[RFI] CFL+surge? (Re: RFI Digest, Vol 73, Issue 22

[dgsvetan at rockwellcollins.com]

Peter,

I live in eastern Iowa and had a house built on a hilltop in 2000.  The 
location is rural, I had plans for multiple towers (there are now 3 on the 
property), and no trees close to the house.  While my part of Iowa is a 
bit removed in the lightning stats from Florida and other parts of the 
country that take more hits on an annual basis, I immediately planned to 
have a whole house surge arrestor included as part of the electrical 
protection plan.  I should add that the rest of the protection plan called 
for auxiliary protectors at the feed point of sensitive equipment 
(computers, TVs, some appliances) for two reasons:  1) The Square D whole 
house protector does include insurance coverage for protected devices, BUT 
only if they are also equipped with aux. protectors; 2) The reason for so 
doing is simple if you think about it:  The whole house unit absorbs 
coupled energy from a lightning strike that is carried to it by the 
incoming power feeders.  OK, so much for the surge there.  Now, if the 
lightning strike is near the dwelling (like directly overhead or to a 
nearby object within the property upon which the dwelling is located, 
there will be coupled energy from the strike induced upon the wiring 
within the house.  If the main protector is clamping the energy surge at 
the power panel, what's to clamp the energy at the wall socket end? 
Nothing ... unless there is another protector there.

I took a direct lightning strike in June of 2008.  (I literally mean that. 
 My hand was holding the mic that was attached to the radio that was 
connected to the dual band antenna at top of the tower that got vaporized. 
 I was performing emergency communications associated with the flooding of 
Iowa.  While damage was extensive to hardware on the tower that got hit, 
the coax suppressor in the line that was tied to the VHF/UHF radio I was 
using at the time worked perfectly, as did my grounding system.)  Although 
I had planned to have no electrical problems due to lightning hits, I was 
never quite certain if that would actually be the case.  Well, it was. The 
tower that got zapped is 50 feet from the house, and lots of stuff on the 
tower got toasted due to coupled energy during the strike.  However, NOT 
ONE circuit breaker or GFI in the house tripped.  The Astron switching 
power supply that was feeding the affected radio kept on working, as did 
all of the other rigs.  One coaxial protector was blown up, but the radio 
to which it was connected works perfectly.  Since all telephone and 75 ohm 
TV lines from my external antennas are also tied to the main house 
protector and full perimeter grounding system, no damage occurred to any 
TVs, VCRs, or computers.  The concept demonstrated here was that of a 
uni-potential system, which is what you get when all parts of the system 
are tied together with low impedance connections and conductors.  Yes, it 
is likely that my whole ground system rose (or fell) by thousands of volts 
during the strike due to the huge currents, but so long as all parts of 
the system went up and down (in potential) together, no problem.

If you are having more damage these days, don't blame the protector.  I 
would check out the quality of the grounding conductors between your power 
outlets in the house and the power panel ground.  The, make certain that 
you have adequately rated auxiliary protectors at each place where you 
have sensitive equipment.  Do not forget to protect phone and data lines 
that are tied into computers.  Many protectors include a means to protect 
those connections, as well.  As was pointed out in an excellent QST 
article on lightning back in  2001 or 2002, the key to not having damage 
is to make certain that ALL I/O lines associated with your shack and your 
house are protected.  If your utilities are buried, you are not safe!!! 
The phenomenon known as gradient fields will couple a lot of energy from a 
ground lightning strike into conductors that are buried nearby. 

73, Dale
WA9ENA

 



Peter Laws <plaws0 at gmail.com> 
Sent by: rfi-bounces at contesting.com
01/17/2009 11:21 AM

To
rfi at contesting.com
cc

Subject
[RFI] CFL+surge? (Re:  RFI Digest, Vol 73, Issue 22






On Sat, Jan 17, 2009 at 09:52, KC7VDA <KC7VDA at keepandbeararms.com> wrote:
> Hello all;
> A few years ago I  converted to CFL lights, like them very much, 
HOWEVER!!!!!!
> Every time we have a thunderstorm I have to replace several lights.
> I have only had a few reach there normal end of life.
> My conclusion is that the main problem with CFL's is their lack of 
ability to withstand surges.
> I am seriously considering having the power company install a surge 
regulator at the meter.

Not being a fan of The Surge -- which took out my DSL modem, one of
the Ethernet switches, the mobo of one of the PCs and the on-board NIC
of the other and, worst of all, the CI-V circuit of my Icom 746! -- I
had our electrical coop put one of those behind the meter.

I don't recall any premature failures before the surge suppressor was
installed - all my premature failures have been since!  :-)


-- 
Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train!

No Trillion-dollar blank check for crooks!
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