Hi probonopublico,
I?m assuming you got your computer and cable modem working again, or
did you ask this question on another computer?
When a lightening strike hits a power line, outside, interrupting the
power supply to a house, your lights go off for as long as the
disruption lasts.(You knew this!) When the power comes back into the
house, it enters in a surge of power, similar to the blast of water
you would get upon folding a flowing water hose, and then releasing
it.
It sounds to me like a power hit came into your computer through the
electrical lines, through the cable modem. Solid state electronics are
highly susceptible to power surges.
Probably what happened it this: The lightening hit the power line
outside, causing an electrical power surge into your house. Since
solid state electronics, like computers and digital equipment are more
susceptible, they take power hits much harder than, say, a
refrigerator.
Refrigerators are heavily grounded, and have motors and compressors
with copper coils that help dissipate the charge. Some refrigerators
have electronic circuit boards for ice makers, and these are as
susceptible to lightening as your computer. (We actually had a circuit
board in our ice maker be totally melted by a lightening strike a few
years ago- Only the ice maker was affected though - the rest of the
unit worked fine.)
Ok, I digress?.It?s possible there were two routes of power surges,
one to your computer, one to the cable modem. Obviously, if your
computer loses power, it will turn off. The surge to your cable modem
may have caused an open in the electrical circuit of your modem. Many
cable modems contain a mercury fuse, which if hit by a power surge,
causes the mercury to expand, moving away from the electrical
contacts, causing a loss of power. When the mercury is cooled, it
contracts, once again completing the electrical circuit. A simple
example of this is the ?old? mercury thermometer. When you place the
thermometer in your mouth, the mercury expands, and rises!
After the mercury fuse is stabilized, it may take a few recyclings of
your cable modem to reset, and get back online. The time for the fuse
to cool and the modem recycling is likely to have caused your delay on
getting back online.
If you are serious about surge protection, and I think you should be?
You would ideally have your computer, monitor, cable modem and printer
on surge suppressors, with sufficient joules for your equipment. Not
all ?power strips? are surge suppressors, so you?ll need to check for
this. (A reliable surge suppressor package will list the joules
rating, and the equipment they are designed to protect.). You can also
get a fairly reasonably priced UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) in
which to plug in the surge suppressors. Most UPS have power
suppressors built in as well. Plug the UPS into the wall outlet. Not
only will this offer you good protection, it will give you time to
save your work, and close your applications before shutting down your
computer properly, in the event of a power failure. One caveat, even
with all of this protection, a severe lightning bolt can still ?fry?
your equipment. No amount of protection can guarantee that the
equipment won?t be damaged. It is recommended that you simply unplug
your sensitive equipment if a lightning storm is close. If you have
your equipment plugged into a UPS, you can simply turn off the
equipment and then unplug the UPS from the wall, making it easy!
WhatIs.com explains surge suppressors well:
?A surge suppressor (sometimes optimistically called a "surge
protector") is a device inserted in the alternating current (AC)
utility line and/or telephone line to prevent damage to electronic
equipment from voltage "spikes" called transients. A more accurate
term for this type of device is "transient suppressor." A typical
surge suppressor is a small box with several utility outlets, a power
switch, and a 3-wire cord for plugging into a wall outlet.?
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci213630,00.html
If you have frequent lightning strikes, or power surges, you might
consider having the power company install an outside meter surge
protection. Some electric companies may not install them, but require
an employee to be present while you install it, as the meter needs to
be removed and replaced.
Portland General
http://www.portlandgeneral.com/home/products/surge/products.asp
Corhusker Public Power District
http://www.cornhusker-power.com/surgeprotection.asp
Here?s a cute little illustration showing the path of power surges in the home:
Cable Modem Protection
http://www.cablemodemprotection.com/application.html
The above site also sells a device to protect cable modems from surges
(Be aware that this may not work with every ISP):
http://www.cablemodemprotection.com/specifications.html
Citel
http://www.citelprotection.com/citel/p8ax_details.htm
Information about UPS and Surge Suppressors:
Liebert
http://www.liebert.com/assets/products/english/products/netpwrpr/pss/60hz/bro_4pg/acrobat/sl_23020.pdf
Zitro Computers
http://www.zitrocomputers.com/surge_protection.htm
TrippLite
http://www.tripplite.com/
DSL Reports:
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/6733
Jet Power
http://www.jetpower.com.tw/htm/download/pdf/S3%20DM.pdf
Zero Surge
http://www.zerosurge.com/HTML/amperageres.html
BizRate; read reviews on different UPS
http://www.bizrate.com/buy/browse__cat_id--46007.html
I hope this answer will help you protect your valuable computer
equipment and keep you online!(We'd miss your questions and comments!)
My computers are some of my most prized possesions. In case of a fire,
things I would consider important to save would be childhood mementos
of my daughters, and as many computers I could carry out!
If any part of my answer is unclear, please request an Answer
Clarification, before rating. This will allow me to assist you
further, if possible.
Sincerely,
crabcakes-ga
Search Terms:
Knowledge of this topic (rubbed off on me from association with cable monkeys)
UPS
Surge suppressors |
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