schopf
New Member
Hi Folks,
Its my first post here, so, let me introduce myself. I own a fixing computers business and I like to make projects and reviews about stuffs related with that. I have a good experience with electronics and computer hardwares and I would like to share it with you all.
English is not my mother language, so, sorry for my pig English. I will do my best to use a grammar spelling before to post something here. But I believe I can be understood in most cases. If not, just let me know or suggest me some better word to correct it. I have no problems with advices.
For my first post, I would like to share a device which I created. We have a lot of problems with lightning here and all protection devices just didnt work for me. So, I did one, very simple but really efficient!
When there was lightning in my town, I used to turn off my computer but phone line was still there, connected to modem (internal or external). So, sometimes, I got a burned modem just because phone line is there. After a few burned modems, I started to remove phone line from the modem connector and it solved all problems. So, I decided to create a device to make that for me, and here it is:
Its a very simple device. Its uses 1 double relay but in all pictures, you will see 2, because I had a lot of spare simple relays. So, you may do this circuit using 1 or 2 relays, just choose what is better for you. Schematic is this:
As you may see, circuit has a double relay. Diode is a simple 1N400x, just to kill some voltage return from relay when you turn computer off.
How it works: You have to plug it in a free connector from power supply of your computer. When you turn your computer on, it will turn relay on too and close contacts to attach phone line to modem. When you turn computer off it unattaches (is this word?) line from modem. Very simple and efficient.
Components list:
1x double relay (or 2x simple relay)
1x 1n400x diode
1x female power connector
1x phone connector with metal support and screws
1x board for electronic circuit (tailor made)
You may get almost all of them in any electronic trash can. I got power connector from an old cd-rom drive but you may replace it by a diskette power connector or any other you want. We will use just 12v (yellow and black wires from the power supply).
You may change double relay for 2x simple relays. You will find two or more simple relays in dead voltage regulators. They should be 12v in controller side and 110v (or more) in controlled side.
Here, you may see dimensions of it:
Dont be fooled by the angle in the next picture. Its exactly 2cm!
As you see, its 5cm x 5cm x 2cm but rear size is just 4cm.
How to install it:
Connect it to a power supply:
Screw it inside computer case:
It will look like this:
Connect phone lines. You may insert any phone line in any connector:
Known problems:
1 - This protector will work just if you turn your computer off during lightnings, otherwise, its completely useless.
2 - In my prototypes, I used phone connectors from dead modems. It made my life easier, but the distance between wires are not enough to stop a strong lightning. Look the picture:
A lightning could "jump" from one contact point to another. It has to be improved in a professional version.
3 - Maybe power supply connector wont reach the protector power connector. In this case, you have to use an extension, similar to this one:
I have 3 of them, 1 with ADSL in my business, 1 with ADSL in a friends house and 1 with dial-up line in another friends house. They are working well for about 2 years. I was a bit afraid relays will make a kind of interference in the signal quality but nothing was noted until today, in ADSL and dial-up lines.
Thats it. Its a simple project which will save a lot of money in replacing burned modems by lightning. I hope you like it and post your comments.
It has a Creative Commons License:
Its my first post here, so, let me introduce myself. I own a fixing computers business and I like to make projects and reviews about stuffs related with that. I have a good experience with electronics and computer hardwares and I would like to share it with you all.
English is not my mother language, so, sorry for my pig English. I will do my best to use a grammar spelling before to post something here. But I believe I can be understood in most cases. If not, just let me know or suggest me some better word to correct it. I have no problems with advices.
For my first post, I would like to share a device which I created. We have a lot of problems with lightning here and all protection devices just didnt work for me. So, I did one, very simple but really efficient!
When there was lightning in my town, I used to turn off my computer but phone line was still there, connected to modem (internal or external). So, sometimes, I got a burned modem just because phone line is there. After a few burned modems, I started to remove phone line from the modem connector and it solved all problems. So, I decided to create a device to make that for me, and here it is:
Its a very simple device. Its uses 1 double relay but in all pictures, you will see 2, because I had a lot of spare simple relays. So, you may do this circuit using 1 or 2 relays, just choose what is better for you. Schematic is this:
As you may see, circuit has a double relay. Diode is a simple 1N400x, just to kill some voltage return from relay when you turn computer off.
How it works: You have to plug it in a free connector from power supply of your computer. When you turn your computer on, it will turn relay on too and close contacts to attach phone line to modem. When you turn computer off it unattaches (is this word?) line from modem. Very simple and efficient.
Components list:
1x double relay (or 2x simple relay)
1x 1n400x diode
1x female power connector
1x phone connector with metal support and screws
1x board for electronic circuit (tailor made)
You may get almost all of them in any electronic trash can. I got power connector from an old cd-rom drive but you may replace it by a diskette power connector or any other you want. We will use just 12v (yellow and black wires from the power supply).
You may change double relay for 2x simple relays. You will find two or more simple relays in dead voltage regulators. They should be 12v in controller side and 110v (or more) in controlled side.
Here, you may see dimensions of it:
Dont be fooled by the angle in the next picture. Its exactly 2cm!
As you see, its 5cm x 5cm x 2cm but rear size is just 4cm.
How to install it:
Connect it to a power supply:
Screw it inside computer case:
It will look like this:
Connect phone lines. You may insert any phone line in any connector:
Known problems:
1 - This protector will work just if you turn your computer off during lightnings, otherwise, its completely useless.
2 - In my prototypes, I used phone connectors from dead modems. It made my life easier, but the distance between wires are not enough to stop a strong lightning. Look the picture:
A lightning could "jump" from one contact point to another. It has to be improved in a professional version.
3 - Maybe power supply connector wont reach the protector power connector. In this case, you have to use an extension, similar to this one:
I have 3 of them, 1 with ADSL in my business, 1 with ADSL in a friends house and 1 with dial-up line in another friends house. They are working well for about 2 years. I was a bit afraid relays will make a kind of interference in the signal quality but nothing was noted until today, in ADSL and dial-up lines.
Thats it. Its a simple project which will save a lot of money in replacing burned modems by lightning. I hope you like it and post your comments.
It has a Creative Commons License:
