MOTM

>2 - Paul's comments about series power strips was the
>first I had really hear anyone say this was a bad idea.  He will have to
>"splain it to Lucy" and the rest of us.

I'll take his word for it but I would like to hear more about exactly what
sort of horrible interactions occur. I was hoping he'd say more but I guess
he's busy designing stuff.


While we're at it perhaps someone can explain how to make my commode stop
shaking the whole house like a jackhammer every time I flush it. It starts
when the tank is almost full and carries on for several minutes.
("oscillatin' like a sieve" as they used to say at ComSonics).


>Personally, I don't care for a
>varistor type protection period.  I don't think they offer enough protection
>to be worth the trouble anyhow.  I think some others on the list have
>offered some suggestions for professional conditioning equipment.  That is
>all proabably worthwhile.  I think getting any protection out of the cheap
>"surge protector" power strips is just wishful thinking.  I thing varistors
>are a fire hazard myself.  Failure mode is meltdown.  I do know that.  I
>have sent more than one on fire at work.  BTW, setting things on fire is
>part of my job.

I guess it's another case of "you get what you pay for" and "it's better
than nothing". I always buy the cheapest power strips at Walmart, the ones
that have "this is not a surge protector" in big letters on the package
(and a cord about two feet long).

I used to repair cable TV amplifiers back in the mid eighties when none of
the manufacturers had ever heard of "surge protection" other than sticking
a few ionized cannisters here and there. The company I worked for made
their own transient snubbers out of a triac and a couple of other
components (they ripped off the idea from another company). The normal
warranty for repairs was 90 days but for an extra fee the customer could
get a one year warranty--which was nothing more than a different-colored
sticker and one of those gadgets installed. Funny how "one year" repairs
almost never came back in less than a year...


>---- Original Message -----
>Also, clipping the blue, cap-like thing out of my strip is ok,
>right?  Arrgh!  Again, I hate to spam, but I don't think I'm the only
>one here to wonder about this.  Anyone else come to the same
>conclusion here?
>
>--LH--
>That would be my initial suggestion.  But, I have to disclaim my advice as a
>non-professional.

As I'm sure Paul will say, "What? There aren't THREE of them in there??"

I remember Steve Ciarcia going over the whole subject in his Circuit Cellar
column years ago--after he got hit by lightning. He stuck MOV's all over
the place, but I'm sure there's better stuff by now.
-- 

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"