Surge protector red plug clamping voltage 300

[Geoff.D]

Generally, it was always accepted that in SA, we could rely on the water pipe connections to provide our homes with an adequate "earth" and it was probably true. BUT now the councils are increasingly replacing galv pipes with plastic piping which means we are no longer connected to that large galv pipe network. Hence why it is becoming more important to attend to earthing at homes.

 

[westom]

Are you trying to say earth spike?

Earth spike (a rod in earth) is only one of so many examples of earthing electrodes. At minimum, at least two copper clad, 3 meter long rods must be driven in earth. Separated at least two meters. And solidly interconnected. Other examples include buried plates. Even better, a buried hardwire surrounding the structure.

Best protection is installed when footing are poured. Because reinforced concrete is a superb electrical conductor. "An example."

Every incoming wire must connect to this same 'single point earth ground' before entering. A connection made directly (ie TV cable, satellite dish) or via a 'whole house' protector (ie telephone, AC electric).

Protector is only a connecting device. What defines effectiveness of a protection system? That connection to and the quality of those earthing electrodes.

 

[westom]

Generally, it was always accepted that in SA, we could rely on the water pipe connections to provide our homes with an adequate "earth"

If those pipes had solder joints (were not continuous copper), then protection was compromised.

 

[Geoff.D]

If those pipes had solder joints (were not continuous copper), then protection was compromised.

Copper pipes are not used in SA for water distribution to homes. It was/is galvanised steel. Inside homes yes copper is used quite extensively.

 

[Geoff.D]

So here is a photo of a CoCT council approved CoC certificate signed off "earth" for a mass development housing project in Cape Town.
Now tell me what benefit anyone will get from installing a Class I "whole house protector" when the grounding is going to depend on piece of galv pipe of unknown length bashed into the ground, and so badly connected to an aluminium stranded wire cable?
This is typical of thousands of "new" homes built in SA.
Give me my water pipe earth a thousand times over.

 

[westom]

Any layman can purchase, drive into earth, and connect to a superior earth ground. Copper clad steel rods have long been a best choice for residential subscribers.

Also missing from that earth ground rod are the essential connections so that telephone, TV cable, satellite dish, etc also have effective protection. Because no protector does protection. Protectors either make that low impedance connection to earth. Or best protection remains what is routinely found inside all appliances.

Clamping voltages say nothing about protection. Clamp voltages only select the right protector for that electric service. Earthing defines quality of both appliance and structural protection.

 

[noxibox]

Well my Unprotected PSU (Corsair 550W) died just this December cause I moved the UPS to test something....

I know dumb dumb dumb esp when looking at how my power fluctuate on a typical day:
View attachment 1025326

Note to self: Move things back as soon as you done testing... dont leave it for next week.

There are no voltage spikes or drops outside of the normal range on that graph. If some piece of equipment dies because of that tiny bit of fluctuation then it’s defective or improperly designed. Now if it was regularly dropping below 200V and jumping up well above 250V that would be different.

 

[AlphaJohn]

There are no voltage spikes or drops outside of the normal range on that graph. If some piece of equipment dies because of that tiny bit of fluctuation then it’s defective or improperly designed. Now if it was regularly dropping below 200V and jumping up well above 250V that would be different.

You sure about that?

I mean is a simple graph taken on the day of the post (February) showing unstable power vs a spike that happened in December?

PS: I had a brownout on the day of the spike... in fact the moment the lights dimmed I knew I fed up as my PC went off at the very moment never to return.

 

[Geoff.D]

You sure about that?

I mean is a simple graph taken on the day of the post (February) showing unstable power vs a spike that happened in December?

PS: I had a brownout on the day of the spike... in fact the moment the lights dimmed I knew I fed up as my PC went off at the very moment never to return.

Correct. Transients are notoriously difficult to detect without some really sophisticated test equipment.
So, it can neither be confirmed nor excluded as being the cause of the failure.
Physical inspection of the circuit boards might have helped.

 

[AlphaJohn]

Correct. Transients are notoriously difficult to detect without some really sophisticated test equipment.
So, it can neither be confirmed nor excluded as being the cause of the failure.
Physical inspection of the circuit boards might have helped.

Well I was being sarcastic as the OP was under the impression it was taken at the time of the PSU death. When in fact the graph was just meant to show I knew power is not stable.

If you wanna see a horror show you should see a V graph during load shedding (Sadly I don't have one on hand) but that sht is nightmare fuel

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

seems legit

 

[AlphaJohn]

seems legit

/s TY for the great idea!!!

I do stay on 1st floor so this will save me in running a long cable from my genny.

 

[Geoff.D]

Well I was being sarcastic as the OP was under the impression it was taken at the time of the PSU death. When in fact the graph was just meant to show I knew power is not stable.

If you wanna see a horror show you should see a V graph during load shedding (Sadly I don't have one on hand) but that sht is nightmare fuel

A real pity that we have not seen any plots covering LS events. Hope that you will oblige at some point?
Your plot is interesting in that it shows how unstable our supply is. The question is is it out of limits?

 

[Geoff.D]

seems legit

Heh heh. Suppose that would satisfy the local OHSA inspector. Luv the bucket of earth for a ground

 

[AlphaJohn]

A real pity that we have not seen any plots covering LS events. Hope that you will oblige at some point?
Your plot is interesting in that it shows how unstable our supply is. The question is is it out of limits?

During load shed periods yes.... just before it goes off you can see some dips some even as low as 190V and when it comes back it can be either too (250+) high or to low (210-) for some time even hours before it stables out (220-240) mostly linked to time of day.

Sadly the JPG's I took of said problems is now underneath a layer of games as I needed space for my Xbox

Edit: could have sworn I posted more but I did find this one on a good day. Sadly It was taken before I increased my plot rate

 

[Geoff.D]

During load shed periods yes.... just before it goes off you can see some dips some even as low as 190V and when it comes back it can be either too (250+) high or to low (210-) for some time even hours before it stables out (220-240) mostly linked to time of day.

Sadly the JPG's I took of said problems is now underneath a layer of games as I needed space for my Xbox

Confirms my own measurement years ago. PTA East, anything between 188 and 258 V, nominal supposed to be 220 or in pta 230. Pta used to be on a nominal 240V standard when the city ran its own power stations not connected to the national grid.

 

[westom]

Confirms my own measurement years ago. PTA East, anything between 188 and 258 V, nominal supposed to be 220 or in pta 230. Pta used to be on a nominal 240V standard when the city ran its own power stations not connected to the national grid.

Voltages can vary so much that an incandescent bulb dims to 40% intensity. Or doubles intensity. Normal voltage for any computer (that meets ATX Standards) is anywhere from 190 to 265 volts. Most computers will be happy even on voltages that exceed that range.

Those voltage variations are why someone spends a little more money to then have significant increases in reliability and other benefits (ie less fuel, less noise). Honda generators are legendary for superior power for only a little more money.

Those less expensive generator have a history of even damaging less robust items such as strip protectors.

That bucket of dirt is ineffective. An earth ground electrode must be in, at minimum, 3 meters of dirt. Another example of why we always need specification numbers.