Getting surge protector on dialup line

[newood2]

Last weekend lightning fried my dialup modem through the phone line. I went to turn on my PC and it was dead. I remove everything from MB except monitor, video card and modem, still could not get a post. I then remove the modem and it posted. I guess the fried modem prevented the PC from turning on. Now everything is working fine. I ordered a new modem($11with shipping) from Newegg yesterday and got it today, now I,m back on line.
The lightning also blew the tuner on my VCR.
Even though I have no protection on any electronic equipment (including PC) in the house, nothing else was hit.
Anyway I'm now shopping for some protection.
Howie

[Hellrazor]

Whats a modem?


Checkout some of the UPS systems from APC/etc. They will protect the computer from brownouts/etc AND they have a phone line surge protector.

I have 3 units here:
APC Back-UPS Office 500 <- thats a good one for a normal home user
Tripp-Lite 400 <- OLD OLD model
APC Back-UPS Pro 1100 <- heavy duty home user model

If you have a Sams Club near you:
APC Back-UPS 600 $60
APC High Performance 1250 $130

[cwsmith]

Do a Google search for telephone surge protection and you'll get several hits. Some are quite expensive and others are cheap. Do a spec comparison. While I wouldn't buy the cheapest thing on the market, I also wouldn't go with the high-priced units either, unless you have deep pockets and are also looking for battery back-up for your computers, etc.

Currently I have a single unit switch panel which provides surge protection for my computer, printer, modem and various other peripherals. I think I only paid $20 for it about 20 years ago. I've never had a problem.

I thought I should add that I'm a Ham Radio operator, so surge/power protection is quite important. My radio gear is located right next to my computer and phone line. With over 300 ft of antenna over the house, and being located here in the NE, lightning protection is highly necessary. Even a strike a few miles away can cause line surges, so you really should be prepared. For me, a good ground system, surge suppressors, and static discharge units are vital.

CWS

[Bruce Cohen]

I love helping out someone from Bklyn, I grew up there.

From what I have experienced, nothing you'll want to pay for (way too expensive) will protect your electronics from a direct lightning strike. But the good news is that more than likely, your homeowners/renters insurance policy usually covers the stuff that gets fried by the strike.

Happened to a friend of mine who lives in Ft. Lee NJ. Every circuit board from all his TVs to the controller of his his underground sprinkler system was totally melted. Insurance paid to replace it all.

What I've found is that surge protectors under $100 are nothing more than tricked-out strip outlets. I worked in an AD agency as Creative Director and Head of IT. In all my years, I've never had a piece of equipment go "south" to to voltage spikes. The worst culprit was coffee and soft drinks.

So to sum it up, save your money and be sure your homeowners/renter's policy has that provision. I'm with Allstate and they have it as standard coverage.

Where in Brooklyn are you?, I'm probably familar with your neighborhood.

Bruce

[Wood_workur]

No, a UPS will not stop frying computer parts, but give you a chance to save your work, then suht down.

What you want is a nice surge protector, such as this:


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812120406

or if $50 is too much for you, this one would suffice:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812120405

for $30

The first is more industrial strength, and the second is more home use. I would get the first if you can afford it, otherwise the other one will be fine.

[BearPipes-1]

While a UPS unit doesn't always have surge suppression, many (include all the APC units I've ever seen) do. Newegg's a good site to look at; you can filter down the selections to your price range, and it'll tell you how much surge suppression each unit is rated for.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

List of most frequently reported items damaged by lightning or surge for national mid-size insurance company :

Microwave 42%
TV 35%
Audio / Video exc TV 33% - VCR definately the highest of that cat
Computer 22% - Modem frequently cited
Well Pump 18% - (and my guess is that 80% of those are mechinical failure due to wear and tear v. lightning)
All other Appliances - 16%
All Other - 11%

Moral : Surge protect valuable microwaves. Make sure your well pump fails immediately after a storm, LOL.

[bigsteel15]

Units are available that protect the entire house.
You install them n your main breaker panel.
They are actually a voltage regulator that stops spikes.
This is what was recommended to us for our shop where we have CNC electronics and frequent power surges.
I don't have a brand name for home ones, but have seen them at HD

[DaveW]

http://www.HotDealsClub.com/deal/b5c...8f95b36d78a7e/

APC 650VA UPS for $42
APC Back-UPS ES 650VA with 4 battery backup outlets and 4 surge-only outlets for $60.33 with free shipping. Coupon code BMBSD?6VM23WLD gives 30% off, making it $42.23. If you have a Dell Preferred Account, you can get 2% off ($0.84).

This is a great deal on a nice Battery Backup UPS, especially when you factor the free shipping. UPSs are very heavy, and some stores charge $15 to $20 just for shipping. For example, CompUSA.com sells it for $80 plus $15 shipping. Buy.com sells it for $74 with free shipping. So $42 with free shipping is definitely a hot deal.

Deal expires on the 14th.

[Ken Massingale]

Howie,
Surge protectors are one thing. Nothing, nothing, nothing is going to stop lightning from getting a modem if it's plugged into the phone jack. And it doesn't take a direct hit, not even a close strike. I went through at least a dozen modems due to lightning that wasn't close. I bought the surge protectors and UPS's with phone line protectors, top rated expensive ones, and although the protection 'worked' (blowing the internal fuse links), they were not fast enough to work before the modems were fried. Unplugging the line is the only protection.
ken