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What is the difference in surge suppressor and lightning rod protection? Is one better than the other?
What is the difference in surge suppressor and lightning rod protection? Is one better than the other?
Lightning rod protects the structure it's installed on from getting lightning stikes and if it does get one, it provides a least resistant path to ground; while surge suppressor protects the device it is connected across from all surges. Both won't work if they are not connected to an effective grounding rod!!
Lightning rod protects the structure it's installed on from getting lightning stikes and if it does get one, it provides a least resistant path to ground; while surge suppressor protects the device it is connected across from all surges. Both won't work if they are not connected to an effective grounding rod!!
In the above the only things that were damaged were things that had more then one path way to the device.
That's why SPG (Single Point Grounding) is used in a properly designed grounding system.
While true and used to prevent loops, but as we all know, many of the above mentioned loops occur within the structure when the networking and cable and phone takes different paths through the structure then the power conductor.
A SPG system will have the greatest effect on a all metal structure or one that has a Faraday cage that can shield these internal loops, but most homes and business wont have this. I still promote SPG in all installations, and most utility's here also come close by routing all conductors to a building to allow bonding to the service, which is about the best your going to get in this area, unless you have engineering spects that say otherwise.
I disagree. Surge suppressors don't need a ground. Ground rods are terrible connections to the earth, although better than nothing. A well designed system will employ a grounding system (not just a ground rod) and both arrestors and suppressors. Air terminals (lightning rods) are usually area dependent. They are not used here on buildings, but I see them on electrical sub-stations. The ones on the subs are about 8 feet long, tapered, rounded at the end and a couple inches in diameter. They are bonded to the rods in the concrete and to the metal framing. The conductor is about a 2/0. Any hit that lightning rod would take would blow a ground rod right out of the ground.
Lightning rod protects the structure it's installed on from getting lightning stikes and if it does get one, it provides a least resistant path to ground; while surge suppressor protects the device it is connected across from all surges. Both won't work if they are not connected to an effective grounding rod!!
This reduction in resistance continues until surge is present, just like a direct short to ground. Upon reaching this condition, the surge energy diverts to ground away from the protected equipment, thus reducing the effect of the overvoltage.
You can waste your money any any device you want, but lightning always wins. I had an 8k dollar insurance claim last year, thats what homeowners insurance is for...
IN the case stated where you had tuners affected, would a surge suppression on coax "individual" line protect that individual tuner in the TV you were talking about, or ?
What is the difference in surge suppressor and lightning rod protection? Is one better than the other?
If the surge voltage or duration is too high then the varistor becomes a casualty to the event and the protected equipment is subjected to whatever surge level is still available. That is with simple varistor, there are devices more complex that may still protect the equipment and well as indicate there is some damage to the surge supression device.
Lightning rod protects the structure it's installed on from getting lightning stikes and if it does get one, it provides a least resistant path to ground; while surge suppressor protects the device it is connected across from all surges. Both won't work if they are not connected to an effective grounding rod!!
A
A major point - as pointed out, a SPD does not need a ground to operate at the service.