19 Dec
2002
19 Dec
'02
6:58 p.m.
On Thu, 19 Dec 2002, Dwight K. Elvey wrote:
I've just seen the third surge protector blow up
and this time, it
almost started a real fire. I've had two of these go up in smoke that
were in metal strips. These generally make a lot of smoke but I think
the metal spreads the heat enough that the fire danger is small. Now,
most of the newer ones are made from plastic. The last one that just
burned, started a small fire on the back side of a chest of drawers.
Luckily, the chest didn't stay lit. It did charcoalize one of the feet.
While these things come with a 15 amp breaker, the MOV's fail and draw
something less then what is required to blow the breaker.
I wonder if any of the fire prevention groups are looking into these
time bombs?
There is supposed to be a small fuse installed in-line with the group of
MOVs, but some companies omit it and install a jumper wire in it's place.
Often the fuse isn't a glass fuse, but just a small bit of fuse wire
soldered directly to the pc board.
The 15A breaker is just for equipment connected to the strip.
-Toth