then that 'installed for free' protector does what a hardwire does better; a low impedance (ie less than 10 foot) connection to that single point earthing. If any wire enters without first connecting to earth (hardwired or via a 'whole house' protector) then protection has been compromised. The only incoming wires not required to have that proven solution is AC electric. A direct ligthing strike to wires far down the street is a direct strike to every household appliance. Protection means that current must not be inside the house. Since even near zero protectors (listed by another as Type 3) need that protection - to even avert a house fire. Panamax, Tripplite, et al do not claim to protect from destructive surges. Being adjacent to an appliance, it must somehow block or absorb a surge. How does a 2 cm part block what three miles of sky could not? How many asked such damming questions. How do its hundreds or thousand joules absorb a surge that is hundreds of thousands of joules? Again, why do so many ignore numbers? First, no effective protector fails (is damaged) due to a direct lightning strike. Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. That defines life expectancy over many surges. Second, protection from each surge is defined by what absorbs energy - single point earth ground. All four words have electrical significance. To upgrade protection, upgrade what provides the protection - earth ground. Earthing as defined by the National Electrical Code is insufficient. Your earth ground must both meet and exceed code requirements. An AC utility demonstrates good, bad, and ugly (preferred, wrong, and right) solutions: http://www.duke-energy.com/indiana-business/products/power-quality/tech-tip-08.asp We have only discussed your 'secondary' protection layer. Each layer of protection is only defined by what absorbs energy (which is why type 3 protectors do not claim to protect from typically destructive types of surges). Also inspect your 'primary' protection layer. A picture demonstrates what to inspect: http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html Protection is always defined by what harmless absorbs hundreds of thousands of joules. Useful recommendation always provide perspective - numbers. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground - which negates many previously recommended (and obscenely overpriced) recommendations.