Is surge protection useful when you have a fiberoptic landline

[Nibb31]

Probably a silly question, but...

I'm buying a UPS for my NAS/home server and the one I'm eyeing has RJ45 connectors for surge protection of data/phone lines. However, I get TV/Internet/Phone from a buried fiberoptic connection. The FO cable arrives at a converter box inside the house that has an RJ45 connector that goes to the router. Would there be any benefit in putting the UPS surge protection between the converter box and the router? My gut feeling is no, but you never know...

Edited June 17, 2015 by Nibb31

[pxi]

We had one company who had lightning strike their building.

The PC's were off at the time as it was after office hours, but every single NIC blew because of current induced in the network cabling.

It's unlikely as all hell (I've yet to meet another person in my field with a similar story) but if you have the equipment, I'd say you're better off using it than not.

[lajoswinkler]

If this is a typical construction of such cable, then it would be a good idea to have that protection.

Remember, surges aren't the same as lightning strikes. Surge protector protects from voltage fluctuations. But if a lightning hits anything connected to your computer, bye bye, computer, no matter what surge protector you have.

[pincushionman]

Is your router connected to mains power?

(Hint yes)

Your ethernet cables are vulnerable to whatever any device connected to them is.

What you should be asking is "are there any downsides to connecting my ethernet cables through a surge protector as well?"

[Fel]

Remember, surges aren't the same as lightning strikes. Surge protector protects from voltage fluctuations. But if a lightning hits anything connected to your computer, bye bye, computer, no matter what surge protector you have.

Err... there's suppose to be a path to ground connected outside for situations like that (i.e. the whole houses' grid should turn off). Lightning getting into the wiring can do more than just fry a few electronics, it can start electrical fires. Very very dangerous.

[lajoswinkler]

Err... there's suppose to be a path to ground connected outside for situations like that (i.e. the whole houses' grid should turn off). Lightning getting into the wiring can do more than just fry a few electronics, it can start electrical fires. Very very dangerous.

Yes, it's supposed to be, but not everyone has a lightning rod system. I don't.

Even with that, there will probably be a decent surge in the system when the lightning hits.

[CaelumEtAstra]

I concur. A UPS is highly recommended for a storage server in order to prevent data loss. Not only that but the surge protection, though the event is very unlikely, is also recommended. I've said it before, my siggy is my life.

[Fel]

Yes, it's supposed to be, but not everyone has a lightning rod system. I don't.

Even with that, there will probably be a decent surge in the system when the lightning hits.

You don't have proper grounding in your home? Not the roof rods, but establishment of a solid earth ground? Every surge protector needs earth ground to function properly, and a whole house one (which I was talking of) especially needs it to short the wiring and reduce potential damage.

[lajoswinkler]

You don't have proper grounding in your home? Not the roof rods, but establishment of a solid earth ground? Every surge protector needs earth ground to function properly, and a whole house one (which I was talking of) especially needs it to short the wiring and reduce potential damage.

Hardly anyone gave thought about it in the middle of 20th century. You'd build a house and that's it. Yes, in order to place the rods, you need to connect them to a fat copper ground (fat plate or a fat rod immersed into ground enhancement material) to get optimal results. If I was allowed, I'd do it, but it's not up to me.

[westom]

Would there be any benefit in putting the UPS surge protection between the converter box and the router? My gut feeling is no, but you never know...

Destructive surges can be hundreds of thousands of joules. How many joules does the UPS claim to absorb? Almost anything can be recommended without numbers. View its numbers (hundreds) to discover the UPS is near zero protection. But it is 100% protection when thinking subjectively.

Lightning can find a destructive path from cloud to earth via the structure. So we earth a lightning rod. Lightning can find a destructive path from cloud to earth via appliances. So we earth every incoming utility wire (either directly or via a 'whole house' protector). Protection is always about the path that a surge takes to earth. Nothing stops that current - especially not a near zero UPS.

The 'whole house' protector is obviously and completely different from ineffective (magic box) plug-in protectors. Plug-in protectors claim to absorb that surge energy. How many joules does it really absorb? Plug-in protectors will somehow block what three miles of sky could not? Of course not.

A direct ligthning strike to AC mains far down the street is incoming to every appliance. All need that protection. One typically destructive path is incoming via AC mains. Outgoing via the ethernet port. Then to earth ground via the fiber optic interface box. Damage means that current is other incoming on one wire and outgoing on another wire. Then much later, something in that path fails.

All ethernet already have robust protection (ie 2000 volts). Your concern is the rare transient that can overwhelm protection inside any and every appliance. That means you earth the surge BEFORE it can enter the building. Either either via a hardwire (ie cable TV, antenna) or via a 'whole house' protector (AC electric, telephone).

What must have almost all of your attention? Not even the 'whole house' protector. Protection is always about where hundreds of thousandes of joules harmlessly dissipate. Even a 'whole house' protector is ineffective without what is far more important - single point earth ground.

BTW, what also makes a lightning rod effective? Earth ground.

[lajoswinkler]

Surge protectors are not supposed to absorb lightning strikes. Their purpose is to level out voltage fluctuations that sometimes appear during storms.

There isn't anything we know that can safely absorb a lightning strike. Its energy is not great, but the time in which it's delivered is extremely short so the power is enormous. You either conduct it into Earth or watch as something explodes as it suddenly heats up to fantastic temperatures.

[westom]

Surge protectors are not supposed to absorb lightning strikes. Their purpose is to level out voltage fluctuations that sometimes appear during storms.

That is the popular myth. But if a protector is adjacent to an appliance, it must either absorb that energy or block it.

Why do some adjacent protectors make electronics damage easier? it levels out the voltage on more incoming wires. A maybe 5000 volt surge approaching on the black (hot) AC wire is simply 'leveled out'. So 4670 volts is also on the white (neutral) wire and green (safety ground) wire. Now that surge has even more paths to find earth destructively via an adjacent appliance.

Protectors that are grossly undersized with obscene profit margins quietly admit they do not protection from destructive surges such as lightning. They only protect from surges already made irrelevant by protection already inside every appliance.

A home owner's concern is the rare and destructive transient that overwhelms existing internal protection. This type of surge is not averted by plug-in (magic box) protectors. And is routinely averted by the properly earthed 'whole house' protector.

Why do facilities that cannot have damage NOT use plug-in protectors? They cannot have protectors that can make damage easier. Their every surge protector must be for surges that cause damage - such as lightning. And they do not want grossly undersized (plug-in) protectors that can also cause a structure fire.

Be concerned for any recommendation that does not include numbers. For example, lightning is typically 20,000 amps. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Because effective protectors are for direct lightning strikes. Because effective protectors must never fail during a surge. And because the 'whole house' solution is the solution proven by over 100 years of science and experience.

Protectors that do not claim to protect from lightning must also be protected by the 'whole house' solution. Otherwise the risk of a house fire is significant. That should have everyone's attention.

A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. That has never changed no matter what is claimed 'subjectively' by advertising. Useful recommendations always include numbers.