[geeks] Whee! Lightning strikes, AGAIN!

[Lionel Peterson]

On Jul 28, 2009, at 6:25 PM, Shannon Hendrix <shannon at widomaker.com>  
wrote:

> On Jul 28, 2009, at 16:40 , Lionel Peterson wrote:
>
>>> If you get a suppressor for gigabit ethernet, you only need one  
>>> for each port.
>>
>> Which has eight components for each 'line'?
>
> I've got one APC passive suppressor that does, and you can order  
> various kinds here and there.
>
> You do have to make sure you get a "gigabit" suppressor.
>
> A lot of the common stuff on passive suppressors is 10/100, so you  
> need to make sure you get the right thing.
>
> A good company will be able to tell you precisely which models to get.
>
> I called APC and asked about mine to be sure, because at least at  
> the time their online site wasn't completely clear and the droids in  
> the store were clueless.
>
> They discontinued their single-port suppressor for some reason.
>
>>> Usually, I don't go that far.  I just suppress incoming and long  
>>> lines.
>>
>> Being ignorant, how? Aside from the APC desktop UPS/surge  
>> suppressors and power strips with surge protectors on them for  
>> network lines, how do you protect a dozen lines?
>
> I just said that I don't do that: I only suppress incoming and long  
> lines.
>
> I must not be understanding your questions for some reason, because  
> this seems self explanatory.
>
> If you have incoming lines, protect them.
>
> If you have long lines, protect them.
>
> I'm not sure what the question is.

I have a long run wit almos two dozen cat5e cables for most of the run  
(homerun to basement from every room, at least two cables per room,  
with a half dozen spares coiled up in the attic.

I need to protect the 2 dozen endpoints in the basement AND the two  
dozen end-points. I am wondering if there is a pass-thru, 1U, twelve  
or twenty-four port surge suppressor in the market...

> The basic idea is to isolate your network so that surge sources are  
> protected as much as you can manage and afford.  Try to remember  
> things like input from other sources like audio equipment, since  
> they are also surge routes.  Either isolate everything you connect,  
> or suppress the inputs (if you can).
>
> For example at home I have a suppressor on the line coming from Cox,  
> and one on a long line which can get induced current surges, the  
> phone line, and all incoming electrical power.
>
> If I get a line from something I don't control, I protect that as  
> well, though that can be difficult sometimes.
>
> I don't protect individual ports on my switches, because I can't  
> afford it, it is a lot of clutter, and I'm not sure it really  
> benefits much.
>
> However, if you want to do that then you can buy suppressors for that.
>
> I think you are covered, you just need to decide what you want and  
> if you can afford it.
>
>>> If a strike is bad/close enough, it won't matter anyway, and those  
>>> should be incredibly rare.
>>
>> Uhm, I beg to differ - lightning struck the same spot twice in a  
>> span of three years, plus or minus 30 yards.
>
> I was actually talking about strikes powerful enough to bypass your  
> suppression being rare, and that's true, and you really can't do  
> anything about them.  Well, maybe build a better faraday cage or  
> something.
>
> Also, your individual case just means you have an issue, not that  
> your situation is common.  It isn't, not as a percentage that causes  
> trouble anyway.

I do have issues... ;^)

> But your problem really is that you have a spot which is originating  
> the strikes rather than being the target.

I'm starting to understand that...

Lionel


> Lightening is not a one-way phenomenon, and you can often reduce or  
> remove the strike potential in a trouble-spot like that.
>
> My uncle had the same issue with his well years ago.  He lost  
> several water pumps until he fixed the problem.  Since then, there  
> has never been another strike on that property, and that's been  
> about 25 years now.
>
>
>
> -- 
> Shannon Hendrix
> shannon at widomaker.com
> _______________________________________________
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