Protecting your assets

RVA said:
So I have been told to go fly a kite...in bad weather...and then report back...if possible. It appears that I am not as indispensable as I may have hoped.
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Just remember, hold nice and tight to that wet string - don't let go, now!
 
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Looking ok, but the left hand one could do with spreading a bit. The lead from the left varistor is running kind of close to the gas tube. You might want at some stage to think about shortening the varistor leads.
 
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As short as you can make it is best. I make mine so the varistor and gas tube leads are all I need - they go straight into the mains connector. But the odd inch or so of wire is OK. Just, the longer, the more inductance. And inductance slows down the response, so more lightning can get through.
 
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"...so more lightning can get through."
- DonP -

So if you somehow get a dual ganged control pot into the
circuit you will have made a lightening intensity adjuster?
:)

actually

(The word "actually" goes somewhere in the second half
of the sentence but I couldn't decide exactly where to put it.)
 
DonP said:
As short as you can make it is best. I make mine so the varistor and gas tube leads are all I need - they go straight into the mains connector.
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Can you post a pic showing the added circuit attached to the mains connector?
 
DonP said:
Thought I'd let you know one of the things I do to protect my gear - particularly away from home. I always use an extension cable with half a dozen sockets on the end, and every time I get a new one I open it up and put surge protection inside. This is serious protection too - the stage can take a lightning hit and you amp will be the one still working afterwards. You'll be safer too.

This is the device - nothing to it

View attachment 6096

It can go anywhere inside the socket strip, provided those three connections can be made. Obviously put tape around so nothing else can touch - I left that off so you can see better.

The main protection is the big black Metal Oxide Varistors. They are cheap, and there are plenty on Ebay. These are they

http://www.mouser.com/ds/2/315/awa0000ce2-33884.pdf

The two blue capacitors are special. They MUST carry a Y1 rating. That means that should they ever fail, they will never go short circuit.

These are ok here

DE1E3KX102MA5BA01 | Murata Ceramic Single Layer Capacitor 1nF 250 V ac ±20% E Dielectric DE1 Series Through Hole +125°C Max Op. Temp. | Murata

Finally the gas discharge tube in the middle. That is like a mega-high-speed fuse that catches the burst of lightning. There are many makers - this particular one is

https://www.onlinecomponents.com/world-products-wpgt2r2700b8l.html?p=12801409

Needless to say, don't attempt this if you don't know what you are doing. But if you are ok with it, it's worth a lot of peace of mind. I'm sure you can find your own local suppliers.
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Great great post, Don
 
DonP said:
Priest of the religion of science. You'll have to excuse me while I go and put my head in a bucket of cold water.
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DonP said:
My friend Claire runs the Benjamin Franklin museum here in London. She knows all about kites and keys.
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Reminds me of a couple jokes, one liners.

1st, How do you get a nun pregnant? Dress her up as an altar boy.
2. Ben Franklin, The original "JACKASS"
 
I have what I think will ultimately be revealed as a stupid question, but here it goes anyway.

My biggest issue (now that I understand the configuration better) is getting the device to fit in the surge protector housing, and then doing so with the shortest leads possible. So....could the device be inserted in one of the outlets? It sure would be easy!
 
No problem with that. Put it on the outlet closest to the incoming cable. That way you still get maximum protection for the "downstream" sockets.
 
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DonP said:
No problem with that. Put it on the outlet closest to the incoming cable. That was you still get maximum protection for the "downstream" sockets.
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Wow, that makes things incredibly easy!!! I will sheild and secure it after inserted. The whole point of the longer leads was attempting to get it to the various internal contact points. Now, shortness become the priority. Thank you!!!
 
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