17 Jul
2001
17 Jul
'01
1 a.m.
On 16-Jul-2001 Tony Duell wrote:
Even if they don't fail totally, a large spike can
damage them
sufficiently that their characteristics are changed. It's not a bad idea
to replace the MOVs (the components themselves are not expensive) in any
device that has received a large spike.
I sther anyway to tell if the MOV is failing?
During a thunderstorm last week, there was a large (but not earth
shattering) *KA-BOOM* and the power went out for about 20 minutes. Power
went out again the following noon, so I wandered out of town (I live in a
small village) to see what the work crew were doing. Seems to poles
needed replacing! The T bars at the top (what's the proper term?) were at
non-standard angles. Wind causing a transformer to blow? Rain? I don't
think it was a lightning strike, because the poles were halfway down the
hillside, with silos and trees nearish, but furthur up the hill...
Anyway, i have the following protecting my computer gear :
http://www.tripplite.com/products/surge/surge_specs.cfm?family=Isobar&p…
name=ISOTEL%204%20Ultra
I'm wondering if i should worry.
Most consumer-grade spike proteectors seem to use
somewhat underated
MOVs. You can get higher energy ones from electronic component
suppliers,
and there's no reason not to fit these. They're less likely to fail in
the future.
I dunno. I don't really trust my soldering skills anywhere near a
"critical" component like that...
-Philip