Isolating Pc and Router

[ABU]

Hi guys,

I wish to have a complete backup system which my PC can run off during a lightning storm.
It is almost a weekly occurrence here in Durbs during this part of the year.

I have a 1400 watt UPS which keeps my system running for a good few hours, however the router is the cause of concern.
The PC is disconnected from the mains during a lightning storm, however the router and modem are still connected via the telephone line.

It is possible that lightning could strike them via the phone line and then damage the PC as well, if the PC is connected via ethernet cable to the router?

If yes, would a suitable alternative be for me to connect the modem and router to another UPS (I have a small 600watt one), which they could run off during a storm and have the PC connect to the router over wireless, thus isolating the PC from the router/modem?

Would this work?
I was told something about UPS's being too strong for a router and very often damaging them?
Plus how long would a 600watt router be able to power a modem and router for?

 

[nihilist]

Hey dude, I'm in durbs too.

Check out www.cleanpower.co.za and speak to Gavin, very good chap and ask them to help you out.

I have 3 surge protectors from them, protects ADSL line, all my PCs and the telly + antenna and we've had everything running during massive storms and no problem.

So then just plug in a UPS and vola.

Obviously you need to make sure that, if you have a PC connected to another device that's not surge protected, then you're at some risk. So make sure everything that has a wire going in/or is protected.

 

[ABU]

I have everything going through a Clearline surge protector, however I would prefer my devices being disconnected from the mains during an electric storm.

 

[nihilist]

I have everything going through a Clearline surge protector, however I would prefer my devices being disconnected from the mains during an electric storm.

Well, I can't say how long a router will run on your UPS, but I have a 2400VA and a 1000VA in a cabinet at work, so when the power died at work once I did a shutdown on the servers and left the router + firewall PC + cabinet fans on the 1000VA and I think I got just over an hour, so you'd get a lot more on just an ADSL router.

You can run a router on a UPS no problem, the only thing you must not run on a UPS is a plasma TV or a laser printer.

 

[Messugga]

For the record, VA doesn't say jack about the capacity of the UPS, it says how much load it can handle. To see how long you'll be able to run your gear, you'll have to look at what the batteries inside the UPS are rated.

 

[Dimpie (JIGSAW)]

The PC is disconnected from the mains during a lightning storm, however the router and modem are still connected via the telephone line.

If the PC is disconnected from the mains during a storm, why not disconnect the telephone line for the router as well....what use is the router without the PC ???

 

[ABU]

If the PC is disconnected from the mains during a storm, why not disconnect the telephone line for the router as well....what use is the router without the PC ???

If you read the original post, you would have realised that the PC is disconnected from the mains and runs off the UPS during a storm.
The question is about running the router at the same time.
If the router is plugged into the phone line, could this damage the PC?

 

[psc]

It is possible that lightning could strike them via the phone line and then damage the PC as well, if the PC is connected via ethernet cable to the router?

Yes it is possible, if your router supports wireless why not just get a wireless LAN adapter for the PC.

 

[westom]

If the router is plugged into the phone line, could this damage the PC?

Telephone companies all over the world connect their computers to overhead wires all over town. May suffer about 100 surges with each thunderstorm. And never shut down all service for four days while they replace that damaged computer. What do they use? Technology that has been well proven for over 100 years.

Understand the problem by learning from Ben Franklin. Lightning struck wooden church steeples. Why? Lightning seeks earth ground. Wood is a better conductor. Surge is a current that will increase voltage as necessary to obtain earth ground. Nothing stops surges. Wood is not an excellent conductor. So high voltage is created. 20,000 amps times a higher voltage means higher energy dissipated destructively.

Franklin simply gave that current a more conductive path to earth. Lightning rod works only when connected to better earthing using a better conductor. 20,000 amps times a near zero voltage means near zero energy. No damage. Protection that has been installed throughout in the world for the past 100 years when damage cannot happen. When direct lightning strike do not cause damage.

What happens when lightning strikes a phone line? One path to earth is via the router and building materials. Damage because surge energy was permitted inside the building. Did you really think you were going to stop what 3 kilometers of sky could not? Of course not.

Protection means diverting that current to earth BEFORE it enters the building. That is how it was done 100 years ago. Same principle behind Franklin's lightning rod.

A protector never provides protection. A protector is only a connecting device. If connected short (ie 'less than 3 meters') to earth, then a properly sized protector can earth direct lightning strikes without damage - even to the protector. What provides protection? Earth ground. Your protector is only as effective as its earth ground - where energy gets harmlessly absorbed.

What does a protector without that short and dedicated earth ground do? Nothing effective.

Where is surge energy dissipated? Destructively inside the building? Energy permitted inside any building will hunt for earth destructively via your electronics. For over 100 years, the effective solution has always been to earth before that current enters the building. Why does you telco disconnect phone service all over town to protect their computer? They do not? Your solution is also bogus. Telcos earth every wire before it enters the building. Proper earthing means no damage from 100 surges in every thunderstorm.

Earth. That means every incoming wire in every cable connects directly to the single point earth ground. Or it connects to earth via a protector. But every wire entering the building must make that 'less than 3 meter' connection to earth. No sharp wire bends. No splices. Separated from all other non-grounding wires. Every earthing wire meets at the same 'single point' electrode. Separation between protector and electronics increases protection.

Appreciate this is well understood knowledge from over 100 years ago. And an overwhelming majority still does not know it. Every incoming wire must connect directly to earth (ie coax cable) or via a 'whole house' protector (AC electric, telephone). Above requirements for that earthing connection (ie no sharp bends, upgraded earthing, less than 3 meters, single point grounding, etc) are critical.

Appreciate how many scams are promoted. Ie protectors with no dedicated earthing connection. Somehow, because it is called a protector, therefore it must be protection? A scam. Where is the short connection from that UPS to single point ground? A protector is only as effective as its earth ground.