Surge protecting a router

[sSslik]

So I've lost the 4th router in 2 years thanks to a lightning storm ... The router was on a basic surge protection plug (as we're the other 3).

Anyone have any ideas on how better to protect a router?

And while at it .... any recommendations for a good replacement router? (had a linksys)

 

[sand_man]

Tp-link 8968 and ups,

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=58&zenid=8d707d67f027e2eb78b0cb704dc5742c

 

[Pada]

Alternatively get a cheap modem like the D-Link DSL-2500U for about R200. Then just chain a better broadband router to it that gives you say 1Gbps LAN + 300Mbps Wireless N.

 

[sSslik]

Pada .... How does the chaining work? Won't both still be at risk of the surges?

 

[Pada]

Yes, both are still at risk, but the device behind the ADSL modem should have a much smaller risk.
Your best protection is still to get a surge protection unit on the ADSL line first. eg. http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=58&products_id=6964
Most UPS' do have RJ11 surge protection too.

By chaining I simply meant that you place a broadband router inbetween the ADSL modem and your PC/phone.

So instead of connecting from say PC -> ADSL modem -> Internet, it would then become: PC -> broadband router -> ADSL modem -> Internet.

 

[HavocXphere]

2 routers a year sounds a bit hectic. You sure the wiring in the house is OK...earthing specifically?

The newer netgears seem to come with a surge protection unit built into the power brick.

Do what pada said though. Also go wifi rather than ethernet...lightning can't jump wifi links.

 

[stricken]

Do what pada said though. Also go wifi rather than ethernet...lightning can't jump wifi links.

+1

 

[sand_man]

2 routers a year sounds a bit hectic. You sure the wiring in the house is OK...earthing specifically?

Earthing won't help if it's coming through the telephone line.

 

[FlatspinZA]

2 routers a year sounds a bit hectic. You sure the wiring in the house is OK...earthing specifically?

The newer netgears seem to come with a surge protection unit built into the power brick.

Do what pada said though. Also go wifi rather than ethernet...lightning can't jump wifi links.

Two per year? Try losing two in a week! We do live in the mountains where lightning crackles on the roof, and we have huge storms.

Lightning can't jump over Wifi - but how is that going to protect his ADSL router?

Surge protection offers next to no protection, I am not even sure if it's not entirely a gimmick. A powerful enough bolt is going to hop its way all the way to end of the line. We've had devices that have been unplugged from the mains, and the bolt just arcs to the plug and destroys the equipment. R45,000 printer down the tubes - now we unplug and move all the plugs as far away as possible.

Only solution, especially if you are getting hit this often - unplug at the first sign of a lightning storm.

 

[HavocXphere]

Two per year? Try losing two in a week! We do live in the mountains where lightning crackles on the roof, and we have huge storms.

Does OP live on a mountain?

Lightning can't jump over Wifi - but how is that going to protect his ADSL router?

No but it could save your PC. At my last place lightning went telephone line -> router -> ethernet -> mobo.

Surge protection offers next to no protection, I am not even sure if it's not entirely a gimmick.

Perhaps. Though I think if one isn't exposed to heavy direct strikes then it might make some sense. While I don't have any proof I suspect that for indirect strikes these gimmicks can actually help. e.g. The netgear I mentioned....they wouldn't include it if they didn't think it might provide *some* benefit.

Earthing won't help if it's coming through the telephone line.

Fair enough.

 

[FlatspinZA]

Does OP live on a mountain?


No but it could save your PC. At my last place lightning went telephone line -> router -> ethernet -> mobo.


Perhaps. Though I think if one isn't exposed to heavy direct strikes then it might make some sense. While I don't have any proof I suspect that for indirect strikes these gimmicks can actually help. e.g. The netgear I mentioned....they wouldn't include it if they didn't think it might provide *some* benefit.


Fair enough.

True, WiFi links are fast enough for gaming these days - I link across WiFi to my router. At the very least, especially when getting whacked by lightning regularly, link wirelessly. Still not going to save your router unless you unplug.

 

[HeftyCrab]

Two per year? Try losing two in a week! We do live in the mountains where lightning crackles on the roof, and we have huge storms.

Lightning can't jump over Wifi - but how is that going to protect his ADSL router?

Surge protection offers next to no protection, I am not even sure if it's not entirely a gimmick. A powerful enough bolt is going to hop its way all the way to end of the line. We've had devices that have been unplugged from the mains, and the bolt just arcs to the plug and destroys the equipment. R45,000 printer down the tubes - now we unplug and move all the plugs as far away as possible.

Only solution, especially if you are getting hit this often - unplug at the first sign of a lightning storm.

You could put a plug into the socket that doesnt have anything attached to it?should stop the lightning jumping out and killing you.theyre not that expensive.

 

[Pada]

Linking wirelessly won't help if your ADSL modem is still sharing the same electric multi-plug (or even the same distribution board if it is really bad) with the other devices!
I'm just taking a guess here, because I've never had the first hand experience of lightening damage.

You do get optical isolators, but they're pretty expensive and I'm not sure if you get them for ADSL.

 

[HavocXphere]

Linking wirelessly won't help if your ADSL modem is still sharing the same electric multi-plug (or even the same distribution board if it is really bad) with the other devices!

True. The logic with the wifi is simply that it reduces the # of cables by one - a small but tangible victory in the fight against lightning. The other thing is that data links tend to die easier from lightning than power links. The power links are still a problem, but its hard to eliminate those so I reckon thats a risk best absorbed.

Flywheel solutions fix that rather elegantly & are pretty much bulletproof - but its not viable @ consumer level. Or business level even...

I'm just taking a guess here, because I've never had the first hand experience of lightening damage.

Come to the high-veld & that'll soon change.

You do get optical isolators, but they're pretty expensive and I'm not sure if you get them for ADSL.

I'm sure I saw an awesome DIY for that. Like photo sensor/LED type thing. Can't find it right now but I recall being amazed that the DIY copes with the transfer rate.

 

[sand_man]

A lot of the time the hit is coming from the telephone line. If your ethernet ports still work and/or the router still transmits a wireless signal then chances are it's the adsl receiver via the telephone line that has taken the hit. Surge protection plug won't save you if its coming through the telephone line.

 

[TheOtherRolo]

Has Anyone tried the Ellies telephone line surge protectors?

I also lots my router and got some hdmi ports fried on my tv, gpu and media player cause my telephone line was struck...

If i get this whole surge protection concept the ellies plug should send the surge from your line through the power plug and out on the earth just like a normal surge protected multiplug?

Can anyone shed some light if theyre maybe using one?


Im talking about this guy:

 

[Zuner]

my setup at home seems to be working for me.

I have a ups from which the router gets power, the telephone line also goes through the protection port on the ups, the ups gets its power from the wall with a surge protection plug.

from there lan goes to my pc into another ups protection, this ups also gets its power from surge protected plug and my pc gets its power from that ups.

 

[westom]

If i get this whole surge protection concept the ellies plug should send the surge from your line through the power plug and out on the earth just like a normal surge protected multiplug?

A protector that is effective must have a low impedance (ie less than 3 meter) connection to earth. Clearly the ellies plug does not. Clearly the UPS does not.

A UPS does claim some protection. That means it is 100% protection - to many. Reality. It does not have a low impedance connection to earth. So it essentially has no connection to earth. Being next to an appliance, it must somehow 'block' or 'absorb' a surge. So we look at its numbers. Hundreds of joules is near zero protection. Yes it is 100% protection if we ignore its numbers. Reality, it is near zero joules. And no low impedance (wire has no sharp bends) connection to earth ground.

UPS also connects the PC directly to AC mains when not in battery backup mode. Where is that protection?

How good is existing protection? If a protector next to a router is doing something useful, then how many other appliances are destroyed by surges? Destructive surges are typically rare - maybe once every seven years. "No damage in two years" does not say anything useful.

 

[spipie]

You could go to the clearline store www.clearline.co.za
They give you a R25 000 connected equipment warranty, so if your modem is plugged into the unit properly, and it dies, they will replace it for you.
http://www.clearline.co.za/products/12-00563-multiplug-power-and-networks
this unit can take your PC's, printers, modem inputs and outputs, and everything is protected via telecommunication line and power inputs.

 

[Thor]

I am buying this:

http://www.clearline.co.za/products/12-00713-computer-protection