Lightning sucks!
 

Last week a lightning storm killed the DSL to my house for two days.

And last night a really fierce storm went right over - lightning all around. This storm completely killed my dialup modem with a nasty pop, fucked up my computer ( which thankfully seems to have recovered nearly fully), and either knocked out DSL again or fried the DSL modem.

I had a spare dialup modem laying around, so I'm back online, still waiting for the DSL to connect.

Dialup sucks too - I can't believe I used to accept this snails pace.

I know, I know, I should have had a surge protector on the phone line. I've only had the DSL for a few months, out here in the boondocks, I didn't realize how fragile it can be.

Damn, its hard going back to dialup from DSL! If you get a surge protector, go with a good brand even though it may cost a bit more. Ive had two DSL modems with cheap phoneline surge protectors on blow from lightning, just seems to go straight through |shocking|. Since I got a decent ups with a phoneline surge protection I havent had any trouble -:touch wood:-

Bill I suggest this.

http://www.tripplite.com/products/pr...productID=3071

I got mine for $120

What's really sad is that it looks like the surge killed the modem on my $500 DVR. It still works for now, but can't call in, so I'll have to replace it evetually. I found a new one at an ebay store for $350, but it's still a damn shame.

Looks like it killed the answering machine too. And the phone line seems messed up.

I thought I'd be able to run out to a store and buy a replacement dsl modem, but no luck so far - next task on my list today is to call the dsl provider.

All because I was so excited watching a great storm pass over the house with the wife, that I forgot to unplug the phone line.

Don't I feel dumb.

I hate storms - effects my connection and migraines!

It's said the best way to protect against lightning strikes is disconnect everything.

No surge protector could handle the amount of power from lightning.
It only has to hit a power source in the house to wipe out everything.
I've lost an answerphone and fax before now. :(

When I was an electrical contractor I installed quite a few surge arrestors at sewage plants and remote pumping stations and the ones most often specified by engineers are made by Advanced Protecion Technologies. http://www.apttvss.com/ The easiest to install is a 220V single phase unit that protects the entire house. Turn off a breaker in the outside power panel, loosen the two screws and place the units leads under the screws and tighten. Ground the unit's green ground wire to the ground bus and turn the breaker back on. The entire house is protected. |thumb I believe they even have units that protect telephone lines.

That's what I am doing...

This proggie is only $25 per year.
http://portal.onspeed.com/?rf=http%3...om%2Findex.php

I had lightning strike our buried phone wire more than once. It seemed to blow a carbon block in the house and never caused any problems. Except having to have the phone company replace the block. :) And, even if the best surge protectors don't protect your equipment, most have an insurance policy with them.

I'm wracking my brain to remember an uninterruptible power supply company that has an unconditional $20,000 equipment replacement warranty. Thery're excellent surge protectors because there is no direct wire connection to the equirpment. When I think of it I'll pass it along.

I was wrong. It's a surge suppressor. This isn't the company I was thinking about but it looks like they have a pretty good warranty. Up to $150,000.00 |shocking| http://keysan.com/ksu1718f.htm Prices are VERY affordable.

I stand by my post, it is not a surge protector, it is a UPS and since I have had it I have lost power 4 or 5 times and I wouldn’t even know it if the lights and TV didn’t go off.

I have all my office equipment plugged into this and have 10 mins to save anything I am doing and shut down the desktops before the battery dies, which is more then enough time.

Here are the specs:

Model #: SMART1000LCD
LCD display indicates input voltage, battery capacity and a variety of operating conditions
1000VA line-interactive rackmount shelf/tower UPS system
8 AC outlets (4 UPS, 4 surge-only), dataline surge suppression for tel/DSL and 2.2 GHz coaxial connections
USB port with HID protocol support and complete cabling
Corrects brownouts as low as 89V
$250,000 Ultimate Lifetime Insurance (USA & Canada only)
Estimated Retail Pricing: $184.00

That looks awesome. |thumb

Yay - DSL is back up! And they replaced the modem, apparently for free. (who knows what mysterious charges will appear on the next bill, but fuck it, gotta have it.)

Now, I gotta get a new answering machine, a new phone, and, goddammit, probably a new DVR - unless maybe the DVR magically works after getting the phone line coming from the pole to the box on the house replaced.

I should be so lucky.

based on my research after this strike, a good UPS is the best way to protect against most surges - but I'm sure as fuck going to unplug the damn phone lines the next time lightning heads for the house.

i feel for you :( internet went down for two days when we last had a lightning storm here as well. apparently it fried some equipments on the isp's end and there was nothing i could do about it except wait for them for two whole fuckin' days. thankfully, it didn't fry anything on my and, but this type of shit gets on my nerves, especially when they're all condescending about it

I hate when a storm takes out the electricity.