re: UPS and surge protectors useless against lightning
Absolutely true. As a ham radio operator (WA4PCC since 1963, but not active recently), and as a EE, I am making this based on actual firsthand experience. NOTHING will protect against a DIRECT strike. Strikes, however, do STRANGE and UNPREDICTABLE corallary damage, and can do damage to any house within a goodsize radius, or any house supplied by power lines passing within such a radius. A good surge protector or an on-line full-time true UPS (which VERY FEW are) WILL protect against this type of corallary (but not direct)damage.
By the way, I just bought TWO APC UPS's at $69 each. I bought them for non-computer equipment, they are small (250 VA), but interestingly they did run my computer (P-166 w/40 Mb & six drives) and 15" monitor when I tried them out just for kicks. If anyone else is interested, stock # FSA21171 from Global, 800 227-1246. This is a "while supplies last" closeout.
Definition: on-line full-time true UPS: The powered equipment is ALWAYS run from the battery powered inverter, 100% of the time, the power line simply keeps the batteries charged. I guess you could say that the inverter runs from the power line, but the real point is that the powered equipment NEVER runs from the power line. MOST of the UPS's that you will encounter run the equipment from the power line when the AC Line is "normal" and switch quickly (3 ms typical) to the inverter only when line power fails. Another important consideration is waveshape, the best UPSs are true sine-wave, but almost all of the ones that you will see advertised are a stepped square wave approximation that is generally "good enough". |
