By-the-way, since the loss of my DSL equipment I have purchased a surge protector for network and telephone devices.
All phone lines and TV cable were required to have surge protection long before any of us existed. A critical point was made. That protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate. A protector without earth ground (ie a UPS) does not even claim to protect from destructive types of surges. It is not an effective layer of protection (except from the other type of surge already made irrelevant by protection inside all appliances).
An informed consumer concentrates on THE most important component of a protection system. Some systems have no protectors. But every layer of protection ALWAYS has an earth ground. Each protection layer is defined only by the item that absorbs joules. A picture demonstrates your 'primary' surge protection layer:
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html
Cable has no surge protector. Best protection is a hardwire connecting low impedance (ie 'less than 10 feet') to single point earth ground. Only you are responsible for providing that earth ground. You define how effective that calbe protection is.
Same applies to DSL. Since both phone wires cannot connect directly to earth, then we do a next best thing. The telco installs a protector for free where their wires meet yours. A protector only does what a hardwire does better (says why UPS protection is ineffective).
How good is that free protector? Well, how good is your earth ground? Not just any earth ground as defined by an electrical code. Protection of everything inside is defined by quality of and connection to "single point earth ground".
Obviously, none of this can be expressed in a sound byte. Explains why most do not know surge protection. Then post cheap shots rather than technically informed facts and numbers. Many foolishly assume a UPS does surge protection. Protection means no surge current is anywhere inside the house. That happens only when surges (lightning is one example) connect low impedance (ie wire without sharp bends) to single point earth ground - your 'secondary' protection layer.
Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate.
Damage is so easily averted that damage is considered a human mistake. Inspect your 'primary' surge protection layer.
Does every wire inside every incoming cable (including a wireless dog fence) connect low impedance to single point earth ground? Notice how many never knew cable and phone lines have long been required to install effective protectors. But worse, most have no idea what defines protection - earth ground.
Even your 'whole house' protector is compromised if earthing is not done properly. That protector does not do protection. Protection is defined by what the 'whole house' protector connects to - low impedance (ie wire not inside metallic conduit).
If not obvious, this electrical engineer designed protection so that even direct lightning strikes did not cause damage. Protectors are simple science. 'Art' of protection is earthing.
I am not an electrician obviously, so I am just trying to gain some level of understanding of how this affects my PC. When the power goes out, then comes back on, a surge occurs correct? I am sure this surge is nothing like a lightning strike, but it can probably cause damage to electronics all the same. Does a UPS better protect against electrical surges than a regular surge protector?
