Surge protection: Question about ground

I've read about the importance of grounding when using surge protectors.

I've got a few surge protectors that have those "GROUNDED" indicators (APC has
it as part of its "SITE WIRING FAULT" indicator). So if the GROUNDED
indicator is lit (or if the SITE WIRING FAULT indicator is not lit), then does
that mean that I have adequate grounding?

(I've noticed that some, but not all, of the outlets in my house will cause
the GROUNDED indicator to not be lit.)

 

[w_tom]

Which ground? If a surge protector connects to motherboard
ground, then will the protector work? Of course not. Grounds
are different for different functions. That power strip
protector 'ground' is the safety ground. It says a wall
receptacle safety ground connects to breaker box safety ground
bus. Completely disconnect the building's earth ground and
that ground light would still shine brightly.

Protectors are only as effective as their earth ground.
Furthermore, the connection to earth must be short, not
bundled with other non-grounding wires, no spliced, no sharp
bends, etc. Clearly that safety ground detected by the power
strip does not make any good connection to earth ground.

For example, if trying to earth a surge down that safety
ground wire, then the surge is induced on all adjacent wires.
What kind of protection is that?

Effective protector is located at the utility service
entrance (ie circuit breaker box) to make a less than 10 foot
connection to 'earth' ground. A protector is only as
effective as its earth ground. To sell ineffective protector,
those plug-in protectors must confuse all grounds as same. No
earth ground means no effective protection. While no earth
ground may exist, that protector light shines bright.

In the meantime, that earth ground connected by a 'whole
house' protector is the secondary protection system. Also
inspect the primary protection system - a different ground:
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html

Notice the plug-in protector never mentions earthing.
Effective protector earth destructive transients. Earthing is
the type of ground essential for transistor protection. Not
to be confused with that ground lug on the back of a stereo or
the floating ground inside a TV.

void@no.spam.com wrote:

I've read about the importance of grounding when using surge protectors.

I've got a few surge protectors that have those "GROUNDED" indicators
(APC has it as part of its "SITE WIRING FAULT" indicator). So if the
GROUNDED indicator is lit (or if the SITE WIRING FAULT indicator is
not lit), then does that mean that I have adequate grounding?

(I've noticed that some, but not all, of the outlets in my house will
cause the GROUNDED indicator to not be lit.)

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"w_tom" <w_tom1@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:42499597.215E920F@hotmail.com...

Which ground? If a surge protector connects to motherboard
ground, then will the protector work? Of course not. Grounds
are different for different functions. That power strip
protector 'ground' is the safety ground. It says a wall
receptacle safety ground connects to breaker box safety ground
bus. Completely disconnect the building's earth ground and
that ground light would still shine brightly.

Protectors are only as effective as their earth ground.
Furthermore, the connection to earth must be short, not
bundled with other non-grounding wires, no spliced, no sharp
bends, etc. Clearly that safety ground detected by the power
strip does not make any good connection to earth ground.

For example, if trying to earth a surge down that safety
ground wire, then the surge is induced on all adjacent wires.
What kind of protection is that?

Assuming that the "turns ratio", i.e. the conductors are parallel so the
induced current and voltage is 1:1. If the surge is a low voltage, high
current surge then the low induced voltages in other conductors would
not be harmful. So your question "What kind of protection is that?" has
an answer of _adequate_.

You've posted a lot of informative information on this subject in the
past but as far back as I can remember you have never given any
references. To others who are uninformed on this subject much of what
you say seems to be just speculation and hearsay.

[snip]

void@no.spam.com wrote:
I've read about the importance of grounding when using surge
protectors.

I've got a few surge protectors that have those "GROUNDED"
indicators
(APC has it as part of its "SITE WIRING FAULT" indicator). So if
the
GROUNDED indicator is lit (or if the SITE WIRING FAULT indicator is
not lit), then does that mean that I have adequate grounding?

(I've noticed that some, but not all, of the outlets in my house
will
cause the GROUNDED indicator to not be lit.)

 

[w_tom]

A few (too many) technical citations were posted recently in
reply to H. W. Stockman's request for same information in the
newsgroup alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus on 30 Mar 2005
entitled "UPS unit needed for the P4C800E-Deluxe" at
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X61C23DCA

"Watson A.Name - \"Watt Sun, the Dark Remover\"" wrote:

Assuming that the "turns ratio", i.e. the conductors are parallel so the
induced current and voltage is 1:1. If the surge is a low voltage, high
current surge then the low induced voltages in other conductors would
not be harmful. So your question "What kind of protection is that?" has
an answer of _adequate_.

You've posted a lot of informative information on this subject in the
past but as far back as I can remember you have never given any
references. To others who are uninformed on this subject much of what
you say seems to be just speculation and hearsay.