Surge Suppressor for ISY Serial Connection

[yardman 49]

Hello Michel:

 

In a previous post, Marksanctuary wrote:

 

I wonder if something like a 9-pin Serial Port Surge Protector would be a good idea in the future.

 

He suggested an APC in-line serial surge suppressor. Do you think that this is a good idea? I've been a bit worried about directly connecting the PLM to an outlet, because I know that a voltage spike during a storm or other problem could potentially feed back into my household lines. I've got my computer, my network, etc, all individually protected. But since the PLM should be connected directly to the AC, it would be possible for a powerline spike to feed back from it along the serial cable onto the ISY, then from the ISY through the network cable onto the network, and then from there onto my other computer gear.

 

I tend to maybe worry a bit too much about such things, but I like to err on the side of caution!

 

I do have a "whole house suppressor" that I had the power company install. I did this because of all of the Insteon gear that I was installing. However I still use individual surge supressors on all the computer gear and home theater equipment, and would like to do so for the PLM.

 

So I could see the serial line supressor as a good compromise, as it may save everything except for the PLM. Replacing a blown PLM would be cheap compared to replacing the ISY and everything else.

 

Thanks

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello yardman 49!

 

Not only I understand your worries but I do share them! Here are my observations and my recommendations:

 

1. A power surge and/or a spike tend to be more detrimental to ISY's power supply than to the PLM->Serial Port->ISY. As such, if you have a surge-protector please connect ISY's power supply into it

2. Currently, all PLMs have an issue where - if left unplugged for more than 10 seconds - after boot up, then do send a spike of approximately 5-12 volts down the RS232 receive line. We have already put a work-around in ISY to suppress this signal. This said, however, I have not yet witnessed a power surge causing a spike on the RS232 line on the PLM. In any case, it would not be a bad idea to put a 9 pin Serial Surge protector between the PLM and ISY

 

Furthermore, to put you at ease, we do have a full 1 year warranty which covers almost everything as long you don't deliberately try to harm ISY.

 

If your firmware (Help->About) is 2.4.6 and below, please do let me know so that - with your permission - I can send you our 2.5 beta which has the PLM spike work-around.

 

Thanks so very much for the feedback,

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Hello Michel:

 

In a previous post, Marksanctuary wrote:

 

I wonder if something like a 9-pin Serial Port Surge Protector would be a good idea in the future.

 

He suggested an APC in-line serial surge suppressor. Do you think that this is a good idea? I've been a bit worried about directly connecting the PLM to an outlet, because I know that a voltage spike during a storm or other problem could potentially feed back into my household lines. I've got my computer, my network, etc, all individually protected. But since the PLM should be connected directly to the AC, it would be possible for a powerline spike to feed back from it along the serial cable onto the ISY, then from the ISY through the network cable onto the network, and then from there onto my other computer gear.

 

I tend to maybe worry a bit too much about such things, but I like to err on the side of caution!

 

I do have a "whole house suppressor" that I had the power company install. I did this because of all of the Insteon gear that I was installing. However I still use individual surge supressors on all the computer gear and home theater equipment, and would like to do so for the PLM.

 

So I could see the serial line supressor as a good compromise, as it may save everything except for the PLM. Replacing a blown PLM would be cheap compared to replacing the ISY and everything else.

 

Thanks

[Mark Sanctuary]

To anyone just reading this thread; here is a link to info on the APC 9-pin Serial Port Surge Protector that is discussed above.

[yardman 49]

Hello Mark:

 

Thanks for posting the link on the Serial Surge Supressor. That's a big help. I'm going to order one.

 

 

************************************************************

 

 

Hello Michel:

 

You wrote:

 

If your firmware (Help->About) is 2.4.6 and below, please do let me know so that - with your permission - I can send you our 2.5 beta which has the PLM spike work-around.

 

I probably won't be integrating the ISY for a week or two, although I have already received it. I'm still getting some stuff ready, and I want to be able to take a day off to dedicate to the process of recreating all of my links without interruption. I may actually do it next Tuesday, depending on my work schedule.

 

So if you could send me the latest 2.5 beta, please do so. That way I can start off with the "latest and greatest".

 

And thank you for the detailed explanation!

 

Best wishes,

 

Frank

[Michel Kohanim]

Frank,

 

My pleasure. If you haven't yet, would you be kind enough to register your ISY + send me an email to tech@universal-devices.com at the receipt of which I will send you the instructions to our Beta + put you on the distribution list.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

 

Hello Mark:

 

Thanks for posting the link on the Serial Surge Supressor. That's a big help. I'm going to order one.

 

 

************************************************************

 

 

Hello Michel:

 

You wrote:

 

If your firmware (Help->About) is 2.4.6 and below, please do let me know so that - with your permission - I can send you our 2.5 beta which has the PLM spike work-around.

 

I probably won't be integrating the ISY for a week or two, although I have already received it. I'm still getting some stuff ready, and I want to be able to take a day off to dedicate to the process of recreating all of my links without interruption. I may actually do it next Tuesday, depending on my work schedule.

 

So if you could send me the latest 2.5 beta, please do so. That way I can start off with the "latest and greatest".

 

And thank you for the detailed explanation!

 

Best wishes,

 

Frank

[MikeB]

Another suggestion would be to invest in a wholehouse surge protector. Won't help against a surge generated from within the home, but should help against anything from the outside.

[AD8BC]

For what it's worth, PolyPhaser makes an RJ-45 Ethernet surge suppressor:

 

http://www.polyphaser.com/productdetail ... tem=NX1-05

[yardman 49]

Hello MikeB:

 

You wrote:

 

Another suggestion would be to invest in a wholehouse surge protector. Won't help against a surge generated from within the home, but should help against anything from the outside.

 

Yes. Actually, I did put in my original post that I have a whole-house surge supressor; I had the power company put in. I did this right after I started expanding my lighting control network. I did not want to see a surge take out my expensive Insteon investment.

 

However, I tend to go for overkill when it comes to these matters, so I still use local suppressors when possible. I know that I can plug in the power supply for the ISY into a local suppressor, but not so the PLM. due to possible signal sucking by said suppressor. Therefore, I have ordered the APC serial line suppressor that Mark suggested. APC makes a variety of these supressors for different types of connectors.

 

Thanks

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello Frank,

 

I do appreciate all your feedback vis-a-vis the surge suppressor.

 

Thanks so very much,

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Hello MikeB:

 

You wrote:

 

Another suggestion would be to invest in a wholehouse surge protector. Won't help against a surge generated from within the home, but should help against anything from the outside.

 

Yes. Actually, I did put in my original post that I have a whole-house surge supressor; I had the power company put in. I did this right after I started expanding my lighting control network. I did not want to see a surge take out my expensive Insteon investment.

 

However, I tend to go for overkill when it comes to these matters, so I still use local suppressors when possible. I know that I can plug in the power supply for the ISY into a local suppressor, but not so the PLM. due to possible signal sucking by said suppressor. Therefore, I have ordered the APC serial line suppressor that Mark suggested. APC makes a variety of these supressors for different types of connectors.

 

Thanks